# Overdoing Democracy **URL:** **By** Robert Talisse, Aaron Ross Powell, Trevor Burrus **Published:** March 6, 2020 --- In this far-reaching conversation, we look at the problems of American democracy, at the sources of polarization and tribalism, and offer ways each of us could take small steps towards improving the state of our politics. Democracy can be a good thing, but if forced into places and situations where it fits poorly, like a Thanksgiving dinner, then maybe we should rethink its limits. We discuss the nature and purpose of democracy and whether democratic politics is an end in itself or whether democracy exists for a purpose with Robert Talisse. Is it possible to have too much democracy? Does too much democracy damage the very goals for which we have democracy in the first place? How has our partisanship seeped in to other areas of our lives? ## Further Reading: [New Books in Philosophy](https://newbooksnetwork.com/category/politics-society/philosophy/), hosted by Robert Talisse [Overdoing Democracy: Why We Must Put Politics in Its Place](https://www.amazon.com/Overdoing-Democracy-Must-Politics-Place/dp/0190924195), written by Robert Talisse [Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government Is Smarter](https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Political-Ignorance-Smaller-Government/dp/0804786615), written by Ilya Somin [Why We Argue Podcast](https://humilityandconviction.uconn.edu/why-we-argue/), hosted by Robert Talisse ## Related Content: [Religious Toleration Versus Religious Freedom](https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/excursions/religious-toleration-versus-religious-freedom), Excursions Podcast [In the Pursuit of Self Government, Does Quality News Matter?](https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/pursuit-self-government-does-quality-news-matter), Anthony Comegna \& Caleb Brown [Three Languages of Politics](https://www.libertarianism.org/books/three-languages-politics), written by Arnold Kling [Of Political Society](https://www.libertarianism.org/essays/political-society), by David Hume