Deliberation is the act of thinking about or discussing something and deciding carefully. It is a process of thoughtfully weighing options, emphasizing the use of logic and reason as opposed to power-struggle, creativity, or dialogue. Deliberation can be done individually or in a group, and group decisions are generally made after deliberation through a vote or 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. Deliberation is also a cornerstone of democracy and community politics, where citizens are deeply involved in community problem-solving and public decision-making.

Some key features of deliberation include:

• Careful consideration: Deliberation involves slow, careful consideration of a subject.
• Discussion: Deliberation often involves discussion and consideration by a group of persons of the reasons for and against a measure.
• Learning: Deliberation involves learning about the issue, talking with each other, considering diverse points of view, discovering key tensions and values, and sparking new ideas.
• Decision-making: Deliberation involves making decisions based on the information and arguments presented.

Overall, deliberation is a process of careful consideration and decision-making that emphasizes logic and reason. It can be done individually or in a group, and is often used in legal settings and community problem-solving.