return to list of latest ideas

Single Idea 24421

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / e. Democratic minorities]

Full Idea

Experience would seem to suggest that truth lies with the minority in most disputes, and certainly that is the case in the early stages of the acceptance of new discoveries.

Gist of Idea

In most disputes, especially early on, the minority are usually in the right

Source

Robert Paul Wolff (In Defence of Anarchism [1970], 2.4)

A Reaction

Aristotle says that if the majority is overwhelming then they are probably right. But in closer cases Wolff has a very good point.

Book Reference

Wolff,Robert Paul: 'In Defence of Anarchism' [Harper Torchbooks 1976], p.55

Related Idea

Idea 95 If everyone believes it, it is true [Aristotle]