Philosophy, Post-Modernism, a Refresh of the Enlightenment

[Ixion]

Guilty as charged, but I don't have to like. Consider me an Anti-Globalist minus the strong liberalism, feminism and other greeny-touchy-feely views.

PS: In the words of SJD (and a damn good beer ad):

Beautiful Haze
It might be nice to smash the state, but it's getting late
And mostly I'm just working for the man.
It might be good to tell the boss that I don't give a toss and to stick his lame-arse job
But I'm not sure that I can.

The universe is mostly fine with me - it seems to me the only place to be.

Wake up from your beautiful haze
Rise up, smash your beautiful chains, climb out of your beautiful maze
Rise up, rise up.
Climb down from your beautiful tower, you know you won't make beautiful remains.
All that's left is a beautiful hour
And its ours, ours

The people's flag is deepest red,

It shrouded oft our martyr'd dead

And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,

Their hearts' blood dyed its ev'ry fold.

It well recalls the triumphs past;

It gives the hope of peace at last:

The banner bright, the symbol plain,

Of human right and human gain.

It suits today the meek and base,

Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place,

To cringe before the rich man's frown

And haul the sacred emblem down.

With heads uncovered swear we all

To bear it onward till we fall.

Come dungeon dark or gallows grim,

This song shall be our parting hymn.

Then raise the scarlet standard high,

Within its shade we'll live and die,

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,

We'll keep the red flag flying here.

[Ocean1]

Would you stop being so darn logical....gaaaahhh! I got a curly haired Shirley Temple like little girl inside of me screaming: "No, no...please let it not be so! Please let us be as one and kiss in the sunshine and never be bad to each other..."

Maybe more people shoukld read about the Sword of Damocles.

It don’t taste so bad, the restraint of power is common yet, as good a definition of nobility as I could wish for. Damocles lived, I wonder if Dionysius was the arsehole he was made out to be…

[Krayy]

I like to think I'm slightly more centre aligned than that.

Beautiful Haze is more about acceptance than revolution, as in "I know I should do something, but I'd rather ride my bike instead"

[007XX]

Damocles lived, I wonder if Dionysius was the arsehole he was made out to be…

I always wondered about that.

Historically, and as you stated before, power is very much either the threat or actual utilisation of strength to render people docile.

It would really make one jaded and a bit edgy to have to maintain such an aura of power at all time.

Although I don't condone the principle of royalty, I can see that the concept would be ideal to rule the dumb masses, if it was always in the hands of a just ruler.

That obviously, is just another utopia however.

i think no matter the concept, it is bound to have flaws, as it is forever to be only as good as the humans who put it in practice. Be it religion, politic, economic, nothing will ever be perfect. So ultimately, it is only ever about making the best of what we've got.

[vifferman]

Although I don't condone the principle of royalty, I can see that the concept would be ideal to rule the dumb masses, if it was always in the hands of a just ruler.

It doesn't need to be royalty - any form of dictatorship is a more efficient and stronger form of gummint than a democracy.
In fact, a theocracy is the best form of gummint, provided the god in charge was actually omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, etc.

[007XX]

In fact, a theocracy is the best form of gummint, provided the god in charge was actually omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, etc.

eeerrrr...meeeeepppp....I'm sorry, pelase try again. I do hope that was a sarcastic "get back on topic" reply!

With theocracy, it would be solely up to its "representant(s)" to make the god omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, etc

Once again leaving it in the hands of individuals of flesh and blood (and with their respective flaws aka: greed, lust...) to make it work.

Nothing's the best...it's all flawed I tells ya!

[Ocean1]

Historically, and as you stated before, power is very much either the threat or actual utilisation of strength to render people docile.

Bit simplistic, and simple military/police strength is limited within a single nation because the conscripts come from the great unwashed anyway. Ultimately those who govern require the consent of the governed... with one exception: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_despotism

I don't condone the principle of royalty, I can see that the concept would be ideal to rule the dumb masses, if it was always in the hands of a just ruler.

Viffer's onto it, management by committee is a cast iron guarantee of mediocrity. Better to define the objective, identify the best single entity for the job and turn ‘em loose. At least while their KPIs stack up…

Dear God, ifn’ I don’t get a new 1125R for Xmas you’re fired!