Aporia and Humility: Virtues of Democracy

INTRODUCTION The search for what defines democracy overall, and democratic education in particular, is a preoccupation for a number of theorists. Heesoon Bai defines democracy using its literal translation, whereby people have the power of selfdetermination and self-government. However, this is a broad definition; using it raises a plethora of questions including what is meant by self-determination and selfgovernment. Questions also arise regarding the different types of democracy, such as conservative or progressivist, or around what is meant by the conceptual apparatus of democracy, such as equality, voting, or participation. Although defining democracy through asking these questions empirically is an important task, philosophy is charged with exploring an equally significant issue, namely, what are the philosophical dimensions of democracy? Put another, perhaps more contestable way, what are the virtues of democracy? From very different positions, both Bai and Chantal Mouffe tack...