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Epistocracy’s Competence Problem: An Instrumentalist Defense of Democracy

Ween, David Anders
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9166-6160
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1627993424084938

Abstract Details

2021, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Philosophy (Arts and Sciences).
This paper responds to Jason Brennan’s prominent critique of democracy. Brennan argues that the average citizen is ignorant and irrational, and votes incompetently, exercising illegitimate authority over her neighbors, thereby violating their right against subjection to incompetent government. He concludes that society should replace democracy with epistocracy; the rule of the educated. After clarifying the requirements of Brennan’s proposal, I present two lines of defense for democratic theorists, both compatible with the competence principle at the heart of Brennan’s argument. First, democracy can satisfy the standards of competence proposed by Brennan through institutional changes. And second, epistocracy falls short of its own epistemic standards by excluding voters, despite the place of voters in the division of political labor. I conclude that Brennan’s argument does not undermine democracy’s legitimacy, and in fact speaks against his epistocratic alternative.
Christoph Hanisch (Advisor)
James Petrik (Committee Member)
Yoichi Ishida (Committee Member)
74 p.
Epistemology; Ethics; Philosophy
Democracy; Epistocracy; Public Reason; Voter Competence; Social Epistemology; Education

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ween, D. A. (2021). Epistocracy’s Competence Problem: An Instrumentalist Defense of Democracy [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1627993424084938

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ween, David. Epistocracy’s Competence Problem: An Instrumentalist Defense of Democracy. 2021. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1627993424084938.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ween, David. "Epistocracy’s Competence Problem: An Instrumentalist Defense of Democracy." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1627993424084938

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1627993424084938
366
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.