Acta Politica

, Volume 49, Issue 2, pp 217–233 | Cite as

The political value of humility

  • Kyle Scott
Original Article
First Online:

Abstract

This article takes up the issue of deliberation and the importance of internal constraints for the proper functioning of a deliberative environment. Those who seek to engage in deliberation must possess certain characteristics, or virtues, that will facilitate deliberation. This article discusses humility within this context. Humility serves as a principle deliberative virtue. Theorists should focus on the characteristics of individuals who make deliberation possible before looking for the proper institutional arrangements. I provide a definition and illustration of humility through a reading of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s ‘Dream of a Ridiculous Man’ and ‘Legend of the Grand Inquisitor’.

Keywords

humility deliberation deliberative democracy Dostoevsky 
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Notes

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Copyright information

© Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Kyle Scott
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Political ScienceDuke UniversityDurhamUSA

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