Brettschneider addresses "epistemic theories" on page 19 and 20. He argues that proponents of such theories have to show that their standards are more fundamental than democracy. He also says, "the ideal of democracy, I argue, is self rule, and subordination of democratic institutions to one particular comprehensive view would impose external rule on citizens who, reasonably, did not share that view."(20) Kant's views on human nature, for example, seem more f'undamental' than politics, and Brettschneider's democracy constrains self rule similar to how human nature constrains legitimate action in Kant. So Brettschneider really has little argument except to assert that by definition in a democracy, self rule has no constraint except those laid out in his value theory. Thoughts?
Also im not exactly certain of what he means by "epistemic theories," but he mentions kantian theories.(20)
I think epistemic theories of democracy are those that appeal to values outside of procedure in order to justify constraint. The problem with epistemic theories, like he said on pg 19, is that it requires justification that this extrinsic value is more fundamental than democracy, which is tough to show.
ReplyDeleteI think Brettschneider is just trying to show how constraint is embedded into democracy through his three values and the dual-role of citizens.