Does The Majority Rule?

[Lightkeeper]

If the majority of people believe something to be true does that means it's true?

 

[Green Gaia]

Absolutely not.

 

[HelpMe]

oh no

 

[jewscout]

nope :tsk:

 

[Mr Spinkles]

If the majority of people believe something to be true does that means it's true?

The vote is in. The answer is no.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Uaually when the majority of a group believes something, we will find the antithesis to be true.

Psssssssst: no agree with me, OK?

 

[Lightkeeper]

I have read about this philosophical principal. For instance, if 100 people are standing by a river and 99 say the river is flowing upstream, when it is actually flowing downstream, then the river is flowing upstream, because the majority say it is.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

I've said this in another thread - but the bottom line is that being in the majority on any issue does not make one right - it only makes one in the majority.
In America (a democracy) the majority has the right to be wrong. This is the case with laws that were once supported by the majority, but are now seen as archaic, and sometimes, barbaric. For example, laws that forbade interracial marriages, prohibition, etc.
An obvious current example would be the law that prohibits marriage between people of the same sex.

Thanks,
TVOR

 

[Linus]

Majority rule does not always mean the right thing. Right everybody?

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Linus - that would be right, the majority of the time!

TVOR

 

[Linus]

See? Everyone agrees with me! :biglaugh:

 

[Master Vigil]

Of course not. That would be rediculous. Like that gazelle infomercial: "A million happy customers can't be wrong!" YES THEY CAN!!!!!!

 

[retrorich]

Uaually when the majority of a group believes something, we will find the antithesis to be true.

That was definitely the case when the majority of US voters decided that George W. Bush was the best candidate for president. :biglaugh:

 

[SPLogan]

Why is everyone discussing whether or not the majority is RIGHT? The title of this discussion is "does the majority RULE. " Those are different philosophical discussions.

So, if the majority doesn't rule then who does rule and how could they have become the rulers? Basically, if there is an elite, who makes them so? The majority or the minority?
What is the foundation of elitism? Superiority? If so then, what are the standards by which society measures superiority or inferiority?

Another interesting question is: the majority (or the elite) of who or what? People? Ideas? Atomic forces? Deities?

 

[Watcher]

Well at one time, the majority of the people thought the world was flat (silly people, it's banana shaped!)....soooo...I guess majority doesn't rule. (Which is good considering what some of the people I know believe). Lol Retorich, you're killing me with the Bush one....

I guess majority rules here...

 

[cardero]

If the majority of people believe something to be true does that means it's true?

I'm not too sure about this one, what does everyone else think?

 

[SPLogan]

I'm not to sure about this one, what does everyone else think?

That's great! LOL