Algorithmic Democracy: A Critical Perspective Based on Deliberative Democracy

Based on a deliberative democracy, this book uses a hermeneutic-critical methodology to study bibliographical sources and practical issues in order to analyse the possibilities, limits and consequences of the digital transformation of democracy. Drawing on a two-way democracy, the aim of this book is intended as an aid for thinking through viable alternatives to the current state of democracy with regard to its ethical foundations and the moral knowledge implicit in or assumed by the way we perceive and understand democracy. It is intended to stimulate reflection and discussion on the basis that, by addressing what we understand as democracy, we can inevitably influence the reality known as democracy. Democracy’s evident regression in today’s world makes this all too apparent: it has become a hostage to all kinds of autocracies and technopopulisms, which are supported to a greater or lesser extent by the current algorithmic revolution.

Domingo García-Marzá is Professor of Ethics at the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón (Spain). He has extended his studies on Politics in Frankfurt (Germany) and on Economic Ethics at St. Gallen (Switzerland), at the Notre Dame University (USA), at Magee College of the University of Ulster (Northern Ireland), at Bologna University (Italy) and at Porto University (Portugal). His research lines include: 

His areas of research cover topics of great relevance in the field of ethics and political philosophy, such as dialogic digital ethics, deliberative democracy, institutional design, business ethics, civil society and critical hermeneutics.

Among his most outstanding works are "Ethics of Justice: J. Habermas and discursive ethics" (1992), "Theory of democracy" (1993), "Business ethics: from dialogue to trust" (2004), "Integrating the ethical perspective: methods, cases, levels in business and management" (2005, in collaboration with Martin Büscher and Hans de Geer), "Business ethics: Claves para una nueva cultura empresarial" (1994, in collaboration with Adela Cortina, Jesús Conill and Agustín Domingo), "La empresa socialmente responsable: Ética y empresa" (2003) and "Razón pública y éticas aplicadas" (2003, edited together with A. Cortina).

His recent work has focused on the digital transformation of the different functional spheres of society. Especially in the design of a dialogical digital ethics to guide and critique the design, application and use of intelligent technology, in the development of an ethical infrastructure for the governance of artificial intelligence in institutions, organisations and companies, and in the critique of algorithmic democracy.

Patrici Calvo is Full Professor of Ethics at the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón (Spain), where he teaches Roboethics, Bioethics, Economic and Business Ethics and Philosophy of Science and New Technology. In addition, he has carried out research stays insome of the leading international centres, such as the University of Oxford, the University of Bologna, and the Institute of Philosophy of CSIC.

His work has focused on five main lines of research in the field of the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation and Economic and Business Ethics. Firstly, in the theoretical and practical development of a proposal for an economy that, through the design or redesign of institutions, organisations and companies, iscapable of widely deploying reciprocity to promote fairer, more responsible and happier economic growth and development. Secondly, in the design and application of cybernetic ecosystems that enable a morally valid and socially responsible digital transformation of the different functional spheres of society (health, politics, economy, etc.). Thirdly, in an applied roboethics proposal capable of guiding professional practice with a sense of justice and addressing the current ethical challenges of the design, application and use of artificially intelligent machines. Fourthly, in the theoretical and practical development of an algorithmic democracy that meets the expectations of today's society. Finally, fifthly, in the design of an ethical governance infrastructure for artificial intelligence in the field of scientific research. 

The work developed in these five main lines of research has resulted in the publication of two books as author: The Cordial Economy. Ethics, Recognition and Reciprocity (Springer, 2018) and Algorithmic democracy: A critical perspective based on deliberative democracy (Springer, 2024), one book as editor: Moral neuroeducation for a Democratic and pluralistic society  (Springer, 2020), as well as multiple articles on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation in scientific journals indexed in Clarivate and Scopus.