Why Democracy?

Democracy often seems like the one thing that brings people together in political debates. After all, only dictators and fools question the value of democracy…right? Yet the value of democracy has been repeatedly challenged throughout history. Philosophers like Plato and Confucius thought democracy was a terrible idea, and some contemporary political theorists speculate that democracy may not be as useful or moral as we suppose. For those who believe in the value of democracy, it is important to explore the arguments in which democracy is grounded. This talk does three things: (1) explains what democracy is; (2) explains why serious thinkers have distrusted democracy; and (3) explores the best contemporary arguments in favor of democracy.