Akratic Citizens: Flagging Motivation as a Threat to Deliberative Democracy…and What to Do About It

Abstract

This thesis project covers two connected, yet distinct research questions. First, what is a motivational deceptor, and how does it interfere with a deliberative democratic political process? Secondly, which programs and policy options are available to combat these interferences? Corresponding to the first question, the primary goal of this project is to clarify the concept of a motivational deceptor, and to explore its political implications. To achieve this, I construct an argument by analogy, and compare motivational deceptors to cognitive deceptors. By structuring the argument in this way, I am not only able to better clarify the key ingredients of motivational deceptors, but it also sets up a discussion of their political implications in chapter 2. Regarding the second question, I will propose three ameliorative programs to combat motivational deceptors. These proposals are adaptations of the already established nudge, boost, and brace program, only with a motivational twist.