8/10/2019 At State Bad- Role Playing K2 Identity and Truth
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State bad isn't responsivethere's a debate to be had on every
institutional question and
foreclosing that with a priori ethical posturing is itself
unethical
Talisse 2005 philosophy professor at Vanderbilt (Robert,
hilosophy ! Social "riticis#, $%&,
)eliberativist responses to activist challenges* +note gendered
language in this article refers to
argu#ents #ade by two specific individuals in an article by -ris
.oung
/he first two challenges are focused on the failure of existing
political institutions andprocesses to satisfythe ideals of
publicity, accountability, and inclusion(%01* that are pro#oted
by
the deliberative de#ocrat& 2irst, the activist points to the
e3clusionary character of e3isting sites of
deliberation, citing the prevalence of structural inequality and
power (%04*& Second, he critici5es
recent #easures ai#ed at inclusion for falling 6far short of
providing opportunities for real voice for
those less privileged in the social structures7 (%%8*&
Insofar as the activists criticisms are aimed at the failure of
existing institutions to live up to
the deliberative ideal, they i#plicitly accept that ideal. Thus,
as .oung points out, the
deliberativistcan agreewith the activist that current conditions
fall shortof the de#ocratic ideal,
and can accept the activistsspecific criticisms of the existing
order(%%8*& 9gain, they differ on
the issue of #eans, not ends the deliberativist holds
thatprocesses of continuing public discourse
can revealand re#edy the shortco#ings ofe3isting institutions
and practices whereas the activistdoubts that rational discussion
can persuade powerful social agentsto adopt a #ore inclusive
and de#ocratic #ode of politics (%%8*& The deliberativist
may further argue that even if the
activists suspicionsregarding the efficacy of political
deliberation are granted, these suspicions
are not in themselves sufficient grounds for reecting
deliberative democracy. Though not
ideal, deliberation may still be the best option availablefor
de#ocracy&
Debaterole!play activates agency by emphasi"ing the mutually
constitutive nature of truth
and identity
#angho 200$ h),assistant professor, School of :ducation,
;niversity of 9arhus, also affiliated
with the )anishResearch "entre on :ducation and 9dvanced
