According to Spinoza, the State, or nation, is an "individual", with its own endeavor for self-preservation. It is usually at greater risk from its own citizens that an outside power; and in order to perserve itself, it must take care in how it exercises its power. He names three: Freedom of speech, toleration of religion, and an environment that produces "free men" (according to his Ethics)...pretty vague but I think we get the idea, limited constitutional democracy. But the state itself is an individual, with the same rights as its citizens...if it is threatened, it can harm those same citizens through its own nature of self-preservation.
QuoteBut the state itself is an individual
Sounds like a corporation to me.
Quote from: lisagurl on November 07, 2008, 07:59:46 PM
QuoteBut the state itself is an individual
Sounds like a corporation to me.
Nor would it surprise me if Spinoza along with Machiavelli were in the corporate regs of most companies
The world corporation comes from the roman Catholic church.
Quote from: lisagurl on November 07, 2008, 08:05:16 PM
The world corporation comes from the roman Catholic church.
I think they were put out of business or limited by competetors (Luther and Darwin amongst the many), but that is another debate.
But the idea that institutions are living things that protect themselves is real. Especially when they can live way beyond human life.
Quote from: lisagurl on November 07, 2008, 08:20:30 PM
But the idea that institutions are living things that protect themselves is real. Especially when they can live way beyond human life.
Sorry, I misread "the world corporation IS the roman catholic church" Quiet right, or somewhat. Don't forget the Pheonicians, or much later the Hanseatic League...the RCC is not the first nor latest, but still very much alive past its merited lifespan.