-
Essay / Explanation of Elizabeth Anderson's Views on Democracy
Elizabeth Anderson argues that democracy has non-instrumental value, because its value derives largely from the act of participation of members of the culture, organization and democratic government. She illustrates this with the example of a non-democratic form of government, Singapore, where the regime claims to give its citizens what they want. She argues that even if the same “goals” of society can be achieved, such as equality, this is not the same as achieving those same goals via democracy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay This is because democracy has no end: it is useful to the extent that it hypothesizes about what can build the best company and then tests them. However, if another idea arises that might be better, it is given a chance and put into practice, then evaluated. A similar example is the act of studying. A student may believe that flashcards are the best study method for them, but they will only achieve the best possible results if they remain open to new methods (a memory game, for example) and give them a chance by trial and error, evaluating the results. in conclusion. Democracy is designed to follow this model of continuous improvement by holding public officials accountable through community deliberations, referendums, and opportunities for petitions and protests. Another key point emphasized by Anderson is that the practice of participation in democracy develops the goals of society in a communal way. It is for this reason that a dictator, even if well intentioned to offer the best to his citizens, will never be able to produce comparable results. That a socially distanced person would not engage in ongoing public debate and deliberation with others, and even the most informed lawyer cannot mitigate this phenomenon. Finally, Anderson argues that democracy has non-instrumental value because it engages the important powers of sympathy. autonomy and intelligence. By cooperating to find solutions, collectively determining audience goals, and learning how best to live life in unison, these essential capabilities are developed and, ultimately, society as a whole improves..