multitude

Multitude is both a general noun for a very large number or crowd and a specialized term in philosophy and social theory. The word comes from Latin multitudō, from multus "many" with the suffix -tūdō.

In philosophy, the multitude denotes the many individuals who form a political body and possess collective power, as opposed to a single ruler. In Spinoza's political thought, the multitude can unite under common laws to secure liberty, but it can also threaten political order if dispersed. In more recent theory, Negri and Hardt repurpose the term to describe a diverse, networked global population of workers whose collaborative activity constitutes social production and political potential. Paolo Virno and others have developed similar ideas about the general intellect and the politicization of labor in post-Fordist capitalism.

In everyday language, multitude simply means a large number, as in a multitude of options. The term also invites distinctions among crowds, masses, publics, and mobs, with implications for agency, cohesion, and power. Critics note that while the multitude suggests unity, actual social groups are often heterogeneous and fragmented.