Editing Deliberation (section)

{{Short description|Process of thoughtfully weighing options, usually prior to voting}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2007}}
[[File:De Haagse magistraat in 1636.jpg|thumb|The city council of [[The Hague]] deliberating in 1636]]
'''Deliberation''' is a process of thoughtfully weighing options, for example prior to [[voting]]. Deliberation emphasizes the use of [[logic]] and [[reason]] as opposed to power-struggle, creativity, or [[dialogue]]. [[Group decision-making|Group decisions]] are generally made after deliberation through a vote or [[Consensus decision-making|consensus]] of those involved.

In legal settings a jury famously uses deliberation because it is given specific options, like guilty or not guilty, along with information and arguments to evaluate. In "[[deliberative democracy]]", the aim is for both elected officials and the general public to use deliberation rather than power-struggle as the basis for their vote.

Individual deliberation is also a description of day-to-day [[rationality|rational]] decision-making, and as such is an [[epistemic virtue]].