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Against Democracy

,

Politics and Government

Audio only

Against Democracy

By Jason BrennanNarrated by Christopher Ragland

Against Democracy

Length10h 54m

About this audiobook

A classic book now available on audio With narration by Christopher Ragland, who presents a bracingly provocative critique of one of our most cherished ideas and institutions Most people believe democracy is a uniquely just form of government. They believe people have the right to an equal share of political power. And they believe that political participation is good for us—it empowers us, helps us get what we want, and tends to make us smarter, more virtuous, and more caring for one another. These are some of our most cherished ideas about democracy. But Jason Brennan says they are all wrong. In this trenchant book, Brennan argues that democracy should be judged by its results—and the results are not good enough. Just as defendants have a right to a fair trial, citizens have a right to competent government. But democracy is the rule of the ignorant and the irrational, and it all too often falls short. Furthermore, no one has a fundamental right to any share of political power, and exercising political power does most of us little good. On the contrary, a wide range of social science research shows that political participation and democratic deliberation actually tend to make people worse—more irrational, biased, and mean. Given this grim picture, Brennan argues that a new system of government—epistocracy, the rule of the knowledgeable—may be better than democracy, and that it's time to experiment and find out. A challenging critique of democracy and the first sustained defense of the rule of the knowledgeable, Against Democracy is essential reading for scholars and students of politics across the disciplines. Featuring a new preface that situates the book within the current political climate and discusses other alternatives beyond epistocracy, Against Democracy is a challenging critique of democracy and the first sustained defense of the rule of the knowledgeable.

Audiobook details

GenrePhilosophy, Politics and Government

Length10 hrs 54 mins

Narrated byChristopher Ragland

FormatAudiobook

Publish dateFeb 21, 2023

LanguageEnglish

Table of contents

1Opening Anno, Preface to the 2017 Paperback Edition

8Chapter 4 - Continued

2Preface and Acknowledgments

9Chapter 5 - Politics Is Not a Poem

3Chapter 1 - Hobbits and Hooligans

10Chapter 6 - The Right to Competent Government

4Chapter 2 - Ignorant, Irrational, Misinformed Nationalists

11Chapter 7, Is Democracy Competent

5Chapter 2 - Continued

12Chapter 7 - Continued

Show all chaptersShow less

6Chapter 3 - Political Participation Corrupts

13Chapter 8 - The Rule of the Knowers

7Chapter 4 - Politics Doesn't Empower You or Me

14Chapter 9 - Civil Enemies , Closing Anno

About the author

Jason Brennan

View all by Jason Brennan

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