I don’t mean this as confrontational way, just an observation: there’s this pattern of where I write something, and then you respond as if I wrote a subtly exaggerated version containing some additional points which I didn’t actually write. This comment really typifies the tendency.
Just because I think many humans have a weakness for obeying authority and avoiding conflict (do you actually dispute that?) doesn’t mean I think society is going to collapse as a result of this tendency
Just because a lot of drunk people at a night club are often pressured into making quick decisions they regret later doesn’t mean that no one is capable of questioning authority and standing up for themselves.
Maintaining egalitarianism means preventing people from systematically exerting power over one another in a way that significantly overrides each others preferences, and that’s not a non sequitur.
there’s this pattern of where I write something, and then you repeat back a subtly exaggerated version
Yes, I find it an efficient way to gain understanding of other people’s positions. Basically, if you make a point, I don’t know—and I lack a proper word for that—how far are you willing to take it. So I sharpen that point and repeat it back to you. There are several possible outcomes. One is that I misunderstood you and what I repeated back to you isn’t what you meant. Another one is that yes, you are fine with the “sharpened” point. Yet another one is that the sharpened point goes too far so you want to define a boundary beyond which your point doesn’t apply. In any case I understand your point much better.
doesn’t mean I think society is going to collapse as a result of this tendency
I don’t have in mind a collapse. I have in mind a totalitarian state.
systematically exerting power over one another in a way that significantly overrides each others preferences
As far as I can tell, the main function of democracy is to prevent the power structure from dramatically violating the citizen’s preferences. Totalitarian rule doesn’t have that feature, creating a higher risk of it becoming an unpleasant to live in, as well as unstable.
Isn’t that, essentially, what government is?
Yup.
There’s a balance to be struck between facilitating centralized organization and decision making, which involves a top down structure, and preventing top-down coercion.
I think we’re reaching realms of political science which are outside the domain of things which I know about / have thought about enough about to speak confidently.
I don’t mean this as confrontational way, just an observation: there’s this pattern of where I write something, and then you respond as if I wrote a subtly exaggerated version containing some additional points which I didn’t actually write. This comment really typifies the tendency.
Just because I think many humans have a weakness for obeying authority and avoiding conflict (do you actually dispute that?) doesn’t mean I think society is going to collapse as a result of this tendency
Just because a lot of drunk people at a night club are often pressured into making quick decisions they regret later doesn’t mean that no one is capable of questioning authority and standing up for themselves.
Maintaining egalitarianism means preventing people from systematically exerting power over one another in a way that significantly overrides each others preferences, and that’s not a non sequitur.
Yes, I find it an efficient way to gain understanding of other people’s positions. Basically, if you make a point, I don’t know—and I lack a proper word for that—how far are you willing to take it. So I sharpen that point and repeat it back to you. There are several possible outcomes. One is that I misunderstood you and what I repeated back to you isn’t what you meant. Another one is that yes, you are fine with the “sharpened” point. Yet another one is that the sharpened point goes too far so you want to define a boundary beyond which your point doesn’t apply. In any case I understand your point much better.
I don’t have in mind a collapse. I have in mind a totalitarian state.
Isn’t that, essentially, what government is?
As far as I can tell, the main function of democracy is to prevent the power structure from dramatically violating the citizen’s preferences. Totalitarian rule doesn’t have that feature, creating a higher risk of it becoming an unpleasant to live in, as well as unstable.
Yup.
There’s a balance to be struck between facilitating centralized organization and decision making, which involves a top down structure, and preventing top-down coercion.
I think we’re reaching realms of political science which are outside the domain of things which I know about / have thought about enough about to speak confidently.
It was a nice arc from PUA techniques to viability of sociopolitical structures :-)