Are You an Anarchist?

[RickM]

I always thought that communism looked stupid on paper, but that is just me.

The problem was, it looked pretty good on paper (per Marx and Engels), but then in actual practice it condemned half of the world's population to 70 years of misery and slavery.

[Kenneth I. Wolfe]

Has there ever been ANY society (democracy or not) without leaders? Whether its the village elders or the royal family or elected leaders (or tyrants who have seized power), I can't think of any society that's self-governing.

Village elders (or wise men) are more of influential leaders rather than official, authoritarian leaders.

[RickM]

Village elders (or wise men) are more of influential leaders rather than official, authoritarian leaders.

I suppose, but when tough questions come up (do we go to war or not), I believe the ultimate decision is theirs.

[Kenneth I. Wolfe]

I suppose, but when tough questions come up (do we go to war or not), I believe the ultimate decision is theirs.

However, if the community notices that elder or the wise man is going senile, they have the choice not to listen to him.

[Foolish Mortal]

I suppose, but when tough questions come up (do we go to war or not), I believe the ultimate decision is theirs.

Yep. No matter what you call them, "wise men" or village elders, they are still leaders of the community and the community will tend to follow their direction.

No doubt the first Kings in human history were probably village elders and wise men.

[Kenneth I. Wolfe]

Yep. No matter what you call them, "wise men" or village elders, they are still leaders of the community and the community will tend to follow their direction.

No doubt the first Kings in human history were probably village elders and wise men.

I don't like repeating myself, especially when I said it a second ago, but you said "tend to." That says it all... the community still has a choice.

[Foolish Mortal]

I don't like repeating myself, especially when I said it a second ago, but you said "tend to." That says it all... the community still has a choice.

Yes, but once you follow someone's direction once, then twice, and more times, you tend to start following it often.

And once a group starts doing that, then the elder starts to build up a level of credibility with the community as a whole, and before you know it, that person has become the leader of the community. Or "chief of the tribe".

[Jastermereel]

Yes, but once you follow someone's direction once, then twice, and more times, you tend to start following it often.

And once a group starts doing that, then the elder starts to build up a level of credibility with the community as a whole, and before you know it, that person has become the leader of the community. Or "chief of the tribe".

But sometimes some people might disagree with the leader. And other people might agree with them, or just simply stop agreeing with that village elder and not follow anyone and before you know it you've got anarchy! Anarchy I tell you!

[Kenneth I. Wolfe]

Yes, but once you follow someone's direction once, then twice, and more times, you tend to start following it often.

And once a group starts doing that, then the elder starts to build up a level of credibility with the community as a whole, and before you know it, that person has become the leader of the community. Or "chief of the tribe".

A good example would be a priest of small religious town. They are often very influential, and they are usually relied on to advise the town in its direction. The priest has a lot of power, but only because the community follows his advice by choice, and they choose to because he aligns with their faith. However, one day the priest starts questioning God and His existence, and suddenly becomes agnostic. The community starts noticing the change because his words contradict what they believe in, and when they realize what has happened, they no longer follow him.

The same story would happen with an elder wise man. As soon as the wise man becomes senile, maybe not one person, but the community as a whole will recognize the senility and will know not to follow him.

[Keith P.]

Anyone who suggests Anarchy as a viable system has absolutely NO concept of human nature at all.

With the exception of extremely short bursts, that burn themselves out very quickly, we are incapable of it.

The need for hierarchy and structure is codified in us on a genetic level. Its how our brains are wired.


Its like the self preservation instinct, the reproductive urge, or any other basic biological drive.


Only the most simple of organisms thrive in chaos, our higher mentality craves order.