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Single Idea 20979

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / b. Consultation ]

Full Idea

Democracy has to be judged not just by the institutions that formally exist but by the extent to which different voices from diverse sections of the people can actually be heard.

Gist of Idea

Democracy needs more than some institutions; diverse sections of the people must be heard

Source

Amartya Sen (The Idea of Justice [2009], Pref 'Public')

Book Ref

Sen, Amartya: 'The Idea of Justice' [Penguin 2010], p.-16

A Reaction

Depends what you mean by 'democracy'. Should the workplace and the school and the family be democratic, or just the choice of leaders? What can oblige leaders to listen to the people? Listen to, and then ignore?

The 23 ideas from 'The Idea of Justice'

20980 You don't need a complete theory of justice to see that slavery is wrong [Sen]
20979 Democracy needs more than some institutions; diverse sections of the people must be heard [Sen]
20978 Practical justice concerns not only ideals, but ways to achieve them [Sen]
20982 In politics and ethics, scrutiny from different perspectives is essential for objectivity [Sen]
20981 What justifies reliance on reason? Is it just a tool? Why is it better than blind belief? [Sen]
20983 The original position insures that the agreements reached are fair [Sen]
20984 A social contract limits the pursuit of justice to members of a single society [Sen]
20985 Our institutions should promote justice, rather than embodying it [Sen]
20986 A person's voice may count because of their interests, or because of their good sense [Sen]
20988 Freedom from torture or terrorist attacks is independent of citizenship [Sen]
20987 The veil of ignorance encourages neutral interests, but not a wider view of values [Sen]
20990 Rationality is conformity to reasons that can be sustained even after scrutiny [Sen]
20993 Eradicating smallpox does not impoverish nature [Sen]
20994 We must focus on removing manifest injustice, not just try to design a perfect society [Sen]
20995 Capabilities are part of freedom, involving real opportunities [Sen]
20998 Freedom can involve capabilities, independence and non-interference [Sen]
20997 The need for equality among people arises from impartiality and objectivity [Sen]
20996 All modern theories of justice demand equality of something [Sen]
20999 Democracy as 'government by discussion' now has wide support [Sen]
21000 If justice needs public reasoning, which needs democracy, then justice and democracy are linked [Sen]
21001 Famines tend to be caused by authoritarian rule [Sen]
21002 Effective democracy needs tolerant values [Sen]
21005 A human right is not plausible if public scrutiny might reject it [Sen]