Democratic Reason

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Individual decision making can often be flawed due to misinformation, impulses, or biases, whereas collective decision making tends to be surprisingly accurate. Helene Landemore argues that the strengths of collective decision making provide a compelling case for democracy. She illustrates how democratic processes create a cognitive system that enhances the likelihood of correct decisions made by the many compared to those made by the few. Democracy is valuable not only for its legitimacy and justice but also for its intelligence. Landemore examines two key mechanisms in democratic politics: inclusive deliberation and majority rule. She posits that the truth-tracking capabilities of deliberation are significantly improved by inclusiveness rather than individual competence. This concept is explored within the frameworks of representative democracy and the selection of representatives. Additionally, Landemore analyzes various models of the 'wisdom of crowds' facilitated by majority rule, highlighting the trade-offs between inclusiveness and individual competence in voting. Ultimately, she concludes that when inclusive deliberation and majority rule are combined, they outperform less inclusive methods where decisions are made by a single person or a small group. This work establishes the superiority of democracy as a means of making decisions for the common good.