We're very pleased to have Dr. Piero Moraro (Charles Sturt University) speaking at the UOW Philosophy seminar series next week. All are welcome to attend.
Title: Persuasive Force and Liberal Autonomy: How Violent Protest Can be Democratic When: Wednesday, August 24th at 4:30pm Where: UOW, building 19, room 1003. Abstract: In this talk, I analyse the relationship between civil disobedience and non-violence in a liberal democracy. Since Rawls’ definition in 1971, there has been general agreement that for an act of social protest to be compatible with the rules of a democracy it has to be ‘non-violent’. That is, it has to be an attempt to persuade, rather than coerce, others that a particular law need be revised or repealed. According to this view, while a peaceful protest can represent a valuable form of communication in a democratic society, and lead the majority in power to understand the protesters’ plea, violent protests constitute an attempt to coerce the majority in power to yield to the activists’ demand, and are incompatible with the values of a liberal democracy. I will question this idea, arguing that a protest involving force or violence does not necessarily constitute a ‘coercive’ act. Drawing on the work of Joel Feinberg, Gerald Dworkin, and Joseph Raz, I will argue that acts that force people to act in a certain way are not necessarily disrespectful of their autonomy. Rather, the duty to respect others as autonomous choice-makers might require, under some circumstances, using force or even violence to address them. First, I will propose that the notion of ‘autonomy’ be kept distinct from that of ‘freedom’. Second, I will argue that the infringement of one’s freedom might be necessary to protect and promote her autonomy. If this is tenable, we then have an argument to the conclusion that both non violent and (some forms of) violent civil disobedience can be justified in a liberal democracy as persuasive acts of communication that treat fellow citizens as autonomous agents. For more information, contact Patrick McGivern at [email protected] -- Dr. Patrick McGivern Lecturer in Philosophy Philosophy Program Convenor University of Wollongong_______________________________________________ SydPhil mailing list: http://sydphil.info 1000 subscribers now served!! To UNSUBSCRIBE, change your MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, find ANSWERS TO COMMON PROBLEMS, or visit our ONLINE ARCHIVES, please go to the LIST INFORMATION PAGE: http://sydphil.info
