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Paper 3 - Political Philosophy > Democracy > Flashcards

Democracy Flashcards

1
Q

What are the arguments in regards to whether we should have democracy? (For, For, Against, Against)

A
  • Intrumentalism
  • Intrinsic
  • Plato
  • Persistent minorities
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2
Q

What is your line of argument in regards to whether we should have democracy? (Two points)

A
  • Whilst the intrinsic reasons for philosophy are important, if the instrumental reasons fail then this undermines the value of democracy.
  • If there is a system that can be more effective and not completely fail in regards to liberty and equality in comparison to a failing democracy, then we should switch.
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3
Q

What are the three instrumental reasons for democracy?

A
  • Democracies bring about better policies (responsiveness).
  • Democracies bring about better policies (epistemic).
  • Educative value.
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4
Q

Explain the responsiveness benefit of democracy.(Two points)

A
  • Democracies require there to be more transaprency and accountability in the decision-making process.
  • As a result, politicians must listen to the people and do a good job or they will lose support.
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5
Q

Explain the epistemic benefit of democracy.

A

Condorcet’s Jury Theorem (CJT): states that the average voter is more likely to be right than wrong, therefore, the majority is more likely to be right than wrong.

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6
Q

Explain the educative value benefit of democracy. (Two points)

A
  • Participating in democracy arguably makes citizens more educated.
  • This is due the increased interest in current events and engaging in deliberation.
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7
Q

What is an objection to the epistemic benefit of democracy? (Two points)

A
  • CJT assumes that voter’s opinions are not persuaded or encouraged and are rather independent.
  • It also assumes that information is not withheld, biased or segmentized.
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8
Q

What are the two intrinsic benefits of democracy?

A
  • It arguably increases people’s liberty.
  • It appeals to a sense of equality.
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9
Q

Explain the liberty benefit of democracy. (Two points)

A
  • The right to self-governance seems to be the only satisfied by democracy.
  • This gives citizens the liberty to determine how they wish to be ruled.
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10
Q

Explain the equality benefit of democracy. (Two points)

A
  • As everyone has an equal vote, everyone aslo has an equal voice.
  • This encourages respect as no one sees anyone as superior to others on political matters.
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11
Q

What are Plato’s objection to democracy? (Two points)

A
  • As democracy is guided by the people and most people are not intellegent enough to make good decisions, they will be easily manipulated.
  • This would end up not the people ruling then state but rather the master manipulators.
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12
Q

What is the persistent minorities objection to democracy?

A
  • In the vastly diverse world today, there is a larger emphasis on the majority to rule the state.
  • This leads to the minorities not having a say in the way things are run.
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13
Q

What are thee arguments in regards to who are the people? (For, Objections, Alternative)

A
  • Goodin
  • Too large
  • Don’t change much
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14
Q

What is your line of argument in regards to who are the people? (Two points)

A
  • Goodin’s account of the people is too large as it encompasses people that should not be considered.
  • We should keep the system we have now as it is more practical and it does a good job of representing those most affected.
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15
Q

What is Goodin’s argument for who are the people? (Three point)

A
  • That the only way to represent all that are affected by policies is by including everyone.
  • By not including all those that are affected it can lead to people being subject to being ruled over by others.
  • This is not what democracy should strive for.
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16
Q

Why is protecting people’s interests important to Goodin? (Two points)

A
  • It is the best way of bringing the ‘who’ and ‘how’ of democracy into alignment.
  • It makes it clear who should participate and how we should participate.
17
Q

What does Goodin state about the scope of the power of the demos?

A

That it should be limited to only affect those who participate.

18
Q

What are the key objections to Goodin in regards to who are the people? (Three points)

A
  • To limit the power of the demos to only affect those as a part of the state is absurd.
  • It encompasses people we believe that shouldn’t participate.
  • It is practically impossible to encompass everyone affected.
19
Q

Why is limiting the power of the demos absurd? (Two points)

A
  • It would lead to closed-off states such as the Soviet Union and lead to people being worse-off.
  • In the current climate of globalisation, it seems like a step backwards to limit the power of the demos.
20
Q

What is Goodin’s response to the objection that limiting the power of the demos being absurd?

A

Fine, then include everyone in participating in the democracy as there is not an issue of over-inclusion.

21
Q

Explain the objection to Goodin that there is a problem of over-inclusion.

A

If we are to include all those affected we would have to encompass prisoners, children, and people from other states.

22
Q

Why is including people from other states an issue in terms of regarding them as part of the people? (Three points)

A
  • They could vastly shift the vote to prioritise those in other states.
  • This would reduce the voice of those most impacted, those in the state.
  • It would be impossible to be able to address all the issues of everyone, people will be left worse of.
23
Q

Explain why including everyone is a logistical nightmare. (Two points)

A
  • The amount of representatives would be much larger, leading to a much more complex and longer process of decision-making.
  • People are affected by more than one state, so that would mean that people would have to vote in a multitude of democracies, leading to a conflict of interest.
24
Q

What is one way of overcoming the over-inclusion problem?

A

Establishing one democracy worldwide.

25
Q

What are the issues with establishing one democracy worldwide? (Two points)

A
  • It wouldn’t address the issues of not being able to account for all needs
  • Logistical issues.
26
Q

What is the alternative to Goodin’s view regarding who are the people?

A

Keep it as it is or shrinking democracies.

27
Q

What are the befits of keeping it as it is or shrinking democracies? (Two points)

A
  • It best represents and addresses the needs and interests of those most affected.
  • Doesn’t lead to massive logistical issues.
28
Q

What are the arguments in regards to how we should rule via representatives? (For, Objections, Alternative, Objections)

A
  • Single member districts
  • Objections
  • Proportional representation
  • Objections
29
Q

What is your line of argument in regards to how we should rule via representatives?

A
  • Whilst both options have there flaws, proportional representation leads to a better representation of the people’s views.
30
Q

Explain single member districts. (Three points)

A
  • These are geographically defined areas with roughly equal population.
  • Favours a two-party system.
  • Each area votes for a representative and the party with the most representatives rules the country.
31
Q

What are the benfits of the single member district form of representation?

A

Due to the fact that it favours a two-party system it leads to a more stable for of government as the frequency of coalitions is low.

32
Q

What is Beitz’s complaint about the single member district form of representation? (Three points)

A
  • It leads to moderation.
  • The parties have to appeal to the whole population, forcing them to appeal to the median voter.
  • This waters down the parties’ commitments in order to get more votes.
33
Q

Why is increased moderation an issue for single member districts?

A

It doesn’t allow for there to be radical changes even these are necessary.

34
Q

What is another issue to the single member district form of representation? (Three points)

A
  • It causes large divisions between the population.
  • This is because, in order to garner votes, the two parties villianise the opposition.
  • This leads to more conflict and less cooperation.
35
Q

Explain proportional representation. (Two points)

A
  • A list of parties rather than two.
  • Parties acquire seats according to the proportion of votes they get overall.
36
Q

What are the benefits of the proportional form of representation? (Three points)

A
  • It makes choice less rigid, thus better representing individual views.
  • Does not have the capacity to villianise opposition as they are more similar.
  • Can be more specific and radical about commitments.
37
Q

What are the objections to the proportional form of representation?

A
  • There is a lower chance at getting a majority.
  • The increase in choice could lead to people being more confused.
38
Q

Why is a lack of a majority an issue for the proportional form of representation? (Two points)

A
  • It leads to more coalitions which struggle to work together.
  • This often leads to less effective responses and often collapse.

Paper 3 - Political Philosophy (3 decks)

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