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Single Idea 20606

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / a. Nature of democracy]

Full Idea

According to epistemic theories of democracy, democratic outcomes are justified because they are more likely to be true or right than the choice of the individual.

Gist of Idea

Epistemic theories defend democracy as more likely to produce the right answer

Source

Tuckness,A/Wolf,C (This is Political Philosophy [2017], 5 'Do the people')

A Reaction

Bear in mind Condorcet's proof that this claim is only correct if individuals have a better than 50% chance of being right, which may be so on obvious things, but is implausible for decisions like going to war.

Book Reference

Tuckness,A / Wolf,C: 'This is Political Philosophy' [Wiley Blackwell 2017], p.116