Full Idea
Liberalism makes the idea of fallibility into a political practice by trying not to have too much power concentrated in one place or part of the system.
Gist of Idea
People are fallible, so liberalism tries to distribute power
Source
Adam Gopnik (A Thousand Small Sanities [2019], 3)
Book Reference
Gopnik,Adam: 'A Thousand Small Sanities' [riverrun 2019], p.191
A Reaction
There is a potential inefficiency and failure to focus on key goals implicit in this aim. It may be a good idea for a peacetime democracy, but a terrible idea for a wartime army. To stop corruption, don't let anyone do anything?
Related Idea
Idea 22863 Power is the capacity of a social class to realise its interests [Lukes]