This essay focuses on recent proposals to confer decisional status upon deliberative mini-publics such as citizens’juries, Deliberative Polls, and citizens’assemblies. Against such proposals, I argue ...

YOUNGSTOWN — Upon the adoption of the Constitution of the United States in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked by a woman what kind of government had been created, to which he famously replied, “A ...

In this slim volume, Princeton University political philosopher Pettit (Republicanism) reiterates his long-held idea that universal freedom revolves around non-domination. Pettit begins the book with ...

Political philosopher Philip Pettit will speak at Youngstown State University on Oct. 2 as the Dr. Thomas and Albert J. Shipka Speaker for fall 2025. His lecture, “Democracy: The What, the Why and the ...

The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free. – Baruch Spinoza, Ethics Freedom is precious. Not only is it essential for the full ...

Negative freedom (also known as liberal freedom) is freedom from interference. There can be a master (a king, central authority, government, etc.), but as long as the master is benign and does not ...