Topic: Is democracy a requirement of justice or an instrument for realizing it?
Essay structures (I could only type very briefly here. For the detail -> please check the files “Essay writing tips” instructions, and subsequently follow one way of writing a political theory essay)
- Introduction, narrow the scope to a specific debate, and come up with your main argument e.g. is democracy for justice or just as an instrumental tools, or it is depend on the background circumstances etc.
- Define the term i.e. the intrinsic value of justice, and what is the instrumental value of democracy?
- Possible counter-arguments
- Conclusion
Essay requirements:
(i) critically engage with main issues or arguments raised in the related lecture(s); and
(ii) offer your own argument and defend your argument in a logical way; and
(iii) demonstrate an excellent understanding (not only a basic understanding) of core reading(s) and a good use of recommended readings.
Make use of the required reading (provided in the upload file) as follows:
- Arneson, Richard (2009). Keith Dowding et al. eds., “Democracy Is Not Intrinsically Just.” In Justice and Democracy. Cambridge University Press.
- Christiano, Thomas (2008). The Constitution of Equality. Oxford University Press. Ch. 3.
- — really useful article to the topic
-
Cohen, Joshua. “Deliberation and Democratic Legitimacy.” in his Philosophy, Politics,Democracy: Selected Essays (2009)
Recommend reading as follows. If writers could also include some arguments from these articles would be great!!
- Arneson, Richard (2003). “Defending the Purely Instrumental Account of Democratic Legitimacy.” Journal of Political Philosophy 11, 122-32.
- Beitz, Charles (1989). Political Equality: An Essay in Democratic Theory. Princeton University Press. Ch. 5.
- Griffin, Christopher (2003). “Democracy as a Non-Instrumentally Just Procedure.” Journal of Political Philosophy 11, 111-21.
- Wall, Steven (2007). “Democracy and Equality.” The Philosophical Quarterly, 416-438.