Democracy and its discontents, part 1 | the problem | Victor Munoz
August 5 @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 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.
If you wonder at the dysfunction of national governments these days, join us for a presentation and discussion on the subject of 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. That will be the focus of Part 1.
In Part 2, the following week, 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.
This will be a philosophical discussion – it’s going to be about ideas of governance, or our understanding of those ideas, not politics. The thesis will be that what is currently happening in the U.S., and many other countries, is a symptom of a long-standing structural malady. The problem runs much deeper than any particular political party or figure. The controversy will be centered on the very idea of democracy, as it is usually understood – “electoral representative democracy,” and the near impossibility of implementing it in today’s world.
Part 1 will start with a showing of a historic short 33 minute lecture given at MIT over a decade ago by Princeton political scientist Martin Gilens. Gilens offers scientific corroboration for a suspicion many political philosophers have entertained for decades. What Gilens said then is truer than ever today. So I advise attendees preview it. We will, however, show it again at the presentation to make sure everyone has seen it. It is worth watching more than once. Getting as clear as possible about a difficult problem is where we must start before considering solutions. Few, who have studied the problem, dispute Gilens’ facts. His proposed solution may be another matter. We will elaborate, discuss, and offer criticism.
Part 2, the following week, will focus on possible remedies to the difficulties around practicing democracy at scale posed in Part 1. Check out the description here.
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