Brett

Why?

Just to help elucidate where I’m coming from; A state is a polity under a system of governance. Polities do not necessarily need to be governments. A ...

I don’t see any difference except in size. And size may very well be the problem. But it’s a fact that can’t be ignored. I think states do equate to c...

What are we then? One of either two things: a solitary individual or a shared experience of being human. If you reduce a life down to its most basic e...

Yes there was more, but I don’t regard my question as about “what we are”. It’s more about what is the best way for us to be to give the most benefits...

That’s certainly true in defining us as conscious creatures. But after that, what? How many of us make a difference with our individuality, how many o...

How does a movement begin? Is it begun by one lone individual or is there some other mechanism at work? Or does the state itself, unwittingly, create ...

Yes. It’s the mass created, like a beehive. One of my questions is can we, could we, sublimate our individual desires in service of the greater good. ...

I have no thesis. I’ve asked a question that I have no answer to so I hoped to explore it with others here. However, in answer to your question regard...

I don’t think I do believe it’s the state that governs. It seems to me to be a sort of symbiotic relationship. It’s government that imposes power from...

I just copied this from The Lounge post on nudity: “ The larger and more sophisticated the society, the more stratified it is by status and property, ...

Is that really the case? It seems to me that the state and the individual are an organic growth of necessity and co-existence. “ The state is the orga...

Yes, I’d probably agree with that. So the individual developed from the community/state.

Yes, once the trust is broken they then become two opposed entities. But how does it start, who makes the first wrong move? It’s true we all often vio...

I don’t believe that’s true. Surely individuals come together to form communities. Though in the beginning they were not individuals as we conceive of...

I agree that these rights we refer to are not sacred eternal truths. But if the state gives the rights to the individual then they are something else....

There is a clear distinction between the two. The state does often oppose individual rights and always has. I don’t think you need me to go back over ...

I just searched biopolitics, specifically Michel Foucault. Interesting.

Actually tim wood has opened up a very interesting angle with which to look at things.

Okay, fire away.

I need to think about this a bit more before I reply.

How do we do that, how does it happen?

This is not specifically related to the virus. However, I understand the response of governments to unusual circumstances and the need for restriction...

It makes you wonder what people expect from elections these days.

[ Absolutely, if we could agree on that. But who determines the ideal citizen? What would it be? From a philosophical point of view wouldn’t it be som...

You’re actually told what you agreed with during the election and what you expect as a consequence. How could it be any different? The people are quit...

Yes, that’s the idea we struggle for. Why give it up now? @"tim wood" can’t see the wood for the cynicism.

One of the problems I see with the state coming before the individual is that it seems to apply more and more restrictions to the individual to protec...

This seems to be an increasingly acceptable idea, that the state knows what’s good for you and will impose themselves on you to achieve that. Specific...

There have been a lot of news reports along the lines of this story; https://www.9news.com.au/world/britain-obese-people-coronavirus-lockdown-covid19/...

You might be missing something.

This is an interesting point. Life for those who can fit into the state will find their reward. For some it’s easier than others. But going against th...

I guess part of my enquiry is at what stage does the individual put his individuality in check.

we all have an image of, let's call it, the ideal citizen. I’m not sure if we all have the same understanding of a “good citizen”. Though I think ther...

You seem to have become fixated on a small aside I made about irony. Do you want to have a go at addressing the OP?

If individuality is the most important aspect of humanity, moreso than the state then why can’t we submit to another individual?

The problem, or the source of conflict in my question, is the refusal, or inability, of the modern individual to submit. Once they submitted to God, n...

This is not true. For the employee “most efficient means” doesn’t come into it. He/she applies for a position. On the basis of their potential contrib...

To agree to put your own interests second to something else.

The irony is that a communal effort achieves success in a capitalist environment.

Of course he does, or they no longer have a need for him. The company has an objective that everyone plays a part in achieving. The employee doesn’t g...

That’s true about personal needs, but are personal needs important enough for the general health of the community and future wellbeing? The state as y...

Assuming you believe this to be true then the individual suffers through the sense of individuality others have. This is the problem; the idea of indi...

Isn’t it an irony that in a place of business or corporation the individual, with their skills, submits to the greater good of the company for its suc...

Yes, and this is a decision we have to make. How are we going to live, as individuals, which is very possibly a construct, or as members where we acce...

Yes, exactly. And I agree with your thoughts on social animals. However was Thomas Becket and individual, Oliver Cromwell? And were they instrumental ...

The success I speak of is evolutionary and the fact that we’re here and able to ask the question. Maybe it’s a big claim, but we’re here. But for the ...

Good post. My question then is poorly put, what I mean is 'what' should come first and what is best for the future?

Yes I understand that. For this purpose I’m viewing the state as the people as an entity, as an organised political community.

This is it? This is the level of debate?