Download This PaperThe Promise and Peril of Epistocracy
Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy (Symposium on Jason Brennan, Against Democracy), (pre-publication version), Forthcoming
14 Pages Posted: 5 Sep 2019
Date Written: September 3, 2019
Abstract
Jason Brennan's Against Democracy makes a strong case that democratic majorities' right to rule rests on shaky grounds so long as their ballot box decisions are heavily influenced by ignorance and bias. But his “epistocratic” alternative - empowering the better-informed segments of society - has significant flaws of its own. Ironically, the biggest shortcoming of epistocracy may be that we lack the knowledge necessary to make it work well.
Keywords: democracy, epistocracy, rationality, political ignorance, ignorance, irrationality, Jason Brennan, foot voting
JEL Classification: D70, D71, D80, D81, H10, H11, H41, H77
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Ilya Somin (Contact Author)
George Mason University - Antonin Scalia Law School ( email )
3301 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201
United States
703-993-8069 (Phone)
703-993-8124 (Fax)
HOME PAGE: http://sls.gmu.edu/ilya-somin/
