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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]
| 20276 | Conflict of rules might be avoided by greater complexity, or by a hierarchy of rules [Singer] |
| 20278 | 'Marginal utility' says something is more useful if it is in short supply [Singer] |
| 20277 | Equality of interests is a minimal principle, not implying equal treatment [Singer] |
| 20279 | Equality of opportunity unfairly rewards those lucky enough to have great ability [Singer] |
| 20281 | Why should I do anything for posterity? What has posterity ever done for me? [Singer] |
| 20282 | The sanctity of a human life depends either on being of our species, or on being a person [Singer] |
| 20283 | Killing a chimp is worse than killing a human too defective to be a person [Singer] |
| 20284 | Why should a potential person have the rights of an actual person? [Singer] |
| 20285 | If a right entails having the relevant desire, many creatures might have no right to life [Singer] |
| 20286 | Following an inner voice for morality is irresponsible in a rational agent [Singer] |
| 20288 | You can't condemn violent revolution without assessing the evils it prevents [Singer] |
| 20287 | If 49% of the population can be wrong, so can 51% [Singer] |
| 20290 | Psychopaths may just be bored, because they cannot participate in normal emotional life [Singer] |
| 20289 | Ethics is universalisable - it must involve an impartial and universal view of things [Singer] |