Variations on Deliberation

Abstract

Our idea of deliberation is a complex construction where different traditions and points of view have flocked together. Moreover, its historical development has had some defining moments, among which, I think, three stand out: (i) the ancient foundational moment; (ii) the modern contribution of the "balance of Reason" ideal; and (iii) the current take-off of deliberative proposals and programs in the social-institutional framework of public discourse. This paper aims to review and comment on some relevant variations about the deliberation (namely rhetoric, prudential, weighting and public deliberation) by reference to those traditions and following these moments.