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Reflective Democracy

Reflective Democracy 322 Book Reviews / Journal of Moral Philosophy 5 (2008) 313–324 Robert Goodin, Refl ective Democracy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003), 279 pp. ISBN 0-19-927974-8 (pbk). Hardback: £39.00; paperback: £20.00. Most deliberative democrats focus on group deliberation. In this shrewd and thought-provoking book, Robert Goodin emphasizes individual deliberation – the internal refl ection by which an individual considers diff erent ideas when mak- ing decisions about collective action. But Goodin’s surprisingly respect-based stance stops him from reaching the (literally) logical conclusion. Rather than seek- ing to improve the logic and rationality of decision-making, and ultimately to advance well-being, Goodin writes as if the main aim of individual deliberation is to make us more respectful of each other’s preferences. For those of us who see too much respect in contemporary democratic theory, Goodin’s emphasis will remain ultimately unsatisfying. Goodin certainly advances the standard deliberative democratic position by arguing that ‘much of the work of deliberation…must inevitably be done within each individual’s head’ (p. 169). As an empirical claim this is true but sadly neglected by many deliberative democrats. Th ere is also a normative reason why deliberative democrats must address internal refl ection, although Goodin only mentions this very http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Moral Philosophy Brill

Reflective Democracy

Blau, Adrian
Journal of Moral Philosophy , Volume 5 (2): 322 – Jan 1, 2008
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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 2008 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
1740-4681
eISSN
1745-5243
DOI
10.1163/174552408X329055
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

322 Book Reviews / Journal of Moral Philosophy 5 (2008) 313–324 Robert Goodin, Refl ective Democracy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003), 279 pp. ISBN 0-19-927974-8 (pbk). Hardback: £39.00; paperback: £20.00. Most deliberative democrats focus on group deliberation. In this shrewd and thought-provoking book, Robert Goodin emphasizes individual deliberation – the internal refl ection by which an individual considers diff erent ideas when mak- ing decisions about collective action. But Goodin’s surprisingly respect-based stance stops him from reaching the (literally) logical conclusion. Rather than seek- ing to improve the logic and rationality of decision-making, and ultimately to advance well-being, Goodin writes as if the main aim of individual deliberation is to make us more respectful of each other’s preferences. For those of us who see too much respect in contemporary democratic theory, Goodin’s emphasis will remain ultimately unsatisfying. Goodin certainly advances the standard deliberative democratic position by arguing that ‘much of the work of deliberation…must inevitably be done within each individual’s head’ (p. 169). As an empirical claim this is true but sadly neglected by many deliberative democrats. Th ere is also a normative reason why deliberative democrats must address internal refl ection, although Goodin only mentions this very

Journal

Journal of Moral Philosophy – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 2008

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