
Critics Often Argue That There Cannot Be A Moral Duty To Vote Because Whatever Reason There Is To Vote Can Be Satisfied In Other Ways. This Essay Develops A Novel Theory Of The Duty To Vote-which We Call The Egalitarian Theory-that Responds To This Challenge. The Egalitarian Theory Grounds The Duty To Vote In The Unfolding Demands Of Treating Others As Equals In The Pursuit Of Justice. Whatever Private Actions Individuals Perform To Help Some Subset Of Individuals In Need, They Have A Duty To Recognize The Equal Importance Of All Individuals In Need. And The Only Way For Most Individuals To Do So Is By Voting In Elections. This Is Because Elections Present A Unique Opportunity To Advance Justice In A Holistic Way That Takes Account Of The Full Range And Scope Of Human Need, And In A Way That Treats Each Person's Need As Equally Important. Furthermore, Voting Uniquely Pursues Justice In A Way That Is Not Unilateral And Treats People As Equals In The Process. In The Course Of Developing The Egalitarian Theory, We Defend The Idea That Voting Is Not A Merely Symbolic Act, But Can Partially Contribute To The Moral Improvement Of Institutions.
This volume investigates the moral obligation of citizens to participate in democratic elections, specifically addressing the critique that individual votes are redundant. Steven Wall, an established scholar in political philosophy, curates a collection of essays that apply rigorous analytical frameworks to contemporary democratic dilemmas. The primary argument presented centers on the 'Egalitarian Theory,' which posits that voting is a necessary component of treating fellow citizens as equals within a just society.
What You Will Find
Experts in political philosophy recognize this series as a high-level forum for peer-reviewed discourse on normative political theory. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for scholars and advanced students of political ethics.
Page Count:
288
Publication Date:
2025-08-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0198958633
ISBN-13:
9780198958635
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