Ignorância e irracionalidade política: problemas epistêmicos para a democracia

Bruno Coelho

doi:10.47456/sofia.v12i1.39863

Authors

Bruno Coelho Universidade Federal da Bahia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7668-2755

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47456/sofia.v12i1.39863

Keywords:

democracy, epistocracy, political irrationality, political ignorance

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss some epistemic problems that democracy faces. Initially, I present the argument according to which ignorance and political irrationality substantially affect current democracies. Then, I expose the principles that support an alternative system: epistocracy. According to the epistocrats, we should prefer the institutional structure that tends to produce the best decisions. Furthermore, political decisions are legitimate and authoritative only when produced by a competent body politic in a competent manner and in good faith. After exposing the principles that support epistocracy, I consider some ways of implementing this system. In the last section, I detail an epistemic response to arguments that question the legitimacy of democracy. I argue that the response does not diminish the strength of the criticisms, so the epistemic problems remain an issue to be faced by democrats.

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