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Relying on experts as we reason together
1Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, USA.
Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal
|September 26, 2012
Summary
Collective reasoning is vital for democracy, but expert reliance poses challenges. This study explores conditions enabling collective reasoning despite expert input, ensuring democratic deliberation remains possible.
Area of Science:
- Political Philosophy
- Epistemology
- Social Epistemology
Background:
- Collective reasoning is crucial for democratic lawmaking and decision-making.
- Reliance on experts can undermine collective reasoning by making reasons unsurveyable or conclusions irreversible.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conditions under which collective reasoning can be sustained despite reliance on expert knowledge.
- To address the challenges posed by expert reliance to democratic deliberation.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of concepts related to reasoning, expertise, and democracy.
- Examination of the implications of different forms of expert reliance (de facto and de jure).
Main Results:
- Collective reasoning with experts is feasible if expert reasons 'mesh' and are publicly recoverable.
- Maintaining the possibility of appeal against expert decisions is crucial for preserving collective reasoning.
Conclusions:
- Democratic collective reasoning can accommodate expert knowledge under specific conditions.
- Safeguarding the transparency and contestability of expert input is essential for robust democratic processes.
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