Presentation Transcript

1. Authority and Democracy

   The Instrumental Value of Democracy
2. The problem Who may participate in decision making about issues that concern the political community given: Reasonable disagreement Persistent conflicting interests
3. What is Democracy? Democracy is a method of decision making in which the authorization to exercise power must arise from the collective decisions of the members of the group who are governed by that power (J. Cohen). NB: “governed by” ≠ “affected by”
4. Instrumental arguments for Democracy JS Mill: Democracy is better than non-democratic forms of collective decision making because decision-makers are forced to take into account the interests, and opinions of most members of society. it’s more reliable in tracking correct decisions because it relies on many sources of information and of critical assessment of laws and policies. because it improves the character of citizens
5. Non- Instrumental arguments for Democracy Democracy is intrinsically just, whether or not it produces good outcomes. Cohen, Estlund: People can be treated as free and equals only to the extent that they are governed by laws and policies that appeal to reasons that they can reasonably accept. ↓ Each must have an equal chance to influence the decision making process. If they don’t, they are being treated as inferiors
6. a) Arneson In democracy the collective decision making is more likely to include and best represent the interests of everyone Assumption: in voting each individual is best placed to pursue here own interests.
7. b) Estlund If individual citizens are more likely to be right than to be wrong (in the long term) in choosing the best policies ,then democracy is the best way to decide what to do. Assumption: Condorcet Jury Theory
8. Condorcet Jury Theorem We need to decide whether to T or not-T. One of the two choices is correct, and each voter has an independent probability p of voting for the correct decision. How many voters should we include in the group of deciders? If p > 1/2 (i.e. each voter is more likely than not to vote correctly), adding more voters increases the probability that the correct choice is made. (The higher the number of voters, the more p approaches 1). If p < 1/2 (i.e. each voter is more likely than not to vote incorrectly), adding more voters increases the probability that the incorrect choice is made. (The best way to choose is to have a single voter).
9. c) Toqueville, Mill Democracy encourages citizens to: exercise their autonomy (they are encouraged to affirm their rights and interests, and to think carefully about what they want to achieve and what is important to them) listen to others, take into considerations the interests, and justify their preferences to them, of others think in terms of the common good
10. Plato’s objection Plato: Democratic societies are dominated by those who are good at winning the elections, rather than by those who have the required expertise to make good decisions. To win office, politicians must appeal to people's sense of what is right, but most people do not have the time, talents and information required to think well about difficult political issues.
11. Hobbes’ objection No one ever makes a significant difference to the outcomes of decision making. ↓ There is a sense of lack of responsibility for outcomes. ↓ Citizens do not take their role seriously and politicians merely attempt to manipulate them to gain more power. This negatively affect the quality of democratic decisions.
12. “Powerful minorities” objection Citizens are not sufficiently informed about politics and sufficiently motivated to achieve the best outcomes. ↓ Powerful minorities can take advantage of this to control the decision making progress (by influencing the behaviour of politicians) bending it to their own purposes, while spreading the costs to the collectivity.
13. Non-consequentialist formulation of instrumentalism The exercise of power of X over Y can only be justified by appealing to the protection of Y’s interests and rights. Political can only be justified by appealing to the quality of outcomes of the decision making process (Richard Arneson). NB: appeal to justification! (Democracy is not simply about maximizing consequences.) However: “procedural rights are merely instruments for securing morally desirable outcomes”
14. Why Democracy is a second best Moral right to exercise power over others depends on: Moral competence Disposition to use moral competence in a way that will produce the best outcomes for everyone Moral competence is not evenly distribute  reasons to give different subjects different levels of political power But Disposition is also important. Plus, corrupting effects of power
15. Democratic citizenship Are we up to the task? 1. Plato: Only those of us who are more intelligent and morally better than others should rule. 2. Politics is complex and requires time. Why not have division of labour and let a minority of people take care of it while we devote our energies to pursue other projects?