抄録
We discussed that public involvement (PI) can be regarded as strengthening direct-democratic nature in current administrative processes under parliamentary democracy and discussed the merits and demerits of PI while referring to classics in political philosophy which trace back to the era of Socrates and Plato. It was discussed that PI could contribute to education of the public and improvement in the rationality of administration by absorbing various knowledge and wisdom from the public, while it always accompanies the risks of reducing the quality of administration and leading "ochlocracy" or "the tyranny of the majority." Then, we suggested three principles of PI; (1) principle of the secure of administrative rights, (2) principle of involvement the public but avoidance of the mass, (3) principle of promoting public spirits and restraining vulgarity. Finally, based on the principles, we proposed the definition of PI anew.
