Democracy
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Description
This article begins with a discussion of the meaning of the term democracy. It considers the ontology of democracy, arguing that we should not assume that the idea of rule by the people commits us to anything other than methodological or normative individualism. Democracy is an ideal of persons working together in the context of political procedures that treat them as equals. The fact that there may be tens or hundreds of millions of them involved in these processes does not alter the fact that democracy is a way of respecting individuals (equally) and taking their interests seriously. The discussion then turns to the principle of political equality and the principle of majority decision.
Source Publication
The Oxford Handbook of Political Philosophy
Source Editors/Authors
David Estlund
Publication Date
2012
Recommended Citation
Waldron, Jeremy, "Democracy" (2012). Faculty Chapters. 1571.
https://gretchen.law.nyu.edu/fac-chapt/1571
