ISABEL DE ALMEIDA BRAND

Our objective is to characterize, based on the analysis of John Stuart Mill's three main political works - On Liberty, Considerations on Representative Government and Utilitarianism -, the controversy raised by his interpreters regarding the philosopher's democratic credentials. We intend to study the tension between popular elements and elitist elements exposed in Millian democratic theory. We will especially examine: the appreciation of the participation of people with genius in the formation of public opinion; the influence of competent experts in institutionalized decision-making processes; and the defense of individuality and self-determination as the moral development of society.