Skip to content

In this aspect, the case for democracy rests on the argument that free discussion and expression of opinion are the most suitable techniques of arriving at the moral imperative implicitly common to all. Voting, from this point of view, is not a device whereby each individual expresses his personal interests, but rather where each individual gives his opinion of the general will.

— Kenneth Arrow Social Choice and Individual Values (1951)

Another quote →

More quotes by Kenneth Arrow

Perhaps as important is the relation between the existence of solutions to a competitive equilibrium and the problems of normative or welfare economics.

Collective action is a means of power, a means by which individuals can more fully realize their individual values.

The Limits Of Organization (1974)

As is by now well known, attempts to form social judgments by aggregating individual expressed preferences always lead to the possibility of paradox.

The Limits Of Organization (1974)

The aim of achieving an equal distribution of political power requires a restriction on the inequalities of wealth and income.

The purpose of organizations is to exploit the fact that many (virtually all) decisions require the participation of many individuals for their effectiveness.

The Limits Of Organization (1974)

All Kenneth Arrow quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Kenneth Arrow (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.