Prawda czy tylko prawdopodobność – o roli debaty publicznej w kształtowaniu opinii i poglądów

Democracy as a form of organization of social and political life contains in itself a significant paradox. Despite the obvious fact that as individuals with limited opportunitiesand abilities, we cannot know all, we are obliged to have opinions and to decide (and co-decide) on everything. This commitment is usually expressed in a practicalmanner when making political decisions during elections, referenda, when participating in discussions or expressing opinions recorded by public opinion research centers,which consequently form the basis of legitimacy for politicians’ actions. In everyday conversation, we can very often come across the situation when our interlocutors agree or disagree on a particular matter, but are completely unable to justify their beliefs. However, it does not change the fact that on the basis on those beliefs, they take certain decisions. And the importance of votes cast by conscious and unconscious electorate is identical and has the same effect.