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Author Topic: duty to vote  (Read 673 times)
Dormouse
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« Reply #15 on: April 11, 2008, 01:31:08 PM »

I'm interested in other answers if anyone is willing to share why they hold there is a duty to vote.
Theoretically speaking, one might perceive or counsel a 'duty to vote', but this is likely contingent upon an unstated assumption of a preference for liberty.

That is to say, if you have a preference for liberty, then you ought to vote.  My justification for this would be Kant's categorical imperative that one ought to "act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." 

It if no one actually votes, then our democracy will fail and we will be ruled by a dictatorship soon enough.  Ergo, if one values liberty, and one claims to be rational, then one is obliged to vote.

Note: I am of course assuming that liberty is only generally or widely available under a democratic ruled state.


« Last Edit: April 11, 2008, 01:33:49 PM by Dormouse » Logged

tadpol
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« Reply #16 on: April 11, 2008, 02:33:21 PM »

I don't agree all the way, I think there is middle ground between desiring a universal law for something and a universal law against it. On liberty I'd use a looser categorical imperative like "If one desires liberty one should defend it" leaving room for voting to preserve the right, but not putting undue weight on the one mode.

But this is my first introduction to Kant so it'll be a while before I have intelligent opinions about his thoughts.
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