IAN SHAPIRO or DEMOCRATIZING DEMOCRACY

ENJOY PHILOSOPHY MEETS WEEKLY EVERY SUNDAY BETWEEN 11.30 AND 14.30 AT EDUARDO VII PARK, HERE:** https://goo.gl/maps/5e3jKFEweXkNvDdK6

ITS THE GARDEN BETWEEN THE “CARLOS LOPES PAVILLION” AND THE “PRAIA NO PARQUE” RESTAURANT AT EDUARDO VII PARK.

THIS IS A GROUP FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN ENJOYING PHILOSOPHY.

NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE IS REQUIRED.

ONLY ETERNAL CURIOSITY AND THE PLEASURE OF KNOWLEDGE.

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We will learn, debate, enjoy and investigate philosophers and diverse themes from the philosophical perspective. Each reunion is structured as a conversation among all attendees about that day s philosopher softly moderated by the organizer. The conversation will kick-off from the very brief suggested reading providing easy access to all attendees both to the philosopher and the conversation.

Let´s be greek and dive today on…

IAN SHAPIRO, the Yale Political Philosophy teacher, author and thinker, as he explores the realities of democracy as opposed to its ideals, its (un)fulfilled (yet) promises... but nevertheless... its still immense possibilities, its endless potentialities... From its conception, Shapiro outlines, democracy went beyond just a ruling system to establish itself (as well) as a mean to correct social inequalities. It was and still is conceived as "good enough" precisely for carrying within it a certain degree of (social) justice, inexistent in the remaining regimes. It started "One male Citizen, one vote" (the shameful shadow of Patriarchy is long standing) and luckily arrived to "One Citizen (Female or Male), One Vote" (only 23 centuries later ) precisely because it embodied an essential spirit of equality. Shapiro notices though, that the "good enough" promises often revealed themselves as "far from good enough" realities, as history shows a large list of democracies where brutal inequalities persist, and therefore the essential promise of democracy, literally the "Rule of the People" (Demos = People, Cratos = Rule), Equal Power for Equal Citizens, requires more than going to vote every 4 years.

But what ?
What do democracies require to fulfil its promises? What can we do within the boundaries of democracy to make the promised equality "really happen"? How to make democracy more democratic ?
That is precisely the question Ian Shapiro´s work tries to answer.
Not a small question indeed.

His answers, from the purely theoretical to the most grounded practical elements, reveal a sea of possibilities pending to be walked, fought, talked, thought...
Let´s accept his invitation.

The essential question of "who decides what", one of the most fundamental ones to be answered at every organized society, receives in Shapiro an interesting invitation.

Everybody impacted by a decision should intervene in the decision making process. Everybody impacted. Everybody.

Such an apparently evident principle does not appear in our democracy books because those involved in the decision-making-processes (the DEMOS of the DEMOcracy) are chosen due to their participation in a certain community, such as having a Passport of a certain country...
And although is true that finding who is impacted by a decision is more than debatable... also who is eligible for a certain passport is a highly debated question as well... so debating... we are doomed to...

So.. let s be gladly doomed with Ian...

And in happy celebration of this 25th of April, with a red carnation on our hands, hearts and souls... Let´s talk about democracy and everything we still can do to make the best out if its immense possibilities...
It´s a good way to support the beautiful democracy the Portuguese people gave themselves 52 years ago... and all of us living here are privileged to enjoy...

FELIZ 25 DE ABRIL !!!!!!!