What is Democracy? (Philosophical Definition)

[@theclassicalrepublican9226]

Ancient Democracy was also characterized by sortition. Have you thought about doing a video on sortition? I have one coming out soon.

[@InventiveHarvest]

An interesting point that could have been good for this video is consensus vs voting. If "democracy" is rule of the people, consensus is more democratic than voting because it does not leave out the minorities. However, voting is much less costly than consensus, so voting might actually serve the will of the people, as consensus will have more trouble in actually getting anything done.

[@CarneadesOfCyrene]

The question then is if there are some things that should be done by consensus and other things that only require a majority vote. Or the level of consensus required. Should we elect representatives by vote but only change the constitution by consensus? Or at least more than a majority? There is a whole other video or even series to be done on ideas of consensus and democracy.

[@mr.c2485]

Which category does the development of nuclear weapons fall under?

[@little_SHY_1]

I don't know what he said but my teacher told me the homework (I hate homework) IN MY MIND🤔🤐

[@GTORT]

Love the subtle shade. Because it's literal fact lol

[@DunderHead.5000]

"Its got something to do with young men killing each other."

[@Bheem161]

So does Democracy need a government or can a group of people which vote on their decisions also be a democracy?

[@johnk2452]

*_Good question._* The answer depends on how a nation defines and accepts the purpose and need for govt. In our USA --- putting aside our significant problems, challenges, etc --- our NATION was intended and designed to be a democracy and to have a govt that fulfilled ONE purpose and one purpose ONLY: to protect, fairly and equally the unalienable rights of its LEGAL citizens. As such, We The People can have ANY TYPE OF GOVT we want ... as long as it adheres ONLY to its INTENDED purpose. OTOH, if NO PROTECTION OF RIGHTS is needed, there is NO NEED for a govt. But, such would be a false utopia, yes?

[@skeetorkiftwon]

@@johnk2452 That's a bald faced lie. The United States of America is a Republic that elects its representatives democratically. This is why we have electorates, the electoral college, senators, and the house of representatives. Most states have a micro version of the same model, but some are Commonwealths etc and are structured differently. Concerning the pipe dream above, you could write an app for your phone and let everyone "equally" run your soon to be invaded/collapse into civil war vote fest. The problem of course being that not everyone is equal, as well informed, or acting in the general interest of the people, so the little experiment will be over quite quickly. Remember CHAZ? Lol

[@anneonymous4884]

Other entities often style themselves as "democratic", like labor unions.

[@johnk2452]

@@anneonymous4884 You are correct --- other entities DO style themselves as democracies; where such is seen throughout recorded history --- but, does not the critical question remain: are they or are they not democracies? And, in response to this thread's original question, does a labor union, or, any other entity, for that matter, need a govt?

[@lotoreo]

How is a group of people voting on their decisions not a government? It seems that in any group of people that strives to be more than an a hyper atomized lack of unity, each for their own, "governing" is irreducibly required. Maaayyybe if you redefine "government" to purely mean "the domination of some over the many" you could imagine a society without any government, but in my experience, this redefinition is usually done through motivated reasoning, where people who don't want to be held accountable by others or contribute to the public good, try to redefine terms to make it seem that any form of government is inherent tyranny.

[@real_pattern]

as an organizing ideology, it's not necessary for democracy to contribute to civilizational collapse, but currently, it is. rn it doesn't function/appear as an optimal political ideology, as in, it's a part of our (planetary superorganism level) organizing systems that are catabolic and resulting in a complexity collapse, culminating in the sixth mass extinction & the shift to the hothouse earth scenario. democracy in its varying manifestations is not, at the moment, capable of effective adaptation to the collapse.

[@CarneadesOfCyrene]

The question is what would be a better option? Autocracies don't seem to be much better at addressing these issues, so is the flaw actually in humanity not our system of government?

[@KaiHenningsen]

How democratic is the country I leave in right now? It seems to match the last definition, "egalitarian democracy" - certainly seems to match it much better than the US. Though I think we overdo it at the deliberative level - taking ten or twenty years (or even more) to decide on a train track is a bit of a problem. See also: NIMBYism.

[@CarneadesOfCyrene]

Where do you live? There are plenty of countries that rank as more democratic than the US, at least on certain dimensions of democracy.

[@anneonymous4884]

One interesting critique of democracy (or at least certain practices) is that a country is "too democratic". In the United States, we elect many offices that are civil servants (like sheriffs and district attorneys) in Europe. Likewise I've heard Switzerland decried as "too democratic" for it's high level of federalism, many referenda, and non-private voting.

[@jewelcitizen2567]

*_Democracy is now currently defined in Europe as a ‘country run by ✔️€〰️💲’_* - Ezra Pound

[@pataki2666]

Say it with your chest coward

[@I-PixALbI4-I]

- What is democracy? - It got something to do with young men killing each other, Arthur - When it's comes my turn, will you want me to go? - For democracy, any man would give his only begotten son.

[@johnk2452]

What are you talking about? Why so obtuse?

[@I-PixALbI4-I]

@@johnk2452 Metallica - One

[@qwertyman321]

two wolfes and sheep arguing who going to eat sheep first with it "consent" that democracy.

[@johnk2452]

*_That is correct ... IF AND ONLY IF you are talking about ONLY ONE TYPE of democracy; that is, a pure democracy with NO CONCERN for the UNALIENABLE RIGHTS of the individual; IOW, a simple MAJORITY RULES with no concern for ethical or moral considerations._* As discussed broadly in the video, democracy does not exist --- only and necessarily --- in the presence of "wolves and sheep".

[@bobann3566]

No its not. The wolves are Representatives in a Republic that have promised the sheep a bunch of free stuff which lures the sheep for the slaugter.

[@skeetorkiftwon]

Democracy is rule of the mob. That's its original definition. Also, declining EROEI. You're welcome.

[@pataki2666]

Kratos to the demos (deme)

[@subliminallime4321]

Demos = the people, kratia = power Mob is a loaded word & is also incorrect.

[@NielMalan]

That "original definition" is only used by fascists. In modern usage it is defined differently, as this video demonstrates.

[@johnk2452]

@@NielMalan I agree with your second sentence ... but, this "original definition", as you characterize it, is NOT used *_ONLY_* by fascists. In modern usage --- or otherwise --- how could that possibly be true and how could and would you possibly know this or even assume there to be any truth to such a broad, sweeping, and pejorative statement?

[@skeetorkiftwon]

@@johnk2452 Who cares? These soy pussies are the first to scream fascist, steal the weapons, and try to genocide their enemies. It's happening right now. You think that brat has read Locke, or Hume, or the Federalist and Antifederalist papers. Whole generation of uneducated fascists screaming their soy song. Rule by the "people," whether it's communism, socialism, or democracy, never works because someone is always put it charge. It's a meme. Which is why a Democratically elected Republic is the best form of government thus far. As Locke stated, government is a necessary evil that prevents mob "justice" from creating increasing chaos. "A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51 percent of the people may take away the rights of the other 49,” -Thomas Jefferson "fascist"