The Problem(s) of Constituting the Demos: A (Set of) Solution(s)

Kasper Lippert-Rasmussen*, Andreas Bengtson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
35 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

When collective decisions should be made democratically, which people form the relevant demos? Many theorists think this question is an embarrassment to democratic theory: (1) because any decision about who forms the demos must be made democratically by the right demos, which itself must be democratically constituted and so on ad infinitum; and (2) because neither the concept of democracy, nor (3) our reasons for caring about democracy, determine who should form the demos. Having distinguished between these three versions of the demos problem, we argue that each of them can be solved.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEthical Theory and Moral Practice
Volume24
Issue4
Pages (from-to)1021-1031
Number of pages11
ISSN1386-2820
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2021

Keywords

  • All affected principle
  • Democracy
  • Demos problem
  • Relational egalitarianism
  • PARADOX
  • LEGITIMACY
  • DEMOCRATIC-THEORY
  • RULE

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