Practical Philosophy Seminar: Marcus Holst-Pedersen (IFIKK, UiO)

Abstract: The concept “workplace democracy” points to a democratic organisation of the workplace, but how should we practically organise it? Questions like: who should be the “demos” (people), what should be decided upon, and how comprehensive should participation be, are all important in forming a workplace democracy that contributes to a better society. I will argue that we ought to include all stakeholders (not shareholders) into the democratic processes, to counteract dominance of those depending on the workplace. Further, I will argue that all decisions should in some way be democratically anchored, even the broader aims of the workplace. Finally, I will argue that a high level of participation is preferable, both because I see participation and self-governance as goods in a community (normative argument), and because it fosters participation in broader society (descriptive argument).