PLEBISCITE

Truth is undemocratic 

A plebiscite is the expression of an opinion or choice through a direct and universal vote. It is the purest form of democracy because it does not filter the will of the people through their elected representatives.

But truth, because it is transcendent, is not subject to plebiscite. We could vote on truth, but the final tally would be immaterial because it does not matter how many people believe something is truth if it is false. Nor does it matter how many people believe something is false if it is true.

Until the sixteenth century, geocentrism—the belief that the Earth is the center of the universe—prevailed as truth. Aristotle believed it to be true. Ptolemy believed it to be true. If polled, the vast majority would have said “yes, the Earth is at the center of the universe.” It is easy to see why; the Earth does not feel like it is moving while the Sun, Moon, and stars all appear to revolve around us every day. But it is not true and never was, despite how many believed it to be.

When Galileo theorized that it was the Sun rather than the Earth that was at the center of the universe, the Catholic Church and academia condemned him and banned his books. If polled, the vast majority would have said “no, the Sun is not at the center of the universe." But that is false and always was, despite how many believed it to be true.

It is true that democracy is the best form of governance because it is of the people, by the people and for the people. Yet it is not clear whether it would prevail if put to a plebiscite. Ironically, if people could vote to decide whether should vote they might vote against voting.

It is a good thing that truth is undemocratic.