Deliberative Democracy and Civic Education
Author：Huo-Wang Lin
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This article examines different forms of democracy and concludes that deliberative democracy has some merits in contrast with procedural democracy and liberal democracy. However even deliberative democracy cannot function properly without well-educated citizens. To be a good citizen, people should develop certain skills and virtues pertain to a deliberative democracy, such as the ability of critical reasoning, autonomy, mutual respect, and open-mindedness. Schools are the most important places for civic education and hence should emphasize more on their common purposes. Moreover, a healthy society also requires citizens acquire a kind of sympathetic imagination, which is an ability to put oneself in other’s shoes. With this people with diverse views can live together cooperatively and peacefully.