“Passionate Citizenship: Reconsidering What it Means to be Emotional and Rational in Today's Democracy” Timothy J. Shaffer American Democracy Project “Agents and Architects of Democracy” June 18, 2010

Leaving Emotions at the Door How are professionals, government officials, and citizens “supposed” to act in deliberative forums and in decision-making contexts? Normative practices and expectations - Deep historical roots (e.g. Madison & Hamilton) - Technocratic approaches, expert knowledge - Rational decision-making - Data and evidence rather than emotion Traditional Paradigm (e.g. Rawls & Habermas): Reason is celebrated and elevated above passions and emotions. It is often viewed as a corrective substitute. Emotions and passions are problems to be isolated and overcome, rather than to be seen as potential resources.

(Should We Be) Leaving Emotions at the Door? What might we gain from rethinking the expectations of professionals, government officials, and citizens engaging in democratic practices in communities? Emerging Paradigm: Problematize the relationship between “reason” and “emotion” and challenging the rigid distinction traditionally expressed, especially when issues of knowledge are involved.

(Should We Be) Leaving Emotions at the Door? Recent scholarship—both theoretical and empirical—suggests a need to reconsider how we think of reason and emotion, especially in (deliberative) democratic practices. - Neurobiology (e.g. Damasio & Marcus) - Political science/theory (e.g. Hall, Krause, Morrell, Sanders, & Young) - Philosophy (e.g. Nussbaum & Solomon)

Building on Recent Scholarship and Departing From It Building on recent scholarship for another context - Community-based wildlife management - Public deliberation/citizen task force Departing From It - Narrative profiles - Community-based collaborative learning session

What’s The Take Away? -Challenge conventions that knowledge comes solely from expertise. - Value emotional knowledge, especially from citizens. -Recognize emotions and passions for professionals. - Reconsider and reconceptualize what “rationality” is.