DIGRESSION ON THE SUBMISSION OF MINORITIES TO MAJORITIES

Abstract

Translation of “Digresión sobre la sumisión de las minorities a las mayorías” from the book Sociología by Georg Simmel. The text focuses on the relationship between the majority and the minority in social and political contexts. It addresses the dynamics of how decisions are made when opinions differ and how the majority often prevails over the minority. The author begins by discussing the nature of social formations, emphasizing that society is a formation that transforms the unity and inner totality of the individual into a dependent part of a greater whole. The author discusses how the idea of unanimity can be problematic, as it is not always possible to reach unanimous agreement. The author concludes that the attempt to achieve common voluntary action in a collective of divergent individuals is a challenging task, as it involves the reconciliation of heterogeneous norms. In summary, the text explores the complex relationships between the majority and minority in social and political contexts, highlighting issues of decision-making, power and unity in societies made up of individuals with diverse opinions.