Epistemologies and the Formation of Modern Democratic Individuality

In this paper we analyze the philosophical theories underlying models of democratic individuality that historically developed in western culture. We begin by defending the idea that recognition of the human faculty for independent thinking lies at the foundation of democratic modernity. On this basis, using analyses made by the epistemologist Filmer Northrop for support, we study the impact of philosophical theories of knowledge on models of democratic individuality. We observe that the epistemic duality of sources of human knowledge lies at the heart of some of the major advances in modern epistemology. We then argue that this epistemic duality opens a path that is distinct from both the ontological dualism of classical rationalism and the radical empiricisms that are derived from classical empiricism, but that includes their main teachings. This path invites us to rethink the sources of free thinking in the knowing subject. It gives real meaning to the idea of a participatory democracy to which schools contribute through their cognitive role.