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Knowledge and Democracy: Are Epistemic Values Adversaries or Allies of Democracy?
Kiik, Meos Holger
2023
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Abstract
In this article I argue that including relaxed epistemic values in the justification of democracy through a pragmatist and non-monist approach is compatible with the democratic values of selfrule and pluralism (which are often seen as incompatible with “political truth”). First, I contend that pragmatist epistemology offers a more suitable approach to politics instead of the correspondence theory of finding “the one truth”. Secondly, I argue that instead of choosing between monist (purely epistemic or procedural) accounts of justification of democracy we should see epistemic values as part of a hybrid interpretation. Thirdly, I argue that epistemic values in democracy should be interpreted in a non-demanding way. Fourth and corresponding to previous points, I claim weak political cognitivism is phenomenologically most plausible for the democratic participant. I then continue to show that both the values of autonomy and pluralism, which are often considered antithetical to truth-claims, can be accommodated and even enhanced by epistemic values in the justification of democracy.
Source
Meos Holger Kiik, "Knowledge and Democracy: Are Epistemic Values Adversaries or Allies of Democracy?" in: "Etica & Politica / Ethics & Politics (2023) XXV/3", EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste, Trieste, 2023, pp. 261-286
Languages
en
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