Democracy and its discontents, part 2 | possible remedies | Victor Munoz
August 12 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
This presentation/discussion will be approximately an hour, possibly longer depending on interest. The English Language Library will ask for donations to help support the library.
In part 1, we discussed democracy: what it is, what it is not, and why it does not exist at the national level in most countries who use the term to describe themselves, in particular, the U.S. – and hasn’t for a long time. Please check out the description and resources for part 1, if you missed it.
This week, in Part 2 the presentation and discussion will be about what, if anything, can be done about it – on the assumption something ought to be done about it.
We will focus on possible remedies to the difficulties around practicing democracy at scale posed in Part 1. There aren’t that many possibilities. To the best of my knowledge, there are only two that are fundamentally distinct. The first is not new. We have all heard it before: reform the system we have. We will explain what stands in the way, and why many experts are losing faith in that possibility… Then we will consider something different, a proposal suggested by serious thinkers from various disciplines but most recently and prominently by Rutgers political philosopher Alexander Guerrero. It preserves the most morally defensible aspect of democracy, the participation of the governed in the making of laws that govern them, and the practical necessity of some form of representation given the size of modern states — but abandons elections. Voting, at scale, it turns out, has a proven record of failure at preserving democracy. Is there another way?
More on Guerrero:
- Lottocracy: Democracy Without Elections, Alexander Guerrero, Oxford University Press, 2024.
- “Reimagining Democracy as Lottocracy | Alexander Guerrero (With Travis Timmerman),” (podcast interview).
- “‘Democracy Without Elections’: Alexander Guerrero in conversation with Michael Hannon,” (podcast interview).
You are not expected to agree with anything said in the presentation; in fact, civil, honest, and thoughtful reactions, not consensus, are the most we should expect from a real philosophical discussion. That’s how we approach understanding. But, if you are not comfortable questioning assumptions we have all grown up with, this event may not be for you.
I have written extensively about ideas of governance. If the topic interests you, see the five part discussion, “Magical thinking about democracy,” which, along with related writings, can be accessed at pph.aporia.net.
– Victor Muñoz
Guanajuato / Seattle
Reading Guanajuato | Tuesdays, 5 PM
English Language Library, Callejon Segundo de Cantaritos 32
Next door to Clave Azul, just off Plaza San Fernando