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An Autonomy-Based Argument for Democracy

Democracy uniquely respects an important set of persons’ autonomy claims. Along with standard first-order autonomy claims to act without interference, persons have second-order autonomy claims to authority over the social context of their choice. These second-order claims are grounded in the same ideal self-direction that grounds first-order claims. One triggers another’s second-order claims when one directs another’s will by shaping the context of her choice, or when one implicates another’s will by shaping the nature of her responsibility for her actions. When a basic structure exists in which individuals continuously direct and implicate one another’s wills, each person has a second-order autonomy claim to authority over the terms of that structure. Because each person is equally entitled to respect for her autonomy, each is equally entitled to authority over the basic structure. Political equality—the equal authority of each citizen over the terms of common life—therefore uniquely respects these autonomy claims of each citizen. We therefore have non-instrumental, autonomy-based reasons to support democratic decision-making.