Political Structure for this Forum

[haselhurst]

Political Structure for this Forum

Under Construction - My early thoughts.

... by nature man is a political animal. Hence men have a desire for life together, even when they have no need to seek each others help. Nevertheless, common interest too is a factor in bringing them together, in so far as it contributes to the good life of each. The good life is indeed their chief end, both communally and individually; but they form and continue to maintain a political association for the sake of life itself. Perhaps we may say that there is an element of good even in mere living, provided that life is not excessively beset with troubles. Certainly most men, in their desire to keep alive, are prepared to face a great deal of suffering, as if finding in life itself a certain well-being and a natural sweetness. (Aristotle, Politics)

Where we have a group of people (hopefully sharing some common goals) it is necessary that there is some organisational structure. (While the freedom of anarchy may have its romantic charms, in reality it would be a complete disaster.)
So how should a group of people organise themselves?

Firstly, I should say that I am not a great believer in Democracy, it has its benefits and it also causes significant problems. This is also true of Dictatorships and Oligarchies.
My main problem with Democracy is that it is founded on public opinion rather than truth, and as a philosopher I have come to believe that until human societies are founded on truth there will inevitably be problems that cause great harm and suffering. I see our modern world as an example of this. As Burke wrote;
"The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Having been a moderator of the WSM Yahoo Group for over a year, which functioned pretty much as a democracy, the end result was largely as I expected; many different opinions, conflict, and little progress. And this is not a criticism of the people in that forum per se, I actually liked most people and miss their contributions here.

This forum however, has a more structured foundation and purpose.

The foundation is the Metaphysics of Space (existing as a nearly rigid Wave-Medium) and the Wave Structure of Matter. That's it!
This dynamic Unity of reality is both the most simple Science language for describing reality (thus obviously should be considered) and it is necessary to explain how matter is interconnected across the universe. As Aristotle, Leibniz and Bradley write;

(Aristotle, 340BC) Metaphysics is universal and is exclusively concerned with primary substance. ... And here we will have the science to study that which is just as that which is, both in its essence and in the properties which, just as a thing that is, it has. ... That among entities there must be some cause which moves and combines things. ... There must then be a principle of such a kind that its substance is activity.


(Gottfried Leibniz, Monadology, 1670) Reality cannot be found except in One single source, because of the interconnection of all things with one another. ... I maintain also that substances, whether material or immaterial, cannot be conceived in their bare essence without any activity, activity being of the essence of substance in general.


(Bradley, 1846-1924) We may agree, perhaps, to understand by Metaphysics an attempt to know reality as against mere appearance, or the study of first principles or ultimate truths, or again the effort to comprehend the universe, not simply piecemeal or by fragments, but somehow as a whole. (Bradley)



The purpose is to study this knowledge, combined with knowledge of physics, philosophy and metaphysics (and perhaps theology) to see if we are able to provide a comprehensive description of physical reality that abides by these rules of Science, i.e. that works and is true, thus it correctly deduces what we observe from observation and experiment.

I realise (from my time with other groups) that some people who join this forum will have their own opinions and agendas that do not abide by this group's foundation and purpose. I see it as one of my responsibilities to first point out to people when their posts are outside these guidelines, and if they cannot abide by these constraints then to remove them from this forum.

I am very determined to help build an environment that encourages genuine intelligent skeptical open minded people to share their time and knowledge, such that we can hopefully make significant progress over time. I do not like this responsibility, I have no ego for power (I live as a very isolated philosopher, I enjoy the thoughts of philosophers more than the opinions of people in society at large). This is not arrogance either, just my nature, and a nature that is shared by many other philosophers from the past.

So in a sense I am agreeing with Plato and Aristotle, who both believed in philosophical rulers as the best form of government - and again, this is not the arrogance of a philosopher, just the realisation that truth is very important to the political process.


The society we have described can never grow into a reality or see the light of day, and there will be no end to the troubles of states, or indeed, my dear Glaucon, of humanity itself, till philosophers are kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands, while the many natures now content to follow either to the exclusion of the other are forcibly debarred from doing so. This is what I have hesitated to say so long, knowing what a paradox it would sound; for it is not easy to see that there is no other road to happiness, either for society or the individual. (Plato, Republic)

However, I would like to think that we could organise this Forum using the benefits of all three main political systems (Democracy, Oligarchy, and benevolent Dictator).
Thus I will in general consult with the Moderators of this forum before making major decisions (there are currently 6) and anyone in this forum can write to me about any subject, either publicly or privately.

And the ultimate form of democracy here is that this is a voluntary group, if people don't like how it is run then they are free to leave.
I hope though, that in time I will earn people's respect and trust, and that we can do some good work together that I believe is profoundly important to Humanity. (I would not do this if I did not believe in the truth of the Wave Structure of Matter, and thus how important this knowledge is to our world.)

I hope this helps a little, will write it up more over time. Please feel free to comment.
Kindly and sincerely,
Geoff Haselhurst, April, 2005

NOTE: This post is "LOCKED". To respond just post a New Topic.

PS - A few interesting quotes below from politics page;

http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Politics-Globalisation.htm


Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar. (Julius Caesar)

There is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, more dangerous to manage than the creation of a new system. The innovator has the enmity of all who profit by the preservation of the old system and only lukewarm defenders by those who would gain by the new system. (Machiavelli, 1513)

And though the philosopher may live remote from business, the genius of philosophy, if carefully cultivated by several, must gradually diffuse itself throughout the whole society, and bestow a similar correctness on every art and calling. (David Hume, 1737)