Political Science 1020E Lecture 8: PoliSci Lecture 8 Democracy Part 2
10 Nov 2017
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The principle of fairness : condemns free-riding. Universal rights to vote and stand for office. Democracy embodies a commitment to freedom or self rule. Freedom is not the capacity to do what we want, instead, freedom is obedience to laws we give ourselves. The mere impulse of appetite is slavery, while obedience to a low which we prescribe to ourselves is liberty ". Believes that we can be coerced and free at the same time: coercion: we are forced to comply with laws, freedom: in a democracy, laws are self-imposed, this is how he claims they are compatible. Rousseau opposes democratic government because he thinks executive power should be held by the few. Rousseau supports democratic legislation because he thinks the people should make their own laws. Objection: democracy is not a form of freedom. Those on the losing side are subject to laws they don"t give themselves. Majority rule means the minority are not self-ruling.
