Message from @Koninos
Discord ID: 686667594073112578
Who?
read something from schumpeter
thats his name
hes a jewish philosopher born in like 1900 or something
was*
Ooh
> what do you think about muh democracy is bad because people are stupid and its also an illusion and doesnt work
@Ater Votum
Well, personally I believe that the way democracy currently operates is a very stupid way indeed. In order for democracy to work, you need the vast majority of the masses to be well-educated, which is not happening right now. Although I am a fanatical fan of Democracy, I do realize that there are some serious drawbacks that come with it, but no ideology is flawless, and in my opinion, democracy is the system with the fewer flaws. Now, regarding the statement you posted, I'll break it up to three sections: A) the "people are stupid," the B) it's an illusion and the C) it doesn't work. Before I go in depth for all three of them, I have to mention that all these three statements are wrong.
A) The people are stupid only if you let them be stupid. No living person has ever wanted to be stupid. But even if we suppose that the people are stupid, then they must be educated. In my opinion, objective education which mentions subjective positions yet doesn't support any is the best kind of education. Also the educational system must explain how Democracy works and how it's vital. Well-educated people means smarter people. Yet, the majority of the people nowadays are smart enough to make smart decisions, in most countries. Educational reformation is necessary in all cases, however. Claiming that the people -nowadays at least- are all stupid, is no valid statement, but a mere hypothesis, which can never be true. The spirit of the people, through democracy, is let free, and therefore it's easier for stupid people to become smarter, than in living in an Authoritarian system. Authoritarian systems above well-educated and smart people can't exist, due to the brain capacity of the people to understand that Democracy > Authoritarianism.
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B) This statement is true when it concerns Representative Democracy, and not Direct Democracy. In Representative Democracy, you truly live in an illusion, because you're simply not living in a Democratic system, but an Authoritarian one. I believe that's what people refer to when they claim that Democracy is an illusion - to Representative Democracy, which is the modern form of democracy unfortunately. And to be honest, I agree with the fact that Representative Democracy is nothing but a mere illusion.
C) I don't get how people are even capable of making such irrational statement. No but really, even Representative Democracy can work, which is proven through the very existence of modern "democratic" states of the West, like the USA, the UK, France, etc etc. In the Antiquity, in Ancient Athens, no matter how back in time that was, Direct Democracy also worked, and it worked so effectively, that it made Athens the ruler of the Greek world. So yeah, it can work, and it can actually work better than any other system.
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My response wasn't completely Philosophic, I must admit, but Democracy itself, in my opinion and the opinion of many other Philosophers, is a great philosophical issue, rather than a political or an economic one.
very nicely said
actually funny thing is he more or less agreed with parliamentarian democracy because then "youre voting people who know well"
which is the stupidest shit ive ever heard
he still said direct democracy was an illusion since you arent always part of the majority which means that youre not really deciding anything as an individual
which is true but it really doesnt mean anything
in a direct democracy obviously the individual doesnt reign but the majority
> he still said direct democracy was an illusion since you arent always part of the majority which means that youre not really deciding anything as an individual
But that doesn't even make any sense, because democracy is not about YOU deciding about something, it's about THEM, with them being the majority.
Yes
well maybe i sort of understood the text wrong but well thats what i got from it
maybe you wanna read into some of his stuff or maybe not well its not really worth it
The idea is about your views being represented, and your views having an influence on the economy/country
So i think his objection stands
I trust you tbh, and from what you've told me the guy sounds like a very dumb one, who should be the example of an inefficient voter in democracy. Maybe that's why he opposed democracy in the first place, lmao. I might read a few things about him when I have time though
This is what democracy appeals to. Individualism. YOu having an influence. "if you dont like it just vote for someone else" revolves around the idea of you as an individual having the capacity to change anything
@Ater Votum are you for democracy now lol?
What are you now?
my friends girlfriend couldnt stop complaiming about him like as if she had her period
but now i read one of his texts and i have to say she was justified
but it was still a bit annoying
@Sentient23 Direct democracy yes
Oh yikes
And you're a orthodox "christian" too?
That is a utopian statement:
> The idea is about your views being represented, and your views having an influence on the economy/country
> So i think his objection stands
@Sentient23
That can't be true, because it literally can't work as a system. Yes, if Democracy works correctly, then other views are also taken into consideration and have influence on other individuals, but Democracy's promise, is that the will of the majority of the people turned into reality.
Also Democracy doesn't appeal to Individualism, not necessarily.
Yes it can't work, that's my point
It does appeal to individualism? The whole idea of "If you dont like him just vote for someone else bro"
That's individualism. Have you had any conversations with proponents of democracy from a anti democratic perspective? This is always the objection once you ask them why political opponents should be allowed to maintain their exististence if they promote instability
@Ater Votum read hoppes book on democracy
well for me democracy is more about sticking together and finding the best solution for the majority as a country
but if its not like that in practice
which it often isnt then obviously thats a valid criticism
i dont get leftist ideology trying to make everyone as individual as possible
and then also people from diffrent cultures
im not a fascist that wants everyone to be the same
but why force diversity thats just stupid