Single Idea 21938

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / a. Nature of democracy]

Full Idea

There is no democracy without respect for irreducible singularity, but there is no democracy with the 'community of friends' without the calculation of majorities, without identifiable representable subjects, all equal.

Gist of Idea

Democracy needs respect for individuality, but the 'community of friends' implies strict equality

Source

Hugo Grotius (On the Law of War and Peace [1625]), quoted by Simon Glendinning - Derrida: A Very Short Introduction 7

Book Reference

Glendinning,Simon: 'Derrida: a Very Short Intro' [OUP 2011], p.90


A Reaction

[source not given] Derrida calls this conflict 'tragic'. The obvious reply is that equality is not an absolute. We can be equal in voting rights while being unequal in height or musical talent.