Question

Briefly discuss the impossibility theorem as well as the ethical conditions that it advocates are the short-comings of the majority voting rule

Answer 1

Impossibility Theorem

Arrow’s impossibility says that in all cases where preferences are ranked, it is not possible to have a fair voting system. The theorem shows the inability of the system to rank the candidates according the preferences of each individual. Considering the individual preferences, it is not easy to follow a fair voting system because every group of voters may not have a same preference. Arrow points out some limitations or the necessary violating conditions of the voting system.

Arrow examined to follow a set of requirements which should be satisfied to construct social preferences from individual preferences.

1. Social preference should be complete in a given choice between A and B. it should be clear within A and B, which is preferred to which.

2. Social preference should be transitive: A preferred to B, B to C, then A is preferred to C

3. If every individual prefer A to B, then A should also be preferred to B, socially.

4. Non dictatorship: No one individual could determine the social preference.

5. Social preferences must be independent.

Thus Arrow states about the impossibility in formulating a social ordering or preference in all cases where preferences are ranked, it is necessary to violate any of these given conditions.