Power and Democracy Flashcards
Difference
Empirical observation that there are different groups with different interests and beliefs
Why can difference be seen as disadvantageous to the common good?
Groups advocate for their own special interests than are incongruent with the interests of other groups
Five forms of oppression
Exploitation, marginalisation, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, violence
Epistemic injustice
Oppression is maintained through the way people are informed about it. Ignorance
Subversive lucidity
Oppressed people have an advantage over the privileged because they understand systematic oppression
Epistemic virtues
Subversive lucidity, open-mindedness, curiosity, humility
Jose Medina’s key points
Active Ignorance, Epistemic Others and Epistemic Friction File (2013)
Privileged are socially arrogant and have epistemic vices of ignorance and insensitivity; oppressed can gain epistemic virtues; society has responsibility to incorporate all views and adopt a multiplicitous consciousness to achieve an epistemic equilibrium
Multiplicitous consciousness
Idea that all perspectives must be considered despite the epistemic friction
Epistocracy
Political power should be held by those with the competency, knowledge and trustworthiness to make decisions
The truth tenet of epistocracy
Normative political questions have correct answers
The knowledge tenet of epistocracy
A minority of well-informed people know the answers to normative political questions better than others
The authority tenet of epistocracy
The fact that some people have better political understanding than others gives them the authority to wield political power
Features of epistocratic systems
Restricted suffrage, weighted voting, epistocratic vetoes, enfranchisement lotteries
Jason Brennan's key points Against Democracy (2016)
Public don’t know enough to make informed choices in elections; he thinks the complexity of the political system has led to rational apathy; epistocracy would reduce political tribalism and produce better governments
Rational apathy
Not informing oneself on politics because it is simply too complex
Criticisms of epistocracy
John Rawls says Western societies are too pluralistic to become epistocratic, as it would be impossible to select the decision-makers
Deliberation
Formalised political discussion of issues between small groups that are diverse and representative of society
First deliberative poll
Manchester 1994
301 participants deliberated crime
Ackerman and Fishkin key points Deliberation Day (2002)
Nationwide deliberative event held a week before the national election
Consists of watching tv debate between party leaders, small group discussion of issues, q and a with party officials
Would improve voter knowledge and mutual respect between people
Criticisms of deliberation day
Would cost $15 bn per election; certain vital public service workers could not attend; success is difficult to measure empirically
Confirmation bias
People only pay attention to points raised that are in line with their pre-existing ideas
In-group bias
People are tribalised when placed in small groups
Ackerman and Fishkin quote
“The public’s most basic political knowledge is appalling by any normative standard”
Iris Marion Young’s text
Activist Challenges to Deliberative Democracy (2001)
