America's got a thing for the Greeks when it comes to democracy, so I think it's somewhat ironic that one of the most famous Greek philosophers, Plato, went for communism when he was imagining his ideal republic (well, maybe a step below ideal). But, first, a word or two about the difference between communism and socialism, which never stop needing to be differentiated!
One of the most striking features of the ideal city is its abolition of private families and sharp limitation on private property in the two guardian classes. Starting with Aristotle (Politics II 1–5), this communism in the Republic’s ideal city has been the target of confusion and criticism (see Nussbaum 1980, Stalley 1991, Mayhew 1997). On the one hand, Aristotle (at Politics 1264a11–22) and others have expressed uncertainty about the extent of communism in the ideal city. On the other, they have argued that communism of any extent has no place in an ideal political community (continues).
And for those who think there are no such communities are thriving . . . .
Interesting how for some of these communities that there's still a dependence on capitalist markets: "The great irony of residents' decision to opt out of capitalism was that they really didn't opt out at all, they just participate in a different way" (6:15-6:23).
Weekly Total:
4/4 - comment on "An Atheist Funeral," posted "Response to an Atheist Funeral"
4/6 - posted "Speaking of Athens," commented on "Essential or Sacrificial"
4/7 - reply to Ed's comment on "Response to an Atheist Funeral," commented on "An Atheist Funeral"
4/8 - posted "Advertising Capitalism" and "Was Plato a Communist?"
8 bases / 2 runs
Running total since COVID-19 - 6 runs
That's Hagglund's challenge, though, isn't it, the idea that if we want to be spiritually free we're going to have to make a break with capitalism and "revalue" of sense of what it means to prosper and flourish in the finite time of our lives.
ReplyDelete"Communism" is such a freighted word, when I sometimes think Marx really just envisioned something like an Epicurean Garden as the epitome of a classless society. But it sure is annoying to hear GOP politicians constantly conflating socialism and communism.
...revalue OUR sense...
DeleteDr. Oliver's idea that Marx envisioned an Epicurean garden as a classless society gave me a good chuckle, and then I realized that maybe he's right... "This garden does not whet your appetite; but quenches it. Nor does it make you more thirsty with every drink; it slakes the thirst with a natural cure – a cure that requires no fee. It is with this type of pleasure that I have grown old.”... Our politicians with extreme views regarding socialism and communism ought to read up on Epicurus...
ReplyDelete