using the same argument, a smart adult might object to adults having voting rights, no?
The argument doesn’t just require that someone think they’re in a category containing a lot of bad voters. The argument requires that they think they’re in a category with voters who are comparatively bad, in contrast to people who are outside the category. A lot of smart adults would say “most voters are stupid”. But not very many would say “most voters like me are particularly stupid”.
A lot of smart adults would say “most voters are stupid”. But not very many would say “most voters like me are particularly stupid”.
That entirely depends on what the category of “voters like me” is—the category that may lose their votes. Very old people, mentally ill people, low IQ people, illiterate people, people with drug addictions… Within such category, an exceptionally (for the category) smart person may well think most other people “like them” are particularly stupid.
That’s when you meet the venous valve: using the same argument, a smart adult might object to adults having voting rights, no?
Yes indeed. Of course, note that the argument does not apply to only smart adults having voting rights.
Things also change if we think that “smart adults” are a less monolithic bloc of interests than “smart teenagers”, which, it seems to me, is the case.
“Might”?
The argument doesn’t just require that someone think they’re in a category containing a lot of bad voters. The argument requires that they think they’re in a category with voters who are comparatively bad, in contrast to people who are outside the category. A lot of smart adults would say “most voters are stupid”. But not very many would say “most voters like me are particularly stupid”.
That entirely depends on what the category of “voters like me” is—the category that may lose their votes. Very old people, mentally ill people, low IQ people, illiterate people, people with drug addictions… Within such category, an exceptionally (for the category) smart person may well think most other people “like them” are particularly stupid.