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How to make decisions consistent with the general interest?

The answer to this question is a consequence of that previously given to the question 'Why do humans reason massively wrong?'.

To obtain decisions consistent with the general interest, it is necessary:

1. require the production of written reasoning reporting the analysis that led to the decision

2. the decision must only hold within the limits of the reasoning that supports it

Why is voting an absurdity?

Voting, for example in parliament, amounts to changing the source of legitimacy of the decision. The source is no longer the quality of the reasoning which led to the decision, but the legitimacy of the social group which voted for the decision.
In other words, each time we vote, we move from a rational decision to a simple political decision produced by various interests arbitrated by the play of alliances. We thus switch from the general interest to the interest of the dominant group.
To drive the point home, a parliament discusses a decision, then votes on it without adding the reasoning that motivates it, which would be a summary of the discussions. Indeed, such correctly conducted reasoning would very often be contrary to the final vote. The vote is therefore the tyranny, not of a single man, but of the dominant group.

Limitations of the analysis

It is not because a correct analysis has been carried out that a decision is naturally imposed. Often, several decisions may be equally valid with regard to the analysis.
However, it is essential to put this analysis in writing, because this is what allows the decision to be called into question when circumstances change, whereas a vote without additional reasoning amounts to sacralizing the decision, and very often the generalize improperly, which is much more harmful with regard to the common interest.

Go deeper

Les chapitres 4 'The decision-making process, or the reign of the irrational' and 7 'Going beyond the philosophical vision of the Enlightenment' from the book From capital to reason present a more developed version.

Refer to question 'What conditions must be met to produce serious reasoning? Problem solving.', puis 'Condition nécessaire pour une organisation sociale satisfaisante' qui traite d'un sujet connexe.

Refer to chapter 21'Justice' from the book From capital to reason, which sets out a constitution in a single article.

 

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