"I do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance"

Thomas Carlyle’s statement, “I do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance,” casts a skeptical eye on the reliability of group decisions when those participating lack true understanding. The words challenge the idealized vision that a crowd’s conclusion is inherently superior simply due to its democratic nature or the law of averages. Carlyle implies that merely assembling many uninformed individuals does not miraculously generate wisdom; instead, ignorance, multiplied, can result in folly on a grand scale.

This perspective is a counterpoint to notions such as “the wisdom of crowds,” where it is sometimes argued that aggregating many independent opinions can lead to smart collective outcomes. However, Carlyle’s assertion reminds us that if the individuals contributing to the decision are ignorant, possessing neither proper knowledge nor critical thinking, then the consensus they reach is likely to be shallow or even misguided. He warns against conflating popular opinion with truth or prudence.

Carlyle’s skepticism is rooted in his distrust of uncritical mass thinking. Societies often romanticize public opinion, electoral majorities, and popular trends as wise simply because they represent the collective. Yet, history shows repeated instances where mobs or masses have made destructive choices, swept up by misinformation, prejudice, or sensationalism. Carlyle urges discernment, valuing informed judgment over numerical superiority.

True wisdom, in his view, comes from education, reflection, and the courage to question orthodoxy, not just from the tally of votes or loudest voices. He cautions leaders, citizens, and thinkers to look beyond mere numbers and ask whether the crowd has real insight or is simply echoing ignorance. Carlyle’s remark stands as an argument for fostering individual enlightenment as the foundation for sound collective decisions, underscoring that wisdom is not the automatic outcome of group consensus unless its members are themselves wise.