Democracy and the Individual Will Cover Image

Demokracja i indywidualna wola
Democracy and the Individual Will

Author(s): Hieronim Kubiak
Subject(s): Political Philosophy, Government/Political systems, History and theory of political science
Published by: Oficyna Wydawnicza KA AFM
Keywords: democracy

Summary/Abstract: Considerations presented in this essay take for granted that: a) Human nature and democracy are an accumulated effect of human action, although these actions are never free from some structural conditions inherited from the past. But it is the people who modify or reinforce these condition. Hence, homo creator and homo sociologicus make their societies: civil, political, stats and the public. b) The growing sovereignty of individuals is one of the most important advancement of humankind. Sovereignty enables people to make choice, according to their own ambitions , possibilities and sensitivities, and enables them – as Vargas Mario Llosa asserts – run away from the gulag of religion, race, region and nation. c) Human nature and democracy are congruent. If human nature is free, and-oriented and calculating /rational/, therefore – as Jean Baechler rightly stresses – only democratic order is able, by its rules, devices and procedures to overcame consequence of human freedom, sociability and conflictuality. d) Participation, direct or through freely chosen representatives, of free and equal citizens in the polity, acceptance of the rules of the game and trust in the social contracts are the crucial factors for democracy. Therefore, according to the author point of view, it has to be remember that democracy is neither black, nor white nor red. As a matter of fact, it is the only political order which has, by the very nature of free and fair election, a built-in mechanism of self-correction, and, under the pressure of persistent or mounting cleavages (ethnic, religious and socio-economic especially), if majority of voters wishes so, even self-destruction. But, at the same time, only democracy posses the ability to question itself and correct its own mistakes without resort to naked force.

  • Issue Year: 11/2012
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 9-26
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish