AGREEMENT ON GENERAL RULES AND ON PARTICULAR MEASURES
In a complex society, no one person can know everything necessary to make informed decisions about government actions. Each individual understands only a small part of the overall societal structure, which leads to conflicts between their desires. For democratic governance to work, people must consent to general rules that govern decisions rather than specific details. This means that even if a majority has specific preferences, they must respect these general rules to maintain order.
True agreement in a large society usually only exists on broad principles, as detailed measures require widespread understanding. Without consistent adherence to established rules, conflicts will arise between desired outcomes and the principles guiding decision-making. A proposed overall plan for government action, while appealing, does not truly resolve these issues if it stems from a series of specific decisions.
The majority can effectively influence market outcomes only by focusing on general principles and avoiding meddling in specifics, even if those specifics conflict with their preferences. Individuals tend to follow rules in their personal actions, but collective decision-making often lacks this consistency, leading to measures that contradict preferred principles.
At first glance, it may seem easier to agree on specific issues than on general principles, but this is because common principles are often unarticulated. When people analyze specific disputes, they usually arrive at similar judgments because they are subconsciously guided by shared principles. Disagreements arise when there are no common rules, and finding these rules is key to reaching consensus on specific issues.
In a complex society, no one person can know everything necessary to make informed decisions about government actions. Each individual understands only a small part of the overall societal structure, which leads to conflicts between their desires. For democratic governance to work, people must consent to general rules that govern decisions rather than specific details. This means that even if a majority has specific preferences, they must respect these general rules to maintain order.
True agreement in a large society usually only exists on broad principles, as detailed measures require widespread understanding. Without consistent adherence to established rules, conflicts will arise between desired outcomes and the principles guiding decision-making. A proposed overall plan for government action, while appealing, does not truly resolve these issues if it stems from a series of specific decisions.
The majority can effectively influence market outcomes only by focusing on general principles and avoiding meddling in specifics, even if those specifics conflict with their preferences. Individuals tend to follow rules in their personal actions, but collective decision-making often lacks this consistency, leading to measures that contradict preferred principles.
At first glance, it may seem easier to agree on specific issues than on general principles, but this is because common principles are often unarticulated. When people analyze specific disputes, they usually arrive at similar judgments because they are subconsciously guided by shared principles. Disagreements arise when there are no common rules, and finding these rules is key to reaching consensus on specific issues.