ShalmaneserIII
ShalmaneserIII t1_isvet2u wrote
Reply to comment by SomeInternetBro in "In other words, an important lesson we can draw from Hans Blumenberg’s writings on myth is that the dangerous political myths of our own times as well as those of the past can only be countered by inventing new myths, telling better stories, and writing more convincing histories." by Maxwellsdemon17
Myth might be a better term.
There are plenty of things that are useful for a society that aren't absolutely true- "All our citizens are equally important", or "We have a common purpose."
All these things are helpful since they distract from the frequently true statement, "We'd be better off if you guys were disenfranchised, enslaved, or dead."
ShalmaneserIII t1_is9iz9r wrote
Reply to comment by mseg09 in TIL on March 15, 2011, 51-year-old William Melchert-Dinkel went online under screen names like "Cami" and "Falcongirl" encouraging people to commit suicide. Those who were interested he would instruct them step by step. He admitted to assisting in the deaths of 5 people but was only convicted for 2. by deeper_with_time
The guy thought going online and encouraging people to kill themselves was a fine hobby.
People tend to marry those they agree with.
What are the odds she didn't think it was such a bad thing, either?
ShalmaneserIII t1_irzdm85 wrote
Reply to comment by Otherwise_Carob_4057 in The Democratic Importance of William James. An essay about how pragmatism can serve both as a critical tool to evaluate today's politics and as a guide for our own politization by epochemagazine
Not the worst idea. If you consider how much education it takes to be a trained doctor in charge of a few lives, how much harder is it to be making decisions for all the lives in your polity?
ShalmaneserIII t1_irxwmh3 wrote
Reply to comment by Otherwise_Carob_4057 in The Democratic Importance of William James. An essay about how pragmatism can serve both as a critical tool to evaluate today's politics and as a guide for our own politization by epochemagazine
You start to see the point of why Socrates and others debate how a society should operate- in no small part, to produce citizens who are not repugnant nor deserving of scorn from others.
It's not inconceivable that you could look around yourself in a crowd and go "these are good people- I am glad to be among them."
ShalmaneserIII t1_irlhdix wrote
Reply to comment by sheggysheggy in Quantum philosophy: 4 ways physics will challenge your reality by ADefiniteDescription
I know how awful it can be when you plan a weekend trip based on the speed of light being one thing and accidentally miscalculating by a few orders of magnitude. Totally throws off the estimated gas mileage in the starship.
ShalmaneserIII t1_irk9uh6 wrote
Reply to comment by [deleted] in TIL about The “Victory Speed”. Beginning in May of 1942 and ending in August of 1945, a nationwide speed limit of 35 miles per hour was instated. The “Victory Speed” limit was instated in order to reduce gasoline and rubber consumption. by Phillip_Lipton
Next you'll be saying Dr Strangelove or Catch 22 weren't funny.
Anyhow, having actually red the book, it is hilarious.
ShalmaneserIII t1_irgex9f wrote
Reply to comment by [deleted] in TIL about The “Victory Speed”. Beginning in May of 1942 and ending in August of 1945, a nationwide speed limit of 35 miles per hour was instated. The “Victory Speed” limit was instated in order to reduce gasoline and rubber consumption. by Phillip_Lipton
Of course. Someone even set a hilarious book during one.
ShalmaneserIII t1_irget8i wrote
Reply to comment by AZymph in TIL about The “Victory Speed”. Beginning in May of 1942 and ending in August of 1945, a nationwide speed limit of 35 miles per hour was instated. The “Victory Speed” limit was instated in order to reduce gasoline and rubber consumption. by Phillip_Lipton
That works. Cutting out long discretionary trips seems like part of the plan.
ShalmaneserIII t1_ir2zfzg wrote
Reply to TIL Beer used to be banned in Iceland until 1989. March 1st is today celebrated as Beer Day in Iceland, to commemorate the day this prohibition was lifted. by KlaxonBeat
The things people will turn into virtues to signal.
"Wine is okay! Beer is unpatriotic!"
ShalmaneserIII t1_iqqfwev wrote
Reply to comment by apriorian in Utopia”: meaning ‘no place’; from Greek: οὐ (not’) and τόπος (‘place’) by Sphaerocypraea
Okay, but do you have to own food to eat it? Or what of the food you gather or grow?
And it seems you're suggesting hunting and gathering?
ShalmaneserIII t1_iqqedzz wrote
Reply to comment by apriorian in Utopia”: meaning ‘no place’; from Greek: οὐ (not’) and τόπος (‘place’) by Sphaerocypraea
So how do you prevent beggars?
ShalmaneserIII t1_iqq8qjx wrote
Reply to comment by apriorian in Utopia”: meaning ‘no place’; from Greek: οὐ (not’) and τόπος (‘place’) by Sphaerocypraea
Okay, so do you have a duty to provide food to hungry people and care to injured people in your ideal society? Must you provide housing, education, etc?
ShalmaneserIII t1_iqq83vb wrote
Reply to comment by apriorian in Utopia”: meaning ‘no place’; from Greek: οὐ (not’) and τόπος (‘place’) by Sphaerocypraea
No, I mean if Bob breaks a leg, is anyone else under an obligation to help him? And if someone is making pottery rather than food, if people decide they don't like the pottery does the potter just starve or do people have to give them food?
ShalmaneserIII t1_iqq6g3e wrote
Reply to comment by apriorian in Utopia”: meaning ‘no place’; from Greek: οὐ (not’) and τόπος (‘place’) by Sphaerocypraea
For that to happen, everyone must be able to provide for themselves without the assistance of others- otherwise, you have some sort of duty to provide goods and services and ability to require them from others.
This goes to hell the moment someone wants to do more than subsistence farming, or when anyone breaks a leg.
ShalmaneserIII t1_iqq6axn wrote
Outopos or Eutopos- is it noplace or the good/true place. The ambiguity had to be deliberate.
ShalmaneserIII t1_isvf0qg wrote
Reply to comment by doccharizard in "In other words, an important lesson we can draw from Hans Blumenberg’s writings on myth is that the dangerous political myths of our own times as well as those of the past can only be countered by inventing new myths, telling better stories, and writing more convincing histories." by Maxwellsdemon17
Well, how do you make sense of human society?