Why Democracy?

Exploring the Roots of Democracy

In our modern political world, democracy is often the one thing everyone can agree on. It is usually treated as an obvious good, and we tend to assume that only dictators would ever question its value. However, as we celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, it is a perfect time to look closer at the ideas that built our system.

On May 5 at 6 p.m., the Moultonborough Library will host a New Hampshire Humanities program titled “Why Democracy”. While we honor our country’s milestone, this talk acknowledges that the value of democracy has been challenged throughout history. Great philosophers from Plato to Confucius actually thought it was a terrible idea, and some modern theorists still suggest that democracy may not be as moral or useful as we suppose.

This presentation provides a space to explore the arguments that ground a democratic system. Dr. Josh Duclos will guide us through three main areas: defining what democracy actually is, explaining why certain thinkers have distrusted it, and examining the best modern arguments in its favor.

Dr. Duclos serves as the 1923 Chair of Humanities at St. Paul’s School. He is a former Fulbright scholar with a PhD in philosophy from Boston University and is the author of several works on moral and political philosophy.

This event is free and open to the public. Please register.