An epistemic case for confucian democracy

Journal Article (2020)
Author(s)

E. Ziliotti (TU Delft - Ethics & Philosophy of Technology)

Research Group
Ethics & Philosophy of Technology
Copyright
© 2020 E. Ziliotti
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1080/13698230.2020.1838736
More Info
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Publication Year
2020
Language
English
Copyright
© 2020 E. Ziliotti
Research Group
Ethics & Philosophy of Technology
Issue number
7
Volume number
26
Pages (from-to)
1005-1027
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Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between democratic participation and the well-being of the people–a fundamental aim of Confucian government. It argues that although the value of democratic participation for people’s moral cultivation may be dubious (as suggested recently by Sungmoon Kim), democratic participation is key to meeting other salient aspects of people’s well-being. Drawing on developments in Western epistemic analyses of democracy, this paper shows that the complexity of political issues in developed countries makes democracy an important decision-making process to enhance the well-being of most of the members of society.