Milutin writes:
> You can't understand how often I do that(almost did it again).  I
> meant WHO is Mortimer Adler and not how(almost did it again).  I
> think I have something wrong with me.

He is Chairman of the Board of Editors of the Encyclopaedia Britanica,
Director of the Institute for Philosophical Research, and Honorary
Trustee of the Aspen Institute.  He is the Honorary Chairman and
Cofounder of the Center for the Study of Great Ideas.  He is a
philosopher.

> >> I just love this stuff, really do.  It is so amazing when people forget
> >> that, for millions of years, humans existed WITHOUT goverment.
> >You mean before the advent of clans and farming, way back before
> >civilization.  Why do you say they forget that?  Why do you thinnk it
> >is important to remember that people who were uncivilized lived like
> >wild animals?
>
> This is assuming that we are currently civilized.  If anything, wild animals
> are much more humane then we are.

Then why aren't you living like one?  Wild animals can't be humane,
because being humane requires choosing between being humane and being
inhumane.  Wild animals are not burdened with making that choice.

> >> And I won't even talk about those who mistakenly believes that human
> >> beings can live together peacefully and harmoniously WITH
> >> government.
> >Well why don't you talk about them?
>
> Are you one of those people? I hope not.
>
> Anyways, history is my evidence, that's it.  Governments are those who
> declare WAR on others.  Can't get any more anti-peace then that.
>
> Government make laws and impose them on people who never *agreed* to those
> laws and punish those who dare to act like a free person.  Can't get any
> more anti-harmonious then that.

Well, in fact you can.  You can go back to living without government.
Government is people making laws and agreeing to be governed by those
laws.  Social democracies generally work that way.  Not perfectly, of
course, and much improvement is needed.  But if what you are saying
were true, there would be a lot more revolutions going on than there
are right now.

> >> >I don't care what you think about Adler.  I agree with his definition.
> >> >Many people do.  I will always be trying to instantiate government
> >> >where government belongs, and you will always be trying to knock it
> >> >down.  We won't live together peacefully and harmoniously; I'll say
> >> >it's because we need government here or there, and you'll say it is
> >> >because we don't.  I won't give in and neither will you.  Hence
> >> >Adler's definition holds.
> >>
> >> Hey, Noam is one of those guys who doesn't know if government should be
> >> allowed to exist in society, but then again, he does believe that the
> >> people(who would be governed) should decide that, not him or anyone
> >> else.
> >
> >No, I think you are wrong.  He recognizes a need for government.  He
> >says its existence should be justified.
>
> He says that he is "not sure" if the society needs government.  Also, he
> believes any authority(even those that are temporary, but government is
> forever) needs to be justified.

Why don't you put the question to him directly?  Ask him this:  Do you
think the world population can live in peace and harmony with no rules
of government at all?

martin

Martin Smith                    Email: [log in to unmask]
P.O. Box 1034 Bekkajordet       Tel. : +47 330 35700
N-3194 HORTEN, Norway           Fax. : +47 330 35701