Democracy: What is it good for?
What decisions should we make democratically? As we approach the midterm elections, let's think carefully about when to use democracy, how to structure it, and who should get to vote on what. Electing representatives to vote on laws is familiar, but it is not the only way to make laws. We have the technology to enable direct democracy, with everyone voting on every law. But for some decisions, we want expertise. We don't want to design bridges by democracy. Only the opinions of the trained engineers should count. Are there decisions we shouldn't vote on at all? How much do free markets resemble democracies? Do we vote with our dollars? Join us this month as we dig deeper and discuss democracy.
How We Work
Everyone is welcome to join us to discuss philosophy. We meet monthly, with a summer hiatus from May to August. Each meeting will have a topic and a discussion leader to start the conversation. All you need to bring is curiosity and a willingness to listen to others. Read our rules to learn more about how we work, and be sure to check out this month's Philosophical Exercise.
The Next Meeting
Date: September 24, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Smith Building, Room 202. (Park in the adjacent lot. Guests park free.)