Democracy in the Higher Education Institutions (HEI): an analysis of Universities and Federal Institutes in a Philosophical perspective

Abstract

Democracy presupposes collective action, a self-realization that implies equal weight in decision-making aspects among its members, making justice, impartiality, and transparency the guiding principles in democratic societies. In this sense, this work aims to analyze, from a philosophical perspective, the aspects in which Brazilian Higher Education Institutions can be considered democratic. It starts by establishing what democracy is, with Plato’s exposition as a reference; it examines the causes of a social body according to Marsilio of Padua; and how causal unity occurs, as explained by Proclus. Once the conceptual foundations are established, it investigates how democratic pillars are present in HEIs, and ultimately, in what aspect Higher Education Institutions can be considered democratic, relating the conceptual framework to the analysis of democratic pillars. It is concluded that HEIs are potentially democratic; however, elements such as administrative constraints and financial insufficiency serve as barriers to full democracy. Therefore, it is necessary to implement measures that ensure the full realization of democracy in these institutions.