Democracy Quote by John Hospers
““Democracy is essentially government by the majority, and a majority may be stupid, unenlightened, foolish, misled, and corrupt.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Political Philosophy Lecture, 1970s
Democracy lets the majority rule, but the majority can be uninformed or corrupt, risking poor governance.
In simple terms: Majority rule can be flawed.
Key Takeaway
Guard against blind majority decisions.
Themes
democracy
governance
majority rule
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- elections
- policy making
- public debates
- civic education
Key Concepts
political theory
wisdom of crowds
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies protect minorities from majority excesses?
- What mechanisms ensure informed voting?
A Different Perspective
Majorities may lack expertise, leading to suboptimal outcomes.
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