You noticed I rearrange lines from Dickens in my comment. There has never been a year in the life of any society from the beginning of time where classes were not readily identifiable. They are the most prominent feature of any society because it is a natural phenomenon created naturally by individual’s natures within a collective system. We now live in today’s version of communism.
You noticed I rearrange lines from Dickens in my comment. There has never been a year in the life of any society from the beginning of time where classes were not readily identifiable. They are the most prominent feature of any society because it is a natural phenomenon created naturally by individual’s natures within a collective system. We now live in today’s version of communism.
As long as we continue to believe that the class structure is a "natural phenomenon," we will continue to fall into that mass formation psychosis.
There's nothing natural about the class structure of society. It is enforced on us. Read The Theory of the Leisure Class by Thorstein Veblen for the classic analysis of how our class structure started.
We certainly can disagree as to what causes class structure or that it even exists. During the time of (biblical) Abram/Abraham class structure existed. In every Empire throughout history a class structure has existed. Thinking this is naturally so because of the patterns of individual traits and use of free will (physical energy, mental acuity, timidness, boldness, aggressive level) does not lead to mass formation psychosis. The varying levels and numbers of classes in a structure of course varied over time periods and under different influences, but still based in part of the nature of individuals.
Dude, we can do without the condescension. Marx' critique of capitalism was valid; the rich do tend to get richer. Unbridled capitalism leads to unbridled greed. But capitalism in the context of Christianity is another matter. Individual effort fueled by restraint based on faith and obedience changes the dynamic to one of generosity, magnanimity and philanthropy. Countless hospitals have been built in the U.S. by various religious sects. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
Religion and Ballet co-exist rather uncomfortably. Oddly enough, socialist countries like Russia often have the finest Ballet troupes. Here in Scotland, I went to the Scottish Ballet production of Cinderella this afternoon, a lavish production with no expense spared, from the cast to the orchestra, the set to the costumes. My guess is that our tickets were probably subsidised in one way or another by the taxpayer, maybe as much as 75%. I didn't see a lot of poor people in the stunning Victorian chocolate box auditorium of the Theatre Royal, Glasgow.
James Madison anticipates Marx in Federalist 10: “Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions.”
Earlier, he makes profound points concerning the realities of human nature: “The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties.
“The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man...”
This is where Marx and Lenin lack wisdom. They think that human nature can be processed into their mold, and all will be well when all are equal. They fail to see, or perhaps are loathe to admit, that man’s quest for freedom cannot be dismissed by systems of control. Look at the automatons in North Korea, screaming their approval for their wonderful leader. Ditto the puppets in China, clapping in sync at the Party Congress, with Xi taking it all in. What is the reality in these peoples’ souls?
We are all different. Some are blessed with a high intellect. Others are disciplined and work hard. Others are lazy, content for their neighbors to carry the load of initiative or industry. Is it right, does it meet the demands of justice, for all to be rewarded equally? Madison says “No.” I agree. Furthermore, this system of control must be administered by administrators: the few with the power controlling the many without. That idea might fly in Europe, perhaps even in Scotland, but it doesn’t fly in Texas. And who knows, maybe there were some poor folk at the opera yesterday, there by a gift from someone who was able to share their bounty with someone less fortunate. It would have been a Christian thing to do, and no one else would been the wiser.
“Here is a country that fought and won a noble war, dismantled a mighty empire in a generally benign and enlightened way, created a far-seeing welfare state — in short, did nearly everything right ― and then spent the rest of the century looking on itself as a chronic failure. The fact is that this is still the best place in the world for most things ― to post a letter, go for a walk, watch television, buy a book, venture out for a drink, go to a museum, use the bank, get lost, seek help or stand on a hillside and take in a view.” Bill Bryson in Notes on a Small Island
You noticed I rearrange lines from Dickens in my comment. There has never been a year in the life of any society from the beginning of time where classes were not readily identifiable. They are the most prominent feature of any society because it is a natural phenomenon created naturally by individual’s natures within a collective system. We now live in today’s version of communism.
As long as we continue to believe that the class structure is a "natural phenomenon," we will continue to fall into that mass formation psychosis.
There's nothing natural about the class structure of society. It is enforced on us. Read The Theory of the Leisure Class by Thorstein Veblen for the classic analysis of how our class structure started.
We certainly can disagree as to what causes class structure or that it even exists. During the time of (biblical) Abram/Abraham class structure existed. In every Empire throughout history a class structure has existed. Thinking this is naturally so because of the patterns of individual traits and use of free will (physical energy, mental acuity, timidness, boldness, aggressive level) does not lead to mass formation psychosis. The varying levels and numbers of classes in a structure of course varied over time periods and under different influences, but still based in part of the nature of individuals.
Yes. Class structure is absolutely not forced on us. Why don't we pay more attention to the ancients? Aristotle...would be a good start.
Karl Marx is far more insightful. Please read him: he was the first philosopher to truly examine class and explain it.
History did not begin with Abraham.
Of course not, it started when you say it did. That's fine with me.
Yep.
Classes? oh dear, lets go back to the playground: read Das Kapital, by Karl Marx.
Dude, we can do without the condescension. Marx' critique of capitalism was valid; the rich do tend to get richer. Unbridled capitalism leads to unbridled greed. But capitalism in the context of Christianity is another matter. Individual effort fueled by restraint based on faith and obedience changes the dynamic to one of generosity, magnanimity and philanthropy. Countless hospitals have been built in the U.S. by various religious sects. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
Religion and Ballet co-exist rather uncomfortably. Oddly enough, socialist countries like Russia often have the finest Ballet troupes. Here in Scotland, I went to the Scottish Ballet production of Cinderella this afternoon, a lavish production with no expense spared, from the cast to the orchestra, the set to the costumes. My guess is that our tickets were probably subsidised in one way or another by the taxpayer, maybe as much as 75%. I didn't see a lot of poor people in the stunning Victorian chocolate box auditorium of the Theatre Royal, Glasgow.
James Madison anticipates Marx in Federalist 10: “Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions.”
Earlier, he makes profound points concerning the realities of human nature: “The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties.
“The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man...”
This is where Marx and Lenin lack wisdom. They think that human nature can be processed into their mold, and all will be well when all are equal. They fail to see, or perhaps are loathe to admit, that man’s quest for freedom cannot be dismissed by systems of control. Look at the automatons in North Korea, screaming their approval for their wonderful leader. Ditto the puppets in China, clapping in sync at the Party Congress, with Xi taking it all in. What is the reality in these peoples’ souls?
We are all different. Some are blessed with a high intellect. Others are disciplined and work hard. Others are lazy, content for their neighbors to carry the load of initiative or industry. Is it right, does it meet the demands of justice, for all to be rewarded equally? Madison says “No.” I agree. Furthermore, this system of control must be administered by administrators: the few with the power controlling the many without. That idea might fly in Europe, perhaps even in Scotland, but it doesn’t fly in Texas. And who knows, maybe there were some poor folk at the opera yesterday, there by a gift from someone who was able to share their bounty with someone less fortunate. It would have been a Christian thing to do, and no one else would been the wiser.
“Here is a country that fought and won a noble war, dismantled a mighty empire in a generally benign and enlightened way, created a far-seeing welfare state — in short, did nearly everything right ― and then spent the rest of the century looking on itself as a chronic failure. The fact is that this is still the best place in the world for most things ― to post a letter, go for a walk, watch television, buy a book, venture out for a drink, go to a museum, use the bank, get lost, seek help or stand on a hillside and take in a view.” Bill Bryson in Notes on a Small Island