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On the Compatibility of Epistocracy and Public Reason

Bibliographic Data

ID20317536
AuthorsThomas Mulligan (0000-0002-9088-5249, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume41
Issue3
Pages458-476
Publication date2015-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Theory and Practice (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0037-802X • E-ISSN: 2154-123X
PublisherPhilosophy Documentation Center (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.5840/soctheorpract201541324
OpenAlexW647224044
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited15

In "epistocratic" forms of government, political power is wielded by those who possess the knowledge relevant to good policymaking. Some democrats--notably, David Estlund--concede that epistocracy might produce better political outcomes than democracy but argue that epistocracy cannot be justified under public reason. These objections to epistocracy are unsound because they violate a viability constraint: they are also fatal to democracy and all other plausible political arrangements. Moreover, there is a problem with the public reason framework itself--a problem that can only be solved by providing a better definition for what makes an objection to a political arrangement a "reasonable" one

Applied philosophy · Compatibility (geochemistry) · Epistemology · Political science · Sociology · Engineering · Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics · Philosophy

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    Open Access•Anne Jeffrey•EPISTÉMÈ•2018

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    Open Access•Yarran Hominh•Journal of Confucian Philosophy…•2022

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    Cyril Hédoin•Social Epistemology•2021

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    Open Access•María Pía Méndez•Social Epistemology•2022

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    Open Access•Sung Jun Han•Journal of Social Philosophy•2026

  • Does epistemic proceduralism justify the disenfranchisement of children

    Jakob Hinze•Journal of Global Ethics•2019

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    Open Access•Richard Meissner•International Environmental…•2022

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    Open Access•Elena Ziliotti•Critical Review of International…•2020

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    Open Access•Sophie Keeling•Hypatia•2025

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    Open Access•Mikhail Volkov•Philosophy & Technology•2025

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    Open Access•Gwilym David Blunt•Politics•2020

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    Open Access•Udit Bhatia•American Journal of Political…•2024

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    Open Access•Lu Hong, Sarah E Page et al.•Proceedings of the National…•2004

  • The bell curve

    Charles A Murray, Richard J Herrnstein•The bell curve•1996

  • Reconciliation Through the Public use of Reason

    Jürgen Habermas•The Journal of Philosophy•1995

  • Justificatory Liberalism An Essay on Epistemology and Political Theory

    Gerald Gaus, Gerald F Gaus•Justificatory liberalism•1996

  • Epistocracy Within Public Reason

    Jason Brennan•Philosophical Perspectives on…•2014

  • The Moral Basis of Political Liberalism

    Charles Larmore•The Journal of Philosophy•1999

  • Sociotropes, Systematic Bias, and Political Failure

    Open Access•Bryan Caplan•Social Science Quarterly•2002

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    Gerald Dworkin, Thomas Nagel•The Philosophical Review•1993

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    John A Kirk, Nick Kotz•The Journal of Southern History•2006

  • Systematically Biased Beliefs about Economics

    Open Access•Bryan Caplan•The Economic Journal•2002

  • Implicit and explicit prejudice in the 2008 American presidential election

    Open Access•B Keith Payne, Jon A Krosnick et al.•Journal of Experimental Social…•2009

  • How Explicit Racial Prejudice Hurt Obama in the 2008 Election

    Open Access•Spencer Piston•Political Behavior•2010

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    Jason Brennan•Critical Review•2014

  • The Right to a Competent Electorate

    Jason Brennan•The Philosophical Quarterly•2011

  • Political Ignorance and Collective Policy Preferences

    Open Access•Martin Gilens•American Political Science Review•2001

Unique citing works14
Citations per year1,75
Citation span2018 - 2026 (9)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 14
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