On The Reason Of Deliberative Democracy

Abstract:Deliberative Democracy is the latest develop in political philosophy and the democratic theory, and a growing research focus. The study of deliberative democracy is the contribution not only of China's political circles, as well as of the academic world politics, but also related to the future of the political philosophy. In this paper, through analysis the concept of reason and rationality, to understand and evaluate the theory of deliberative democracy. This paper consider the reason to the core issues of deliberative democracy. It not only makes deliberative democracy possible, be the creative source of it, but also increase the feasibility of deliberative democracy. Through the contrast of several theories of deliberative democracy and their reason concept, this paper think that the concept of reason in the model of deliberative democracy which based on the preferences is closer to the concept of reasonableness. And this concept of reason may lead to elite rule and face the problem of preference aggregation. While the concept of reason in rational Proceduralist mode of deliberative democracy is closer to traditional reason. But this emphasis on rational consensus is impossible both in theory and reality. This paper concludes that despite two kinds of deliberative democracy have many problems. However, it's important to combine their strengths. It is necessary to adhere to the agreed objective of the theory, and maintain the functions of deliberative democracy as a decision-making mechanism. Besides, by maintaining the inclusion for diversity, the deliberative democracy can overcome the barriers in theory and practice.