Collective decisions do not become legitimate simply because they have been approved by a majority. Their legitimacy also depends on the conditions under which they are formed. A society needs spaces where people can express their opinions, defend their arguments, challenge the ideas of others and reconsider their own positions. Disagreement is not an obstacle to coexistence, but a necessary part of any democratic process. When ideas can be freely challenged, decisions are more likely to emerge from shared reflection rather than simply from power relations, particular interests or temporary majorities.

When debate is restricted, when questioning dominant opinions comes at a cost, or when certain ideas are excluded before they can be examined, the quality of collective decisions deteriorates. It is not enough to allow people to vote if they have not first had the opportunity to think, ask questions and disagree without fear. A truly democratic society should not aspire to make everyone think alike, but to ensure that no one has to give up thinking for themselves. Legitimacy does not arise from the absence of disagreement, but from the freedom to build decisions through it.