WHY IS DEMOCRACY A GREAT EXPERIMENT?

Democracy originates from Greek terms "demos" for people and "kratos"
for power, essentially representing the "power of the people” which means
a way of governing that depends on the will of the people.1 In a democratic
country, the system of government allows people to actively engage in
decision-making processes.2 As for Habermas, democracy is a system
where uncoerced communication triumphs over naked power, where
rational argument among equally powered citizens establishes the
legitimacy of politics .3

Jürgen Habermas's concept of the correctness of normatively regulated

actions has two types: subjectively right and objectively right. An action is
subjectively right if the actor acted in good faith, believing that what they did
was right, on the other hand, an action is objectively right if it is justified
through acceptance by others, which fuels discourse and universalization
of actions, leading to the legitimacy of norms. 4From this concept,
Habermas emphasizes the role of communication and discourse in a
democratic society, that the participation by the citizenry in the public
sphere is intersubjective - taking the form of a continuing process of
discourse ideas and opinions as to how to achieve and maintain a just and
free society.5 He also emphasizes the significance of the public sphere in
democracy where private individuals come together to communicate about
matters of general concern. It is the location of the public use of reason and
the place where “public opinion” is formed.6

Moreover, Habermas's philosophy of democracy is grounded in the belief

that rational communication and the public sphere are essential for the
functioning and legitimization of a democratic society. He argues that the
ongoing process of rational discourse and the exchange of ideas are
fundamental to the democratization of society and the establishment of
consensus. This perspective provides a strong theoretical foundation for
understanding the significance of democracy as an ongoing experiment, as
it relies on the continuous engagement of citizens in rational
communication and public debate to sustain and improve democratic
governance. It represents a bold and ongoing attempt to establish a
system of governance based on principles of equality, freedom, and
participation by the people. It is regarded as great experiment because it
continually evolves, facing challenges and adaptations while aiming to
balance the complexities of governance with the will and rights of the
populace, in others words it is capable of adapting to changing societal
needs and challenges by fostering an environment where diverse
1
Manual for Human Rights Education with Young People, Council of Europe Portal,
https://www.coe.int/en/web/compass/democracy#:~:text=The%20word%20democracy%20comes%20fro
m,the%20will%20of%20the%20people
2
Parliamentary Education Office, Democracy, Commonwealth of Australia, 2023.
3
Brandon Bloch, “The Unfinished Project of Enlightenment,” Boston Review, June 18, 2020.
4
https://thedailyopium.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/the-philosophy-of-habermas-rationality-and-its-relation-t
o-law-with-application-to-the-philippine-context/
5
John Straats
6
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/habermas/
perspectives can be openly discussed and considered. This adaptability
reflects an ongoing experimentation with various viewpoints and ideas.

The legislative process in the Philippines, where discourse occurs during

committee deliberations, public consultations, and floor deliberations,
reflects the dynamic and evolving nature of democracy. This process
embodies Habermas' discourse principle, where affected persons can
agree as participants regarding specific actions on a proposed bill. The
acceptance or rejection of a proposed bill is based on rational discourse,
not just the "power of number." This exemplifies democracy as a great
experiment, as it demonstrates the ongoing and adaptive nature of the
legislative process, which is essential for the legitimacy of laws in a
democratic society. 7The ability of the legislative process to accommodate
rational discourse and reflect the will of the people is a fundamental aspect
of why democracy is considered an ongoing and evolving experiment. The
process of how a bill becomes a law is an experiment, as it involves a
series of steps and negotiations that can lead to changes in the original
proposal. As Fr. Aquino stated, law is at the very heart of social integration,
meeting the functional requirements of a complex society. 8The legislative
process is a dynamic and evolving process that requires input from various
stakeholders, including members of Congress, interest groups, and the
public.

The theory of Habermas on rationality and law has been applied by Fr.
Aquino to the case of Estrada vs. Desierto and Estrada vs.
Macapagal-Arroyo in demonstrating an issue in legitimacy and legitimation.
Mr. Justice Reynato Puno, the ponencia of the aforementioned case,
delivered a statement consistent with Habermas’ theory of rationality and
which aligns with the idea that democracy is a great experiment.
Democracy, as a system of governance, is not simply about the "power of
number" or the dogmatism of the majority. Instead, it is about the rationality
of the human mind and the ability of reasonable people to dictate the rule of
law. This reflects the ongoing and evolving nature of democracy, where the
emphasis is on the quality of decision-making and the protection of
individual rights, rather than just numerical superiority. The concept of
democracy has endured and evolved over time, facing various threats and
challenges, and its survival has been linked to its ability to accommodate
change and expand voting rights. Therefore, democracy can be seen as a
"shapeshifting" system, adapting to new contexts and challenges, and its
importance lies in its ability to transform and accommodate the needs of
society.

Further, it is also interesting to note that EDSA I is consistent with the

theory of Habermas on discourse. In EDSA I, the people, finding no
recourse in the existing form of government at that time, found their venue
of resolution to the streets, where they asserted their rights and what they
believed should be the norm. In the end, the socially accepted norm of the
7
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people prevailed, and this was manifested in the enactment of the
constitution that we adhere to today: the 1987 Constitution.9 This
connection underscores the dynamism within democracy. It showcases
how dissatisfaction of people and pursuit for change can lead to the
revision of norms and the establishment of new governing principles
through collective discourse and action. It exemplifies democracy's nature
as an ongoing experiment, demonstrating its adaptability and
responsiveness to societal needs and aspirations, often shaping and
reshaping the foundations upon which governance stands.

Therefore, democracy is a great experiment since democratic systems

continuously evolve to address societal changes, technological
advancements, and shifting cultural landscapes. It is also responsive to the
evolving needs and challenges encountered by society for the purpose of
collective governance and societal betterment. This ongoing discourse not
only ensures the vitality of democratic governance but also enables it to
adapt, grow, and remain relevant amidst the dynamic nature of societal
transformations; therefore, a process of trial and error, experimenting with
various policies and structures to find what works best. As Habermas
stated, Democracy was not a fortunate historical inheritance one could
simply take up, but instead an unfinished project. More recently, he claimed
that democracy represents the surviving “remnant of utopia”: only
democracy is capable of finding solutions for difficult situations, even those
that might be considered unsolvable. Thus his life-long intellectual project
of trying to understand democracy’s promise and possibilities.

9
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