Majorities and minorities cannot rightfully be taken at all into account in deciding questions of justice

Majorities and minorities cannot rightfully be taken at all into account in deciding questions of justice

Lysander Spooner, a 19th-century American individualist anarchist, was a staunch advocate for individual rights and believed that majorities and minorities should not play a role in deciding questions of justice. Spooner argued that justice is an objective concept that should be based on natural law and individual rights, rather than the whims of the majority or minority.

Spooner believed that the rights of individuals should be protected regardless of their status as part of a majority or minority group. He argued that justice should be blind to such distinctions and should be applied equally to all individuals. Spooner believed that the majority should not have the power to impose their will on the minority, as this would violate the rights of the minority and undermine the principles of justice.

In Spooner's view, the majority does not have the right to dictate what is just or unjust simply because they hold numerical superiority. He believed that justice is a universal principle that applies to all individuals, regardless of their status as part of a majority or minority group. Spooner argued that the rights of individuals should be protected from the tyranny of the majority, and that justice should be based on objective principles rather than the preferences of the majority.

Spooner's views on majorities and minorities in relation to questions of justice are still relevant today. In a democratic society, the majority often holds significant power and influence over decision-making processes. However, Spooner's arguments serve as a reminder that the rights of individuals should not be sacrificed in the name of majority rule. Justice should be based on objective principles that protect the rights of all individuals, regardless of their status as part of a majority or minority group.