Gutmann, Amy

Gutmann is most known for her work exploring themes in democracy and democratic theory, especially deliberative democracy, democratic education, democratic decision-making, equality of opportunity, identity politics, race, and multiculturalism. These topics are connected not only because they are required for the implementation of a successful democratic theory but also because they rely on each other as part of an interconnected whole. For example, a robust conception of deliberative democracy requires a background of civic education. Democracies are responsible for educating their young in part because those children will grow up to be citizens who need deliberative freedom. Similarly, democratic education requires mutual respect, which in turn opens up questions of racial and religious identity, affirmative action, and equality of opportunity. And, of course, equality of opportunity itself requires education access. As Gutmann puts it in  Democratic Education , first...