[In-Depth Look] The 'Paradox of Voting' and Social Integration

There are many well-known bridges over the Seine River in Paris. These include Pont Neuf, featured in movie titles; the Mirabeau Bridge, famous for the poem "Le Pont Mirabeau"; and the Alexandre III Bridge, adorned with golden decorations. Among them, the most impressive might be the Pont des Arts, also known as the "Bridge of Arts." It was once famous for the countless love locks attached to it. Art historian Kenneth Clark once described the beauty of this bridge by standing on it and saying, "I do not know what civilization is, but I am seeing it now."

A bridge is a structure built to cross water or reach the other side. Therefore, its purpose is connection. When crossing the Pont des Arts from the Louvre Museum to the Institut de France, you encounter the statue of the Marquis de Condorcet, another symbol of connection. Like this bridge, he dedicated his life to connecting different fields, values, and people.

He was a lifelong member of the Institut de France, which was at the center of scientific and technological advancement at the time, and a pioneer who first linked mathematics with social sciences. He also believed that science, reason, freedom, and progress were all interconnected. He argued that as knowledge of science increases, it leads to individual freedom and material prosperity, guiding us toward a more just world. The theory he left behind, aiming to connect science with social phenomena, is known as "Condorcet's Paradox."

Also called the "paradox of voting," this phenomenon refers to the failure of simple majority voting to accurately reflect the preferences of members. While the majority rule is useful when there are only two options, it fails to properly represent preferences as the number of choices increases. Suppose three people rank their preferences for A, B, and C as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively, and vote. If A beats B and B beats C, common sense suggests that A should beat C. However, when voting between A and C, C may actually win.

Through Condorcet's paradox, he criticized the omnipotence of majority rule and sought more rational decision-making methods. He proposed the method of repeated pairwise comparisons as a solution, but resolving the paradox proved practically impossible. Instead, he participated in the creation of the first human encyclopedia (Encyclop?die) in mid-18th century Europe, compiling vast knowledge to connect various scientific fields. He also opposed black slavery and advocated for expanded women's suffrage and gender equality, emphasizing the importance of social integration.

As the unexpected election approaches during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic, the social preference voting that Condorcet pondered long ago is practically impossible to realize today. However, if Condorcet were alive, he might advise us from the "Bridge of Arts," a symbol of civilization: "We must carefully consider who among the candidates can lead social integration to connect people and overcome the COVID crisis."

Kim Young-woo, Research Fellow, Institute for Shared Growth

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.