Ordinary citizens' participation in elections is a cornerstone of contemporary democratic practice. Presidents are elected or ejected from office, governments stand and fall, the authority of legislative program is sustained or undermined, as a result of citizens' votes. Yet, in many democracies electoral participation declines, which raises important philosophical questions about the conceptual nature and function of voting, its ethical status, and questions of institutional design. This course accordingly aims to familiarise participants with key philosophical approaches to the nature and function of citizens' right to vote, the justifiability of compulsory voting policies, and the ethics of electoral (non)participation. It enables participants to interpret and critically appraise key arguments on these matters, while also enhancing their reading, reasoning, speaking, and academic writing skills.
Marcus CARLSEN HAGGROT
Séminaire
English
Course participants must each week read a set of required texts. Occasionally they are required to read another student's response paper, too. Expect to spend about 1,5 - 2 hours preparing for each session. Students are also required to produce three written products: a response paper (1000 words), a reflection report, and final paper (3000 words).
Autumn 2023-2024
Course participants' final mark is calculated based on four items, as per the table below.
Item Weight
1. Seminar Participation 10%
2. Response Paper 10%
3. Reflection Report 10%
4. Final Paper 70%
The course importantly aims to develop participants' ability to reason independently about contemporary philosophical scholarship. Seminar sessions are hence predominantly a venue for students to actively discuss the course materials with each other, and it is critical that everyone arrives well-prepared, ready to share their thoughts and to collaborate.
Beerbohm, E. A. (2012) In Our Name: The Ethics of Democracy. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.
Booth Chapman, E. (2019) 'The Distinctive Value of Elections and the Case for Compulsory Voting', American Journal of Political Science, 63(1), pp. 101-112.