The only thing that becomes 'equal' about them is they carry equal
responsibility for themselves (including their freedom).
>they lose their freedom becuase there is nothing to protect them from
>others who are stronger physically.
And what does so today? The police and armed forces? What if *they* are
the forces you need to protect yourself from?
>Then you have people arise who are
>"More equal than others", if you like.
This will happen anyway, in *any* social system. People/groups who are
prepared to spend more effort at protecting their freedoms, or who are
just simply better at it, will enjoy the fruits of their labours. The
concept of equality is misleading in this context; equality among all
mankind is *not* a state of nature and attempts to force it are destined
to failure.
>> Don't underestimate self-interest as a source of many laws and
>> morality. Most people have an unsuppresed empathy for others,
>> therefore they can relate to the pain that they would inflict on
>> others if they were to rob, rape, or kill other humans beings. Since
>> most people do not want to be robbed, raped, killed, or feel pain,
>> they agree on laws to make such behavior illegal.
And thus a self-regulatory order is born. Most people will happily give
up certain freedoms (to kill, rape etc.) in return for reciprocation
from those around them.
>Correct, /but/ for some people, self-interest is taken further, to the point
>where one individual cares only about what s/he achieves, and not about the
>people who are hurt during this achievement. This is, IMO, the stumbling
>block of Anarchy.
I don't see that as taking self-interest further, I see it as not
thinking it through far enough (in most cases - the exceptions being
where there is no chance of retribution). To believe that your own
interests are in no way reliant on other people is delusional. You
cannot escape the influences of those around you.
-- Martz martz@martz.demon.co.ukFor my public key, <mailto:m.traynor@ic.ac.uk> with 'Send public key' as subject an automated reply will follow.
No more random quotes.