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Debate: The social contract

By: The OpenLearn team (The Open University)
Posted under Philosophy

Forum member BlessedLunaticWiseman proposed a thought experiment

15 Apr
2009
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Jupiter Images A bronze of Rodin's The Thinker

What would be the result if 51 per cent of people voted that there was no authority for majority to rule on minority?!

1.Someting.
2.Everything.
3.Nothing.

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Social Contract And The Lost Democracy!

Archive Comments
15 Apr 200920:57

The Dearest Philosophers In The Cosmos!
Greetings;

***********************************
POLL:
Offerred By :"Blessed Lunatic Wiseman"!
Half First Edition!!
All Rights Reserved/All Wrongs Preserved!
***********************************

What would be the result if 51 per cent of people voted that there was no authority for majority to rule on minority?!

1.Someting.
2.Everything.
3.Nothing.

Yours/"Blessed Lunatic Wiseman"(the humorous/serious)

Re: Social Contract And The Lost Democracy!

Archive Comments
26 May 200923:04 



...What would be the result if 51 per cent of people voted that there was no authority for majority to rule on minority?...

They would win the vote and give away control ...eventually ...maybe ...to be claimed by all parties with a minority who would have to be egalitarian

Re: Social Contract And The Lost Democracy!

Archive Comments
25 May 200914:24

enlightenment.

Re: Social Contract And The Lost Democracy!

Archive Comments
26 May 200907:03

Read Seeing by Jose Saramago for one answer!

Re: Social Contract And The Lost Democracy!

Archive Comments
27 Apr 200920:01

The majority don't rule in any society. Democracy is a myth perpetrated by the ruling minority to fool the majority. On the other hand, if it did happen, we would sit about and argue for ages, decide there was a mistake and vote again(see Ireland/Lisbon).

Re: Social Contract And The Lost Democracy!

Archive Comments
12 Sep 200913:02 

The majority don't rule in any society. Democracy is a myth perpetrated by the ruling minority to fool the majority. On the other hand, if it did happen, we would sit about and argue for ages, decide there was a mistake and vote again(see Ireland/Lisbon).

This sounds quite realistic.

The "Social Contract" was an ideological fiction to counter the "Divine Right of Kings".

When equals could sit in a council circle and talk about what to do, then a sort of democracy existed.

With "representative democracy", one hopes that electors could choose among candidates and effect a change of government.

Practically, manipulation experts create the image of a candidate and "public opinion".

Xie_Ming

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Wednesday, 15th April 2009
Wednesday, 15th April 2009

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