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How did John Dewey connect critical inquiry with democratic citizenship?

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John Dewey, an older man with glasses and a mustache, sits and reads a document, wearing a suit and tie. — John Dewey John Dewey.

For John Dewey, democracy is not merely a political system but a "mode of associated life" that relies on the active participation of informed citizens. He connected critical inquiry to democratic citizenship by framing democracy as a process of "social intelligence," where individuals collaborate to solve common problems through rational, experimental means.12

In this view, citizenship requires specific habits of mind:
* Critical Inquiry: Citizens must engage in dialogue and experiment with ideas to address shared challenges, rather than accepting institutions as fixed or unchangeable.12
* Cooperation: Democracy functions as a collaborative process where individuals treat one another with mutual respect and remain willing to revise their views based on collective deliberation.12
* Public Spiritedness: Dewey emphasized that citizens must be educated to value the common good, viewing public schools as the "church of democracy" where these inquisitive and cooperative habits are cultivated.1

Ultimately, Dewey believed that a society of engaged inquirers is the most effective way to promote human flourishing and ensure that public policy reflects the interests of the public itself.13