Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Wilt Chamberlain
30 Mar 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
The wilt chamberlain example is intended to show that: (exam question) Auto = self, nomos = law or rule. Democracy embodies a commitment to freedom or self-rule. Freedom is not the capacity to do what we want. Instead, freedom is obedience to laws we give ourselves. Rousseau: the mere impulse of appetite is slavery, while obedience to a law which we prescribe to ourselves is liberty . Objection: democracy is not a form of freedom. Those on the losing side are subject to laws they do not give themselves. Majority rule means the minority are not self-ruling. Therefore, those in the minority are not free. Democracy provides more autonomy then any other decision procedure. Democracy gives every citizen the opportunity to participate on equal terms in law-making. Democratic participation is an essential element in a flourishing life. Aristotle claimed that human beings are political animals.
