观点反驳：人多就力量大,众人拾柴火焰高？

Is There Strength in Numbers?

Most Chinese are traditionally taught and in themselves firmly convince that there is strength in numbers. But this is the very notion that arose my doubt. Can we have things done more efficiently if we get more hands? Not necessarily. I got numerous reasons to illustrate my point, but I would only explore a few of the most convincing and intelligible ones here.

Firstly, people tend to have inertness and dependency if they work in a group. There is a story in Chinese culture which can best interpret my thought. Let me tell you in brief: Once upon a time, there is only a monk living in a temple on the top of the mountain. In order to get water, he has to carry water from the foot of the mountain to the top. But before long, another monk came and they carried water together. Then, came the third one who joined in. To the surprise of many, they ended up with dying from thirsty for no one was willing to do the carrying. They each expected others to undertake the hard work and all they would do is to sit back and enjoy the fruits of others’ labor. Thus, the work can by no means finished or efficiently done. However, let’s give this story a second thought and you would catch my notion more clearly. In this illuminating story, we can bring up two plans for the monks to survive -- Do not allow more than two monks in this group; the number of the monks can of no limit, but it is essential to have an explicit division of responsibilities for each monks. With the story discussed above, there is no denying that the saying"More people, more powerful." is not gonna work out in every ways if everyone just skirts his liability and be dependent on others.

Furthermore, when faced with a tough task, every heads got his own strategy of solving the problem. What’s so unpleasant is that only one thought can be choosed to be the ultimate plan of the whole group. So, how to choose, who to choose, who can be the leader? Thoughts then clash and burn. Admittedly, a good final resolution to the

problem can be attributed to everyone’s initiative to think and discuss. However, the consensus can not be so easy and quick to reach and the process of it can be flooded with fierce conflicts which is the source of chaos. That is to say, the more people the more likelihood of low efficiency and failure in achieving the common goal.

Taking all these factors into account, we may reach the conclusion that the commonly advocated idea that more people produce greater power is not absolutely right. Of course, what I discussed with you here is not to criticize the notion. Instead, I would like this notion to work out perfectly with some prerequisites added. That is to say, many hands can provide great strength only with a stable and certain leadership, clear division of duties and accountability. Without these basic points, many is no better than none.