Democracy: Origins, Evolution, and Ethical Foundations

Posted on Dec 12, 2024 in Philosophy and ethics

Democracy: Differences

  • Small-size communities: In Greece, all members were aware of several companies.
  • Compact societies: A self-sufficient economy, in part. Slaves were not considered citizens.
  • No worked: Without institutional autonomy, every citizen could vote on power; they could even create laws and delegate such power to vote. A different way of life.
  • It was difficult to distinguish the public life of a Greek citizen. Politics today are only a small part of our existence.

Resemblances

  • Rational argument: Political reasons to bring about action.
  • Citizenship and participation: Citizens had an intrinsic relationship. The polis developed a civic education. Democracy does not work with uneducated citizens.

Republican Roots

Direct involvement disappeared with the Greek polis, but the idea of democracy remained: republica. Republica has two senses:

  • Form of government: Democracy, representing the greatest king and president of the republic government.
  • Respublica: Things that affect us all, such as social security aspects.
  • Mixed government: Representing different social groups.
  • Running under: Moral integrity of citizens.

Protecting Democracy

Democracy is a protection mechanism for governments to avoid falling into egoism, which is interested only in themselves. There must be a free expression of voters. The state acts as an arbitrator so that everyone can have their own interests and protect them from the government.

Social Contract: Descent

State of nature and from here, explains the necessity to bring the state reasons for the possible acceptance by all concerned.

  • Authoritarian (Hobbes): In which you want to give a sovereign power because the rights and freedoms would be unlimited, but there would be a war between everyone. The state guarantees peace, order, and security.
  • Libertarian (J. Locke): Part of an initial situation where each one was free, enjoying the fruits of his work, but he wants to implement a state to avoid each taking justice into their own hands, in two contracts:
    • Create the state.
    • State resolves conflicts between individuals.
  • Universalist (Rousseau)

Hedonism

Achieves happiness through pleasure and avoiding pain. There are three types:

  • Hedonistic pleasure: They believe that happiness is what gives you physical pleasure (e.g., eating, sleeping).
  • Epicureanism: Says there are many physical pleasures, but one is better: friendship. You have to calculate all the fun and see what you get paid more.
  • Utilitarianism:
    • You get your happiness by making others happy.
    • Happiness is when most people are happy thanks to you. That makes him happy; he sees how happier that more people are happy through him.
    • Collaborating with the happiness of another, you cannot be unhappy because it will be another.

Happiness and Self

Do not depend on… Two groups:

  • Cynical: When one achieves happiness, one will be free of obligations. One is completely free and wants to free all types of restrictions.
  • Stoic: (Diogenes is the maximum representative) Pretty cool people. You have to discover what the order of the cosmos is because that way, you will know how to behave. The wise will realize that everything is in the hands of fate and therefore will want to ensure inner peace, becoming insensitive to suffering. The school of Zeno Citium was founded.

Eudaimonism

Unhappiness comes from not being a real human. Making improper things makes you feel more happy doing those things that make us feel ourselves. You have to take a human life, the Greek (we differ from animals in reason; if you want to bring happiness as a rational life). Theoretical life: resolve life rationally (think) = happy person.

Utopias

  • Classic: The most important is that of Plato, which says that the world would be better if the government knew. Criticize the democratic model.
  • Popular: Imaginary-based countries, such as Jauja. For example, people believed in this country.
  • Medieval: The city would be better if the principles of Christians were respected and applied in politics. For example, that there is another.
  • Renaissance: They believe that scientific and technological advances would be the best in the world, as explained in T. More’s Utopia.
  • Illustrated: Thought that the world would be perfect if people were educated and knew how to resolve things by talking. Emilio by Rousseau.
  • Socialists: Three types:
    • Utopian: Believe the guide to associated. For example, if you want to be good, you should be good.
    • Communist: Eliminate private property; if no one has anything, anyone may want it.
    • Anarchists: To eliminate the authority, government, nobody in the company commanded, because if someone sends you, you bounce.

Heteronomy and Autonomy

The moral evolution is heteronomy to autonomy. Difference in three levels that express themselves in possible situations:

  • Preconventional level: Respect the rules only for the consequences implied in violating them (they fear the punishment). Those immature are driven by selfishness.
  • Conventional level: Just consider what is consistent with the laws of proper society. One feels a member of a community, recognizes and supports standards. Just consider it normal in society.
  • Postconventional level: A person behaves independently by the principles of their conscience. Feel like members of the community. Autonomy represents the highest degree of moral maturity.