Protection, therefore, against the tyranny of the magistrate is not enough; there needs protection also against the tyranny of the precailing opinion and feeling, against the tendency of society to ipose, by other means than civil penalties, its own ideas and practices as rules of conduct on any indiciduality not in harmony with its ways, and compel all characters to fashion themselves upon the model of its own. There is a limit to the legimate interference of collective opinion with individual independence; and to find that limit, and maintain it against encroachment, is as indispensable to a good condition of human affairs as protection against political despotism.Read the excerpt On Liberty by John Stuart Mill warning of the tyranny of the majority-the ability of the majority of the people to control all individuals in the representatice democracy. Is majority rule an effective method of government? Should the majority of the poeple be able to impse their views on all the citizens?
2007-05-08 13:05:52 · 7 answers · asked by smilest_16_2002 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
There are two main thoughts here:
(1) Protection against unnecessary governmental control is not the only problem; protection against majority rule at the expense of the minority needs to be protected against as well. For example the Voting Rights Act helped to give everybody of legal age the ability to vote.
(2) In addition to the above-mentioned protection against majority rule is protection against societal influence. People that are not in the majority with respect to some aspect of their life should not have their liberty to enjoy that aspect of their life infringed upon by society (read: the majority). For example individuals should have the ability to choose contrary lifestyles with which the "majority" disagrees.
2007-05-08 13:27:52 · answer #1 · answered by drew30319 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The question is clear as day, I'll copy it here for you
Is majority rule an effective method of government? Should the majority of the poeple be able to impose their views on all the citizens?
Basiclly asking if a majority of people should be able to impose their views no matter the cause on the miniority (note this means number, not a specific race) even if it effects/takes away the minorities rights.
2007-05-08 20:11:28 · answer #2 · answered by caffeyw 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think this quote or excerpt is about protection from the tyranny of the majority. This basically is a philosophical idea that states that those in the minority at any given moment (remember, one can be in the majority one moment and the minority the next) should be protected from majority ideas that could be harmful.
2007-05-08 20:12:06 · answer #3 · answered by Barrett 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Majority of the people controls the government and they must not abuse their power to impose what they want against those who do not agree with them. The law must be respected to protect the minority.
2007-05-08 20:11:14 · answer #4 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 65% of the nation rejects Bush...
Your teacher must be a republican. He knows people had enough of arrogance and political despotism... now that the tables turned, he's trying to convince you the same should be done against the citizens disgust with it.
Too Bushy...
2007-05-08 20:28:01 · answer #5 · answered by thasaintamour 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Basiclly, Majority Rule and Minority Rights.
2007-05-08 20:14:24 · answer #6 · answered by smnb213220 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
what is this for? some liberal left wing social studies class?
2007-05-08 20:10:15 · answer #7 · answered by arus.geo 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋