Autonomia pessoal, destino, julgamentos e instituições no Brasil: Notas sobre uma pergunta e algumas respostas

Abstract

In this article, I propose to answer whether the Brazilian Constitution authorizes disobedience of democratic decisions for reasons of justice, even if it means following wrong decisions. Through an analogy stemming from the poetic landscape found in Emily Dickinson's references of Brazil, I discuss controversies on public authority, legitimacy and democratic participation. Based on an analysis of the decisions of the Federal Supreme Court of the past five years, I defend that the reason for supporting democratic decisions lies in the fact that they, in large part, have contributed to the betterment of Brazilian democracy.