Philosophy Now Forum

tillingborn wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 7:17 pm

henry quirk wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 6:59 pmGloves are off, though, when my enemy decides to interfere with me...when he attempts to direct my life, restrict my liberty, claim my property, we move from opposition to war.

Seems reasonable. I just wonder because interactions in your space appear only to involve two people. What if your enemy has an ally?

Gimme a context.

For example: one guy in the street, givin' me crap, I can walk past and away from (if he follows or blocks my path, well, sumthin' is gonna happen).

But, a hundred guys in the street, givin' me crap, the dynamic is different, as are the stakes.

Here, in-forum, the actual distance between all of us is the buffer. One thread, from a long while back, comes to mind: it was about assisted suicide...I was the one sayin' that legalizin' it, makin' it normal, was a bad idea. And pretty much everyone disagreed, and went on the attack. They were bolstered by, no doubt in my mind, the buffer of distance. They knew could call me all manner of foul names with impunity. Me: I was a bit frustrated by that buffer (cuz, in the real world, if I'm gettin' that kinda business, I'm gonna reach out and touch someone).

The line between opposition and war, contest and conflict is thin, and sometimes blurred, so, you got a specific example in mind?

Advocate wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 5:08 pm Socialism does not require authoritarianism.

In theory, no. In practice, it invariably paves the way for the Stalins, the Maos, the Ceaucescus, the Mugabes, etc.