The Discursive Dilemma and Public Reason

Collective decisions are ubiquitous in complex democratic societies. Elections, referenda, decisions in legislatures, committees, multimember courts, expert panels, and boards of companies or other organizations are all examples. In such decisions, disagreement is equally ubiquitous. People disagree with each other on many levels. They disagree not only on what choices should be made but also on why those choices should be made.