Diversity of opinion is measured by what is conceivable, by the range of plausibly justifiable views. The most valuable thing in a debate are the extreme theses. They have the greatest knowledge value. How strong they appear and how they are treated shows the democratic maturity of a country.
As an example, consider the empire of the emperor without clothes. The monarch is naked and every courtier finds other unctuous words to praise the ruler’s wardrobe: At court there is a diversity of opinions – in a narrow spectrum of opinions.
Appearance: The child
“That man over there is naked!” the child shouts at the Imperial Parade. It thus enriches the discussion about the extreme counter-position to the courtier hymns: There are no new clothes. And many agree with him. Debate room open! This is how we recognize the narrowness of the previous corridor of opinion.
Tricky for the emperor and court: people are often naked. The child has eyes, his claim is not absurd. Therefore, such a child needs courage and good nerves. Because as soon as it can no longer be ignored, it is attacked by embarrassed court officials.
Court’s reaction
First, an imperial minister loudly proclaims that the child has “no right to attend the parade” because it “didn’t contribute anything to the great new clothes.”
Kaiser experts are saying on all channels that the new clothes did not prevent the outbreak of sweat as hoped, but they did prevent the development of sweat, and that is why their unconventionality (they were woven in just three days and then presented as “clothes” after the concept of the dress had redefined it appropriately), not to complain: It was lacking in solidarity, antisocial and unreasonable, because the laundromats would have to collapse under sweaty laundry if not everyone put on the invisible clothes.
The child’s “nudity thesis” is then subjected to a “fact check” by the “Corrective – Research for the Court” association. Result: Have the child without citing relevant studies simply trusted his eyes and was therefore right controversial!
The conceivableness of invisible yarn is given by a council of the matter correct Understanding examined: It is too early to judge, but the dress and language rules at court should now be changed slightly to calm the children. Increased colds in undressed imperial loyalists have not been investigated; it’s too early for that, but it’s really too late until much later.
Armes Kind
The child, who was honest and courageous, gets to know the court even better. His apartment is searched on suspicion of reasonable suspicion; somehow it can’t get a bank account and can’t find an apprenticeship.
The StuPa of the university announced a resolution on his enrollment: “There is no place at this university for critical thinking that goes beyond parade leadership” because it “damages your reputation at court”.
The compromise
In the end, the emperor admits that the new fabrics are unsuitable for windy state affairs because of their airiness, and gets dressed again, but without calling it that. The tailors with the invisible yarn are discreetly expelled from the country one night with the Imperial Cross of Merit on their breasts.
The Imperial Channels quickly turn to tournament competition. One gets busy flagging the country in fan colors and practicing new slogans. The peace is preserved.
Michael Andrick has a PhD in philosophy and has been working in business since 2006. His last book “emptiness of success’ is at the same time a diagnosis of the present in industrial society and an introduction to philosophizing.