The tension between popular and elitist elements in John Stuart Mill's theory of democracy

• Grant number: 23/00135-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: October 20, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Philosophy - History of Philosophy
• Principal Investigator: Alberto Ribeiro Gonçalves de Barros
• Grantee: Isabel de Almeida Brand
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/02494-5 - A brief investigation into the need for wisdom and virtue for legislative practice and popular control of leaders in John Stuart Mill's theory of democracy., BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Our objective is to characterize, from the analysis of the three main political works of John Stuart Mill - On Liberty, Considerations on Representative Government and Utilitarism -, the controversy raised by his interpreters regarding the democratic credentials of the British philosopher. We intend to study the tension between the popular elements and the elitist elements exposed in Millian democratic theory. We will especially examine: the appreciation of the participation of people endowed with genius in the formation of public opinion; the influence of competent specialists in institutionalized decision-making processes; and the defense of individuality and self-determination as a moral development of society.