[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

The Illusion of Freedom




-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

Kent Crispin wrote:
>On Thu, Nov 13, 1997 at 05:59:51AM -0000, [Nerthus] wrote:
>[...]
>> 
>> "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, 
>> or give me death." -- Patrick Henry
>> 
>> What is life without liberty?  Abject slavery.  Any sane man would rather
>> die than be a slave.
>
>It makes nice rhetoric, but this is simply not true, you know.  Most 
>people correctly evaluate that you have no chance for freedom at all 
>if you commit suicide, whereas a slave *does* have a chance.

Assuming he recognizes that he *is* a slave.  Most people are oblivious
to this fact.

>But of course we know from game theory that being completely
>predictable can be a weakness.  So having a certain percentage of the
>population who will behave irrationally is probably necessary for the
>health of a society.  But if too many people act irrationally, 
>society will disintegrate.  (By "irrational" here I am referring to 
>behaviour clearly contrary to your own survival.)

'Tis true.  War is a perfect example of what happens when too many
people act irrationally.

I'm interested in avoiding war without becoming a slave in the process.
Anyone else?

Nerthus

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGP for Personal Privacy 5.0
Charset: noconv

iQEVAwUBNGz3tuFWwZe05jcJAQFkDQf+L2Xv0bL8zIT6aKZDkPSYYcLnDD1Ky8d8
F6/1NMid0ZSsn/d6QtMH+ToZDHIuXsY2H12RZqmjSxLnaOm6BPsdGvxviuPoMKT2
1OFEszVgCbx0R+6mcZSjHtkbPr03s1+YgfEShdp7HRymmFsKkb71lPGj3naj1Yle
p9k6qqJ2r4AMR6tlop6MjC9IgzJxzCDinOAcn2l1+pDkfj3N8KXIJgauPAtVd+zS
sbDpNwL4NCuMpmTOeYhfiaD4ODD0LfU4yfYQFSac1OwPq3hG4vt0HmGrh77WvLSF
yG1Lm1uSr8InLj1g4Zhkx0H+e7Ut9YgMFLWtfGVHiRb/73t1l0U2/Q==
=0zEn
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----