Getting Married · Chapter
The Limits of Democracy explained
Shaw argues that democracy is not about governing according to the ignorance of majorities, especially on sexual morals, but rather that statesmen must convince voters they know better on methods, while the voter's role is to ensure the gov
What happens
Shaw argues that democracy is not about governing according to the ignorance of majorities, especially on sexual morals, but rather that statesmen must convince voters they know better on methods, while the voter's role is to ensure the government consists of trustworthy experts who devise institutions for the common welfare. He illustrates the distinction between will and way, using examples of heat relief and moral discipline, to emphasize that expert method must prevail over popular ignorance.
Key passages
“The modern notion that democracy means governing a country according to the ignorance of its majorities is never more disastrous than when there is some question of sexual morals to be dealt with.”
The idea that democracy should follow the uninformed opinions of the majority is especially harmful when applied to sexual morality.
Shaw criticizes populist interpretations of democracy, particularly in sensitive moral domains.
“The business of a democratic statesman is not, as some of us seem to think, to convince the voters that he knows no better than they as to the methods of attaining their common ends, but on the contrary to convince them that he knows much better than they do, and therefore differs from them on every possible question of method.”
A democratic leader should not pretend to be as ignorant as the voters, but should instead persuade them that he has superior knowledge on how to achieve shared goals.
Shaw emphasizes the importance of expertise and leadership over pandering to popular opinion.
“The will and the way are two very different things.”
What people want and how to achieve it are distinct matters.
This distinction underpins Shaw's argument for expert guidance in democratic governance.