Very interesting... and depressing. Humanity hasn't changed: “…you know as well as we do that right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.” Despite all of our "moral progress," we still do what we've always done.
I’m curious if the association with the right is a European phenomena, the conservatives I interact with seem to favor virtue personally though they also have some openness to strength and pragmatism (realpolitik) in how their government operates.
"Left" and "right" only vaguely correspond to policy/moral beliefs. Communists (left) and fascists (right) have both embraced totalitarianism, dictatorship, and slaughtered their own people, for instance. Placing the Callicles types on the right is conventional, but maybe we'd need another gauge/scale of how much you center yourself in your political thoughts and actions to do them justice. Callicles would max out that measure.
The right has so many contradictory factions it's an almost useless category. They largely agree on what policy they want, but all have wildly different reasons.
Did might gain power by force (instilling fear) or virtue/respect (good example) ???
Imho, there is NO universal right. It just depends on circumstances, location, epoch, etc.
Any bipedal naked ape on this planet craving to exert control or power outside his family- or vocational circle is a narcissistic psychopath and very dangerous to general society; to be avoided and prevented from attaining any public office or influence at ANY cost (including forced death).
Modern mass-societies still have a looooong way to go and as "things" currently look, will never reach a peaceful destination ...
Very interesting... and depressing. Humanity hasn't changed: “…you know as well as we do that right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.” Despite all of our "moral progress," we still do what we've always done.
I've often compared ppost-Cold-War America with post-Persian-War Athens.
Ya. There are many parallels.
I’m curious if the association with the right is a European phenomena, the conservatives I interact with seem to favor virtue personally though they also have some openness to strength and pragmatism (realpolitik) in how their government operates.
"Left" and "right" only vaguely correspond to policy/moral beliefs. Communists (left) and fascists (right) have both embraced totalitarianism, dictatorship, and slaughtered their own people, for instance. Placing the Callicles types on the right is conventional, but maybe we'd need another gauge/scale of how much you center yourself in your political thoughts and actions to do them justice. Callicles would max out that measure.
The right has so many contradictory factions it's an almost useless category. They largely agree on what policy they want, but all have wildly different reasons.
{...might makes right...}
1. - How did "the might" get to be ??? and
2. - Is there a universal right ???
Did might gain power by force (instilling fear) or virtue/respect (good example) ???
Imho, there is NO universal right. It just depends on circumstances, location, epoch, etc.
Any bipedal naked ape on this planet craving to exert control or power outside his family- or vocational circle is a narcissistic psychopath and very dangerous to general society; to be avoided and prevented from attaining any public office or influence at ANY cost (including forced death).
Modern mass-societies still have a looooong way to go and as "things" currently look, will never reach a peaceful destination ...