Q&A: Where Is Wisdom Found—Among the Few or the Many?
Where Is Wisdom Found—Among the Few or the Many?
Question
Hello Rabbi Michael Abraham
For some time I’ve been struggling with how one sets criteria on this question. There is what people call “the wisdom of the crowd,” meaning that many times, in weighing our steps, it is worthwhile to examine what most people do and think. On the other hand, it also seems that usually the truly wise are few, and many times they hold a minority view. Unfortunately I don’t have a specific topic to discuss, because presumably the Rabbi will say this is too general a question, but perhaps the Rabbi has some insights on this topic in general—maybe columns that deal with it?
Thank you very much.
Answer
Look for the column “Is the Majority Right?” and/or “The Wisdom of the Crowd.”
This is really not an interesting question, because I have never, on any question, wondered whether to follow the majority or the minority. It really doesn’t interest me. There are the substantive considerations in each direction, and if there is no decisive conclusion, then there are the laws of doubt. Who ever pays attention to how many people think one way or the other? That interests only bored media people and poll enthusiasts.