In a thought-provoking discussion, Astra Taylor, a filmmaker and activist known for her works on democracy, dives into the essence of democratic ideals and their real-world implications. She explores the disparity between democratic theory and practice, particularly how economic inequality influences political participation. Taylor also emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and education in fostering an informed public. Additionally, they discuss the role of technology and advertising in shaping democratic discourse, raising critical questions about the future of civic engagement.
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Democracy's Radicalism
Democracy's philosophical radicalism is often overlooked, especially by those raised within it.
It presupposes fundamental questions about power, voice, and societal governance.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Plato's Critique of Democracy
Plato's Republic, a foundational text in Western philosophy, critiques democracy.
Plato believed democracy marginalized wisdom and virtue after Socrates' execution.
insights INSIGHT
Expertise vs. Technocracy
While expertise is crucial in complex societies, pure technocracy poses risks.
Technocratic rule can become self-serving and lack accountability to the public.
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In *The People vs. Democracy*, Yascha Mounk examines the rise of authoritarian populism and the breakdown of liberal democracy. He argues that two core components of liberal democracy—individual rights and the popular will—are increasingly at odds, leading to systems of 'rights without democracy' and 'democracy without rights.' Mounk identifies key drivers of this crisis, including economic stagnation, fear of multiethnic democracy, and the impact of social media.
Democracy Doesn't Exist But We'll Miss It When It's Gone
Astra Taylor
In this book, Astra Taylor delves into the complexities and shortcomings of modern democracy. She argues that despite the widespread belief in democratic systems, true democracy as an ideal is not yet realized. The book examines the historical and contemporary challenges to democratic principles, including economic inequality, surveillance capitalism, and the erosion of civil liberties. Taylor's work is a critical reflection on the state of democracy and a call to action to reclaim and redefine it in a more inclusive and equitable manner.
A theory of justice
John Rawls
In 'A Theory of Justice,' John Rawls develops a moral theory of justice as fairness, which is an alternative to utilitarianism. The theory is based on the social contract approach and uses the concept of the original position and the veil of ignorance to derive two principles of justice. The first principle, the greatest equal liberty principle, ensures that each person has an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all. The second principle, which includes the difference principle and the equal opportunity principle, states that social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged and attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity. Rawls's theory aims to reconcile liberty and equality in a well-ordered society.
The Forever War
Nick Bryant
The People's Platform
Astrid Taylor
Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens
Martin Gilens
Benjamin I. Page
This study tests four theoretical traditions in American politics—Majoritarian Electoral Democracy, Economic-Elite Domination, Majoritarian Pluralism, and Biased Pluralism—using a unique dataset of 1,779 policy issues. The findings support Economic-Elite Domination and Biased Pluralism, indicating that economic elites and business-oriented groups have significant influence on policy, while average citizens have little to no independent impact.
“Democracy may not exist, but we’ll miss it when it’s gone” — or so suggests the title of Astra Taylor’s new book. We all know how democracy falls short, in practice, of its lofty ideals; but we can also appreciate how democratic values are crucial in the fight for a more just society. In this conversation, we dig into the nature of democracy, from its origins to the present day. We talk about who gets to participate, how economic inequality affects political inequality, and how democratic ideals manifest themselves in any number of real-world situations.
Astra Taylor is a filmmaker, author, and activist. Her documentary films include Zizek!, The Examined Life, and most recently What Is Democracy? Her books include The People’s Platform: Taking Back Power and Culture in the Digital age and the new Democracy May Not Exist, But We’ll Miss It When It’s Gone. She has taught sociology at the university level, and written for publications from n+1 to The London Review of Books. She was active in the Occupy movement, and is a co-founder of the Debt Collective.
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 
