Chapter 7. Science and the source of legitimacy in democratic regimes
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Oded Balaban
Abstract
… the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using the word if it were tied down to any one meaning. Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way.
George Orwell (1968, pp. 132–3)
Democracy admits no source of authority. It assumes that values are not derived from facts, and facts are not derived from values. This runs contrary to Plato’s “virtue [values] is knowledge.” According to Plato’s logic, experts should rule the republic. Contrary to his view, Democracy assumes that there are not experts on values. Therefore, democracy means the “decision” to rule by means of formal procedures like suffrage or rotation of rulers. Unlike in science, what prevails is not reason and authority based on knowledge. This is the ground for the needed measures against the tyranny of the majority to assure tolerance, freedom and equality before the law.
Abstract
… the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using the word if it were tied down to any one meaning. Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way.
George Orwell (1968, pp. 132–3)
Democracy admits no source of authority. It assumes that values are not derived from facts, and facts are not derived from values. This runs contrary to Plato’s “virtue [values] is knowledge.” According to Plato’s logic, experts should rule the republic. Contrary to his view, Democracy assumes that there are not experts on values. Therefore, democracy means the “decision” to rule by means of formal procedures like suffrage or rotation of rulers. Unlike in science, what prevails is not reason and authority based on knowledge. This is the ground for the needed measures against the tyranny of the majority to assure tolerance, freedom and equality before the law.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- About the contributors vii
- Foreword 1
- Introduction 7
- Chapter 1. The dam project: Who are the experts? 17
- Chapter 2. Rational decisions in a disagreement with experts 35
- Chapter 3. Rethinking the notion of public 53
- Chapter 4. The expert you are (not) 71
- Chapter 5. Decisions without scientists? 87
- Chapter 6. Save the planet, win the election 109
- Chapter 7. Science and the source of legitimacy in democratic regimes 127
- Chapter 8. The ethics of communication and the Terra Terra project 145
- Chapter 9. The political use of science 165
- Chapter 10. The dialectical legacy of epigenetics 185
- Index 197
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- About the contributors vii
- Foreword 1
- Introduction 7
- Chapter 1. The dam project: Who are the experts? 17
- Chapter 2. Rational decisions in a disagreement with experts 35
- Chapter 3. Rethinking the notion of public 53
- Chapter 4. The expert you are (not) 71
- Chapter 5. Decisions without scientists? 87
- Chapter 6. Save the planet, win the election 109
- Chapter 7. Science and the source of legitimacy in democratic regimes 127
- Chapter 8. The ethics of communication and the Terra Terra project 145
- Chapter 9. The political use of science 165
- Chapter 10. The dialectical legacy of epigenetics 185
- Index 197
