Single Idea 22549

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / e. Democratic minorities]

Full Idea

Whether in every people this superiority of the majority to the few excellent people can exist is not clear. In some of them this cannot possibly be so, since the same argument would apply to wild beasts.

Gist of Idea

In many cases, the claim that the majority is superior would apply equally to wild beasts

Source

Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1281b18)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Politics', ed/tr. Reeve,C.D.C. [Hackett 2017], p.67


A Reaction

He also gives reasons why it is plausible to think that the judgement of the majority is superior. It seems crucial that the majority have some education. Education is pointless if it is always overruled by the uneducated.