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<p class="o-book__category f-secondary"> <a
href="https://press.princeton.edu/subjects/philosophy">Philosophy</a>
</p>
<h1 class="o-book__title f-h4"> Against Democracy: <span>New
Preface</span> </h1>
</header>
<div class="o-book__meta">
<ul class="o-book__authors f-landing">
<li> <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/taxonomy/term/13201">Jason
Brennan</a> </li>
</ul>
<ul class="o-book__editor-notes f-secondary">
Preface by
<li>Jason Brennan</li>
</ul>
<div class="o-book__blurb f-landing">
<p><b>A bracingly provocative challenge to one of our most
cherished ideas and institutions</b></p>
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<dt class="price">Price:</dt>
<dd class=""> $19.95 / £14.99 </dd>
<dt class="isbn">ISBN:</dt>
<dd class=""> <br>
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<dt class="published">Published:</dt>
<dd class=""> Sep 26, 2017 </dd>
<dt class="copyright">Copyright:</dt>
<dd class=""> 2016
</dd>
<dt class="pages">Pages:</dt>
<dd class=""> 312
</dd>
<dt class="size">Size:</dt>
<dd class="">5 x 8 in.</dd>
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<br>
<p>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.<br>
<br>
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—<u>epistocracy,
the rule of the knowledgeable</u>—may be better than democracy,
and that it’s time to experiment and find out.<br>
<br>
A challenging critique of democracy and the first sustained
defense of the rule of the knowledgeable, <i>Against Democracy</i>
is essential reading for scholars and students of politics across
the disciplines.<br>
<br>
Featuring a new preface that situates the book within the current
political climate and discusses other alternatives beyond
epistocracy, <i>Against Democracy</i> is a challenging critique
of democracy and the first sustained defense of the rule of
the knowledgeable.</p>
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