Protective argument for Participatory Democracy

Participation protects against tyranny.

Protective argument for Participatory Democracy (Mill)

Participation protects against tyranny.

Participatory Democracy (Hersch)

Citizens engage in politics directly or actively, not just by voting. (Like a town hall meeting)

Educative argument for Participatory Democracy (Mill)

Participation cultivates moral/intellectual character.

Epistocracy

Rule by the knowledgeable; contrasts sharply with participatory democracy.

Political Hobbyism

Engaging with politics like a pastime (e.g., news, social media debates) without real-world impact. Drives media extremism and partisan division.

Identity-Protective Cognition

People interpret facts to protect their political identity (Dan Kahan).

Mere Information Hypothesis

People will change beliefs when presented with facts (often false).

Real Political Work (Hersch)

Building relationships, organizing, door-knocking, mobilizing voters.

Coalition-building

The process of bringing together different groups or organizations to work towards a common goal. Winning elections and passing laws requires broad, not ideologically pure, coalitions.

Media Distortion

Hobbyists fuel extreme content; media rewards sensationalism.

Primaries problem

Low-turnout elections dominated by hobbyists/purists, selecting unrepresentative candidates.

Small Donors

Encourage ideological candidates, make compromise harder, and may reduce accountability.

Compromise

Essential for functioning democracy, opposed by hobbyists who favor ideological purity.

1st Harm of Hobbyism (Hersch)

Encourages performative politicians

2ns Harm of Hobbyism (Hersch)

Reduces empathy for other views

3rd Harm of Hobbyism (Hersch)

Politically ineffective

Deep Canvassing

Empathetic, long-form conversations shown to change minds (linked to agape, or unconditional love).

Political Parties

Necessary for organizing, compromise, and sustaining democracy.

Pluralism (Dostoyevsky)

Multiple, often conflicting, perspectives and ideas.

Inquisitor’s view (Dostoyevsky)

People prefer comfort and certainty to freedom.

Utilitarian Justification (Mill)

Free speech promotes progress and happiness.

Negative Liberty (Swift)

Freedom from interferenceand coercion by others, allowing individuals to pursue their own paths without external restrictions.

Positive Liberty (Swift)

Freedom to realize ones potential. It emphasizes opportunities for self-development and participation in decision-making.

Swift’s critique

The distinction can be blurry and politically motivated. It highlights the complexities and potential biases in defining freedom, raising concerns about the implications for individual autonomy.

Liberty

The power or scope to act as one pleases.

Freedom

The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hinderance or restraint.

Freedom as a Triadic Relation

X is free from Y to do Z

Formal freedom

Legal right

Effective freedom

Real ability

Autonomy vs doing what you want

real freedom requires rational self-governance

Non-domination (republicanism)

Rule by laws we make ourselves.

Mill’s protective argument

The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community (including ones self), against his will, is to prevent harm to others

Aristotle’s self-realization

Political life cultivates virtue

virtue

behavior showing high moral standards

Tyranny of the majority

the potential for a majority to suppress the rights and interests of minority groups, even in a democratic system.

Harm principle

the only justifiable reason for limiting an individual's freedom is to prevent harm to others

Mill’s first freedom

freedom of thought and expression

Mill’s second freedom

freedom to pursue one's own tastes and pursuits

Mill’s third freedom

the freedom of individuals to combine and unite

Infallibility argument

Silencing a truth

Partly true argument

suggests that some beliefs may contain elements of truth, even if they are not completely accurate.

Dead Dogma Argument

argues that beliefs should be actively engaged with rather than passively accepted, as unexamined beliefs can become stagnant and dogmatic.

Free speech’s connection to education

free speech helps develop virtues and reasoning.

Paternalism (Mill opposes)

state intervenes for your own good.

Legal Moralism (Mill opposes)

Banning actions because they are seen as immoral.

First justified intervention (Mill)

Violating others’ rights.

second justified intervention

Not supporting society (taxes, military).

Third justified intervention

Public harms not violating rights (public opinion can act).

Mill’s first argument for liberty

Individuality promotes happiness.

Mill’s second argument for liberty

People know their own good best.

Mill’s third argument for liberty

Liberty strengthens moral/intellectual faculties.

Mill’s fourth argument for liberty

Freedom promotes societal progress.

Conformity

compliance with standards, rules, or laws

Excessive conformity

Kills individuality and creativity.

Mill political philosophy applications

Prefers local government for efficiency, education, and limiting power.

Conservatism

Emphasizes character, tradition, and institutions.

Left’s barriers

social inequality, racism, lack of resources.

Right’s barriers

government power, regulation

paradox of liberalism

Protecting freedom by growing state can erode freedom.

Short road to freedom

immediate gratification

Long road to freedom

Cultivation of virtue and discipline

Formative institutions

Family, religion, work, education, local governance shape citizens’ character.

Freedom as self-directed work

True freedom = creative, meaningful labor.

Alienation (Marx)

In a capitalist system, workers become estranged from their labor, the products of their labor, their fellow workers, and ultimately, their own human potential.

Alienated labor

You do not own anything you produce. You work for a wage and someone else controls the product of your labor.

worker as a commodity

Treated like a tool, dehumanized.

species-being

Our nature is to freely and creatively shape the world.