Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T06:01:03.012Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A short reply to Wolff's (Plato's) argument that democracy is irrational

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2009

Fraser W. Smith
Get access

Extract

Wolff suggests by way of the following argument (adapted by Wolff from Plato's Republic) that democracy appears to be irrational. Here is the argument given:

1) Ruling is a skill.

2) It is rational to leave the exercise of skills to experts [sic]

3) In a democracy the people rule.

4) The people are not experts. Therefore:

5) Democracy is irrational.

Type
Research Article
Information
Think , Volume 6 , Issue 16 , Winter 2008 , pp. 49 - 52
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Philosophy 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)