Premium
On the Philosophy of Group Decision Methods I: The Nonobviousness of Majority Rule
Author(s) -
Risse Mathias
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
philosophy compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.973
H-Index - 25
ISSN - 1747-9991
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2009.00224.x
Subject(s) - argument (complex analysis) , rule of law , strengths and weaknesses , rule based system , epistemology , decision rule , group (periodic table) , psychology , computer science , law , philosophy , political science , artificial intelligence , medicine , chemistry , organic chemistry , politics
Majority rule is often adopted almost by default as a group decision rule. One might think, therefore, that the conditions under which it applies, and the argument on its behalf, are well understood. However, the standard arguments in support of majority rule display systematic deficiencies. This article explores these weaknesses, and assesses what can be said on behalf of majority rule.