社会事象としての多数決について (第五百號記念特集號)

Abstract

The present paper aims at clarifying the sociological meaning of the majority rule which has been studied by G. Simmel, H. Kelsen and R. M. MacIver. For this purpose, the following three problems are examined. 1. The fundamental bases of majority rule. According to G. Simmel, the fundamental bases of the majority rule are founded not only in the power relation between majority and minority, but also in the essential relation between society and individual. However, these two bases are not the valid ground for the majority rule in the last analysis. 2. The social conditions of majority rule. One of social conditions is the matter of social limits which H. Kelsen suggested, in terms of his cultural community theory. And the other main condition is the matter of decision making subject. 3. Basic types of majority rule. Corresponding to the social conditions, majority rule can be classified into the following four large types in theory; (1) an external rough majority, (2) a relative majority, (3) an absolute majority in the relative sense or average plurality, and (4) an absolute majority in the absolute sense or rigid plurality. In short, two frames of reference are taken out from above 2 and 3 problems. Diagrammatizing them, as follows; [Table omitted]