Baruch Spinoza We are not asserting that everything that is done by right is also done in the best way; it is one thing to till a field by right, another thing to till it in the best way. [. . . ] Consequently, it is one thing to rule and to take charge of public affairs by right, another thing to rule in the best way and direct public affairs in the best way. Since the very beginning of philosophy, democracy as a political system has suffered severe criticisms. From Plato to Badiou, the belief that human beings are politically guided not only by truth but also by majority opinion has been seen as a complete misunderstanding of politics. Likewise, as the current global economic crisis illustrates, attacks against democracy have come from both left- and right-wing groups. The idea that society must be ruled by opinions,...
Baruch Spinoza We are not asserting that everything that is done by right is also done in the best way; it is one thing to till a field by right, another thing to till it in the best way. [. . . ] Consequently, it is one thing to rule and to take charge of public affairs by right, another thing to rule in the best way and direct public affairs in the best way. Since the very beginning of philosophy, democracy as a political system has suffered severe criticisms. From Plato to Badiou, the belief that human beings are politically guided not only by truth but also by majority opinion has been seen as a complete misunderstanding of politics. Likewise, as the current global economic crisis illustrates, attacks against democracy have come from both left- and right-wing groups. The idea that society must be ruled by opinions,...
