# The Typical Citizen Becomes Primitive in Politics by Joseph Schumpeter > “Thus the typical citizen drops down to a lower level of mental performance as soon as he enters the political field. He argues and analyzes in a way which he would readily recognize as infantile within the sphere of his real interests. He becomes a primitive again.” > **— Joseph Schumpeter**, *Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, 1942* ## Sources and Context - **Published source:** [Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, 1942](https://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/schumpeter) — direct or near-primary publication carrying the attributed statement. - **Article placement:** [[articles/The Immediate AI Risk Is the Public|The Immediate AI Risk Is the Public]] quotes this statement in its analysis of AI danger, public competence, strategic acceleration and machine succession. - **Editorial treatment:** The Reminder reproduces the complete contiguous wording quoted in the article without substantive alteration. - **Context:** Schumpeter contrasts practical reasoning in familiar affairs with the reduced responsibility and discipline of mass political judgment. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] - **Collection:** [[collections/Machine Succession|Machine Succession]] - **Article:** [[articles/The Immediate AI Risk Is the Public|The Immediate AI Risk Is the Public]] - **Companion article:** [[articles/Vertically Integrating an AI Superpower from AI Factory to Citizen|Vertically Integrating an AI Superpower from AI Factory to Citizen]] - **Companion article:** [[articles/Safety Discourse Is Transition Discourse|Safety Discourse Is Transition Discourse]] - **Wiki map:** [[wiki/AI Transition Governance|AI Transition Governance]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Joseph Schumpeter|Joseph Schumpeter]] - [[wiki/Primate Politics|Primate Politics]] - [[wiki/Democratic Deliberation|Democratic Deliberation]] - [[wiki/Public Epistemic Capacity|Public Epistemic Capacity]] - [[wiki/Coalitionary AI Politics|Coalitionary AI Politics]] - [[wiki/Human Animality|Human Animality]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “Thus the typical citizen drops down to a lower level of mental performance as soon as he enters the political field. He argues and analyzes in a way which he would readily recognize as infantile within the sphere of his real interests. He becomes a primitive again.” — Joseph Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, 1942 https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-joseph-schumpeter-the-typical-citizen-becomes-primitive-in-politics ```