Every numerous assembly is a mob, let the individuals who compose it be what they will. Mere sense is never to be talked to a mob; their passions, their sentiments, their senses and their seeming interests alone are to be applied to. Understanding have they collectively none. Lord Chesterfield 1751.He was referring to the House of Lords.
There's something in that. Intelligence doesn't necessarily aggregate very well.
Nor does morality. cf Niebuhr "Moral Man and Immoral Society". But have to reread it as my sophomore enthusiam and recollection of it may not be accurate!
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