Lisa Herzog, "Citizen Knowledge: Markets, Experts, and the Infrastructure of Democracy" (Oxford UP, 2023)
Feb 1, 2024
auto_awesome
Lisa Herzog, expert in democracy and epistemology, explores the interplay of democracy and epistemology, hazards of market-based thinking, and the role of expert knowledge in democratic decision-making. They also discuss the challenges of defining knowledge, internet regulation, and the concept of lotocracy.
Having reporters on the ground is crucial for reliable and trustworthy reporting in a world inundated with news.
Democratic institutionalism requires effective institutionalization and recognizes the normative roots of democracy.
Relying solely on market-based thinking in democracy can lead to epistemically dysfunctional outcomes and calls for careful regulation.
Deep dives
The importance of having reporters in the field
The podcast emphasizes the significance of having reporters on the ground to provide accurate and firsthand information amid the influx of news. In a world inundated with news, having reporters in the field helps to ensure reliable and trustworthy reporting. The podcast highlights the role of on-site reporters in delivering quick, factual, and objective news stories.
The role of democratic institutionalism in bridging political philosophy and economic institutions
The podcast explores the concept of democratic institutionalism, which aims to understand how democratic principles can be realized through effective institutionalization. The discussion emphasizes the need to go beyond justifying democracy based on its positive epistemic features and acknowledges the broader normative roots of democracy. It delves into the ways in which democratic institutions can be built and the complexities of integrating political philosophy, economics, and moral philosophy.
The hazards of market-based thinking about democracy
The dangers of relying solely on market-based thinking in democracy are discussed in the podcast episode. While markets can serve as mechanisms for sharing and distributing information, the episode argues that real-life markets often deviate from the idealized model. Externalities, information asymmetry, and irrational behavior are some of the factors that can lead to epistemically dysfunctional outcomes in market-based thinking about democracy. The episode suggests the need for careful regulation and highlights the importance of market transparency and the prevention of externalities.
The partnership model for integrating expert knowledge and democratic decision-making
The podcast episode introduces the partnership model, which seeks to find a balance between expert knowledge and democratic decision-making. This model acknowledges the hierarchical nature of expert knowledge while emphasizing the importance of integrating expert communities and the broader public. The episode discusses the responsibility of both parties in translating expert knowledge for public discourse and emphasizes the need for trust-building and integrity in the experts and the community. The partnership model recognizes the complexities of incorporating expert knowledge into democratic processes, aiming for a more inclusive and informed decision-making system.
The connection between social justice and a well-functioning democracy
The podcast delves into the connection between social justice and the functioning of a well-organized democracy. It highlights the influence of socioeconomic inequality on the effectiveness of democratic systems. By reducing socioeconomic inequality and addressing social justice issues, democratic systems can become more inclusive and responsive to the needs of all citizens. The episode emphasizes the importance of considering social justice as a fundamental element in building and improving democratic systems.
For better or worse, democracy and epistemology are intertwined. For one thing, politics is partly a matter of gathering, assessing, and applying information. And this can be done responsibly or incompetently. At least since Plato, a leading critique of democracy has focused on the ignorance of ordinary citizens. Historically, this kind of critique has supplied the basis for several nondemocratic proposals. Yet it has also worked in the background of a range of views within democratic theory. Among these are views that have relied on markets as mechanisms for sharing and distributing information.
But there are hazards to market-based thinking about democracy. In Citizen Knowledge: Markets, Experts, and the Infrastructure of Democracy (Oxford UP, 2023), Lisa Herzog explores three conceptually distinct sites where democracy interfaces with epistemology: markets, expert communities, and public deliberation. The result is an integrated political epistemology for democracy.
Robert Talisse is the W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.
