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Why did John Dewey think democratic institutions should be open to criticism and improvement?

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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.

John Dewey argued that democratic institutions should be subject to constant criticism and improvement because they are not perfect, unchangeable creations of the past. Instead, he viewed democracy as a "mode of associated life" and an active, experimental process of social intelligence.12

For Dewey, the value of democratic institutions lies in their ability to evolve alongside changing historical circumstances and the public interest. Because democracy relies on "fallible and experimental" norms, it requires citizens to engage in rational inquiry and cooperative action to solve common problems. By maintaining an open, critical approach, society can better adapt its institutions to promote human flourishing and address the needs of a dynamic, modern world.12

Dewey believed that this commitment to revision and dialogue is essential for a society of informed inquirers to effectively pursue the common good.13