The Limits of Popular Control over Government

Philip Pettit argues that freedom is best defined as non-domination, where domination is understood as subjection to uncontrolled interference. Pettit further argues that government is legitimate when it succeeds in preventing citizens from dominating each other without dominating them in the process, as this allows citizens to enjoy the protection of government without surrendering their freedom. Since Pettit argues that democratic (popular) control over government prevents government from dominating its citizens, Pettit argues that a legitimate, non-dominating state is possible. In this paper I argue that popular control cannot prevent government domination unless one accepts controversial, substantive value judgments about freedom and equality that Pettit claims his theory avoids.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Philosophy

Department dc:contributor.department

Philosophy

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Curtis, Samuel John

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• MacKenzie, Jordan

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Yaure, Philip Christopher
• Hersch, Gil

• Philosophy
• Political Philosophy
• Republicanism
• Domination
• Freedom

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:34404

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/110068