2.2.1: DEMOCRACY: WHAT IS IT? IS IT DESIRABLE?

According to Cohen, what is a deliberative democracy?

It is an association whose affairs are governed by the public deliberation of its members

How does Cohen define democratic legitimacy in the context of coercive laws?

Coercive laws are legitimate if they are justifiable to those subject to them; this does not require universal agreement, but that the laws could be accepted through an ideal deliberative process among free and equal persons.

What are the four characteristics of Cohen’s "ideal deliberative procedure"?

• Free: Participants are bound only by the results and preconditions of their own deliberation.

• Reasoned: Participants must state reasons for proposals, exercising only the "force of the best argument."

• Equal: Participants have equal standing (formal equality) and are not hindered by existing power/resource distributions (substantive equality).

• Consensus: Participants aim for a reasoned agreement; if consensus is unattainable, voting (under majority rule) is used, but it remains distinct from aggregating pre-deliberative preferences.

How does Cohen argue that public deliberation shapes participant preferences?

The requirement to provide reasons that others (who do not share your specific interests) can accept forces individuals to shift away from private self-interest.
“the discovery that I can offer no persuasive reasons on behalf of a proposal of mine may transform the preferences that motivate the proposal”

How does Cohen argue that agents retain their autonomy when engaging in the ideal deliberative procedure?

The agent makes a deliberate contribution to a shift in the circumstances which bring about the change in preference, and because the agent is not in a position of subordination. This is because deliberation is free, equal, and aiming towards consensus.

Preferences are formed, but in an autonomous way - they are the result of '“the power of reason as applied through public discussion”

According to Cohen (quote) when are outcomes democratically legitimate?

“if and only if they could be the object of a free and reasoned agreement among equals”

Necessary condition for Cohen’s deliberative democracy considering that it is pluralistic?

“everyone also seeks to arrive at decisions that are acceptable to all who share the commitment to deliberation”