Arguments for Evolutionary Democracy

Research output: A Conference proceeding or a Chapter in BookChapterpeer-review

Abstract

I investigate the sciences for their use of the terms ‘democracy’ and ‘democratic’. Findings suggest that particles do not behave in democratic ways as they are driven by strict forces. The key is to investigate whether these forces allow for ‘democratic’ things to manifest when unicellular life emerges from the ‘prebiotic soup’. A small selection of eusocial and social nonhumans likegametes, crows and bonobos are described. We see that nonhumans do not practice complex democracy. Rather, nonhumans have perfected specific behaviours that we as humans explain as ‘democratic’ behaviours. A discussion follows arguing that evidence supports the idea of an underlying basic democracy. We should look to nonhuman democratic specialization to see what we can borrow from them to use in our moral systems.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication9781137338662
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Pages34-51
Number of pages18
ISBN (Print)9781137338662
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameTheories, Concepts and Practices of Democracy
ISSN (Print)2947-4469
ISSN (Electronic)2947-4477

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