E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Five Fallacies … 133essentials. Now let us look at what constitutes a consensus orwhat leads to a consensus. A consensus is, as has been statedearlier, a point of view that is commonly accepted in a group.How does one identify this consensus or become aware of it?As people, or the members of the group, express their views,one is able to see what is the opinion that is acceptable to themajority or to most. No count is taken; but the direction orstrength of the opinion is clear even to those who do not agreewith the desirability of the direction or the opinions expressedby the larger number, though the number is not quantified. Atthat point, two alternatives are available. Either some one isdesignated to identify the consensus, or individual membershave the good sense to acknowledge the view of the unnumberedmajority as the consensus of the House. But, often, adegree of insistence on the part of two or three or a smallnumber who feel strongly about their views or convictionsprevents the emergence or acceptance of a consensus, thus, ineffect, reducing the concept of consensus to the concept ofunanimity; and unanimity is hard to attain where there is nodirect or indirect pressure flowing from force, or from faith. Ifit is not unanimity, consensus is only the graceful acceptance ofa majority that has not been crudely and offensively quantifiedto embarrass or humiliate the minority.It now remains for us to examine the consequences ofaccepting consensus or unanimity as a condition precedent foraction. On fundamentals, the Satyagrahi is not expected to givein, or give up his view to facilitate or fall in line with a"consensus". "In matters of conscience, the law of majority hasno place." 18 "The rule of majority has a narrow application, i.e.one should yield to the majority in matters of detail. But it isslavery to be amenable to the majority, no matter what itsdecisions are. Democracy is not a state in which people act likesheep. Under democracy individual liberty of opinion andaction is jealously guarded." 19 It is more important for the