Democracy and disagreement

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The din and deadlock of public life in America highlight the deep disagreements permeating our democracy, characterized by political and moral divisions. Citizens and their representatives increasingly adopt extreme and intransigent positions, necessitating a better kind of public discussion. Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson advocate for "deliberative democracy," offering a principled framework for opponents to engage on moral and political issues. They illustrate how deliberative democracy can tackle contentious topics such as abortion, affirmative action, health care, and welfare, enabling diverse groups separated by class, race, religion, and gender to reason together. Their exploration goes beyond typical political theory by addressing both the principles of reasonable argument and their practical application. The authors propose that enhancing our capacity for moral argument is preferable to relegating disagreements to procedural politics or judicial institutions. This work presents a compelling approach to resolving significant moral disagreements and managing those that will inevitably persist, fostering a respectful dialogue among all participants.