Download or read book The Capacity to Judge written by Jeffrey L. McNairn and published by University of Toronto Press. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 492 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Arguing that voluntary associations and the press created a reading public capable of reasoning on matters of state, McNairn traces the emergence of 'public opinion' as a new form of authority in mid-19th century Upper Canada.