CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020
| Author | Squatriti, Patrick Daniel |
|---|---|
| Title | Disagreement Among Equals: Epistocracy and the Problem of Coercion |
| Summary | Epistocracy and democracy must each find a solution to the problem of coercion. The problem consists in finding adequate justification for imposing political decisions upon those who disagree with such decisions. The problem is particularly conspicuous for liberals who recognise that all human beings are bearers of equal moral status. As bearers of equal moral status, any coercion to which they are subjected must be compatible with respect for their autonomy, understood as their right not to be dominated by another person. Liberal democracy resolves the problem by granting all citizens equal control over the decision-making procedures that produce the laws that bind them. Liberal epistocracy is incapable of finding such a solution. Its proposals either disregard the right to non- domination of its disenfranchised citizens, or justify that violation in terms that fail to give proper regard to the moral significance of disagreement. As such, from a liberal perspective, epistocracy should be rejected in favour of democracy. |
| Supervisor | Kis, János |
| Department | Philosophy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2020/squatriti_patrick.pdf |
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