UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

“PSCI 281-001: An Introduction to Democratic Theory ”
Andrew Norris

“The word democracy comes to us from the ancient Greek, where it names the regime in which the demos or people rule.  While democracy is thus distinguished from monarchy, oligarchy, and aristocracy, a host of questions is raised.  What is the demos and how does its rule express itself?  Are the answers to these questions the same in ancient direct democracy and modern representative democracy?  What is the relation between democracy and classical liberalism, with its commitment to individual rights and parliamentary debate?  Is popular will inhibited or enabled by the presence of institutions unresponsive to its dictates, such as an independent judiciary and a free press?  What sort of person is the democratic citizen?  Does she possess characteristic vices or virtues?  If so, what relation is there between these characteristics and the success or health of the polity in which she lives?  Can a democracy thrive or even survive if the people who live in it do not possess the virtues of democratic citizens?  Is our own society a democratic one?  Ought it to be?

While there are no prerequisites for this course, prospective students should know that the readings will be plentiful and often fairly abstract, and that the focus of the course is philosophical rather than institutional.”

To see the syllabus, click here.