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Who Decides What’s Best?
Unpacking Thomas Sowell’s Warning About Power and Choice
“The most basic question is not what is best, but who shall decide what is best.” — Thomas Sowell
The fundamental matter at stake according to Thomas Sowell involves determining who possess the power to establish optimal solutions rather than debating the solutions themselves. A simple yet deep declaration attacks the existing principles of group-based choices. This point forces us to deal with the fundamental conflict between general standards for excellence determination and the human tendency to judge inaccurately. Our democratic society should not blindly pursue an abstract best outcome. Because, we must identify who possesses the best qualifications to determine how our lives should develop. The main problem lies in recognizing that the best objective state remains abstract this, all decisions reflect the subjective traits and beliefs of those in positions of power.
The ideas in this passage echo philosophical ideas about democratic governance which have shaped societies since their creation. Most current political philosophies operate on the foundation that sounder ideas will organically triumph in political competition. Sowell suggests through subtle teaching that decision-mechanisms…
