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A millian case against epistemic arguments for federalism

A millian case against epistemic arguments for federalism
A millian case against epistemic arguments for federalism
John Stuart Mill is central to parallel debates in mainstream contemporary political epistemology and philosophy of federalism concerning the epistemic dimension(s) of legitimate authority. Many scholars invoke Mill to support epistemic arguments for democratic decision-making and decentralized federalism as a means of conferring democratic legitimacy. This article argues that Millian considerations instead provide reason to reject common epistemic arguments for decentralized federalism. Combining Mill’s own insights about the epistemic costs of decentralization and recent work in philosophy, politics, and economics undermines purportedly Millian arguments for federalism focused on political experimentation, diversity, and participation. Contrary to many interpretations, Millian considerations weaken, rather than strengthen, arguments for federalism. Any valid justification for federalism must instead rest on non-epistemic considerations. This conclusion is notable regardless of how one interprets Mill. But it also supports Mill’s stated preference for local decisions subject to central oversight.
J.S. Mill, Federalism, Political Philosophy, Political Epistemology, Political Theory
0953-8208
Da Silva, Michael
05ad649f-8409-4012-8edc-88709b1a3182
Da Silva, Michael
05ad649f-8409-4012-8edc-88709b1a3182

Da Silva, Michael (2024) A millian case against epistemic arguments for federalism. Utilitas. (In Press)

Record type: Article

Abstract

John Stuart Mill is central to parallel debates in mainstream contemporary political epistemology and philosophy of federalism concerning the epistemic dimension(s) of legitimate authority. Many scholars invoke Mill to support epistemic arguments for democratic decision-making and decentralized federalism as a means of conferring democratic legitimacy. This article argues that Millian considerations instead provide reason to reject common epistemic arguments for decentralized federalism. Combining Mill’s own insights about the epistemic costs of decentralization and recent work in philosophy, politics, and economics undermines purportedly Millian arguments for federalism focused on political experimentation, diversity, and participation. Contrary to many interpretations, Millian considerations weaken, rather than strengthen, arguments for federalism. Any valid justification for federalism must instead rest on non-epistemic considerations. This conclusion is notable regardless of how one interprets Mill. But it also supports Mill’s stated preference for local decisions subject to central oversight.

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Accepted/In Press date: 8 July 2024
Keywords: J.S. Mill, Federalism, Political Philosophy, Political Epistemology, Political Theory

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Local EPrints ID: 492188
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/492188
ISSN: 0953-8208
PURE UUID: b4be1b10-f742-43b2-ac5e-341862769cb8
ORCID for Michael Da Silva: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7021-9847

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Date deposited: 19 Jul 2024 16:40
Last modified: 19 Aug 2024 04:01

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Author: Michael Da Silva ORCID iD

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