- 10 Mar 2011 12:20
#13650990
You're right about one thing: "god" is a myth. To a considerable degree (since moses vs pharoah) it was used to counter the authority of great men. But now that anyone with half a brain knows "god" doesn't exist, that means man is the answer. Ergo, we should venerate great men; they're all there really is to guide us. The average joe is anything but the answer. Given the tremendous variation in capability and sense of responsibility, equality makes no sense and is a dangerous luxury.
In fact there's ample evidence that authoritarianism can achieve all those things and more. China can force people to limit the size of their families; it also has a big reforestation program. As for poverty, Hitler ended the depression in Germany; the German proletarians appreciated the loss of "freedom to starve." In the second century, Aristides eloquently praised the Roman Empire at the height of the Pax Romana, nearly two centuries after the triumph of Caesarism. The latter had meant an era of relative peace and prosperity.
I do not believe that by lending all power to a central authority on the basis of social order (or whatever else) that you can save the world from environmental degradation, political corruption, poverty, or war.
In fact there's ample evidence that authoritarianism can achieve all those things and more. China can force people to limit the size of their families; it also has a big reforestation program. As for poverty, Hitler ended the depression in Germany; the German proletarians appreciated the loss of "freedom to starve." In the second century, Aristides eloquently praised the Roman Empire at the height of the Pax Romana, nearly two centuries after the triumph of Caesarism. The latter had meant an era of relative peace and prosperity.