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Full Idea
The case for majority rule should not be overstated. No sensible democrat would claim that the majority is always right. If 49% of the population can be wrong, so can 51%.
Gist of Idea
If 49% of the population can be wrong, so can 51%
Source
Peter Singer (Practical Ethics [1979], 09)
Book Ref
Singer,Peter: 'Practical Ethics' [CUP 1989], p.190
A Reaction
Well said! We can't possibly put a figure on when the majority become right. In the recent Brexit referendum hardly anyone seemed to understand the issues very well, so none of us have a clue about who was right.
Related Idea
Idea 95 If everyone believes it, it is true [Aristotle]
| 22549 | In many cases, the claim that the majority is superior would apply equally to wild beasts [Aristotle] |
| 7238 | Minorities only accept majority-voting because of a prior unanimous agreement [Rousseau] |
| 23530 | The great danger of democracy is that the oppression of the minority becomes unobjectionable [Hart,HLA] |
| 20287 | If 49% of the population can be wrong, so can 51% [Singer] |
| 23253 | Majority decisions are only acceptable if the minority interests are not vital [Grayling] |
| 20509 | Occasional defeat is acceptable, but a minority that is continually defeated is a problem [Wolff,J] |