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Single Idea 23151

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / b. Monarchy ]

Full Idea

At a very early stage loyalty to a group must have been reinforced by loyalty to a leader. In a large tribe the king or chief may be known the everybody even when individuals are strangers. This makes possible increase in the size of the group.

Gist of Idea

A monarch is known to everyone in the group, and can thus unite large groups

Source

Bertrand Russell (Authority and the Individual [1949], 1)

Book Ref

Russell,Bertrand: 'Authority and the Individual' [Unwin 1977], p.15

A Reaction

In this way humanity could move from hunter-gatherer groups to tribes or clans. In the UK even people who couldn't name the current Prime Minister are all fully aware of the monarch. In this way a merely constitutional monarch makes sense,

The 21 ideas with the same theme [hereditary or elected lifetime leader]:

8240 A true king shares his pleasure with the people [Mengzi (Mencius)]
22541 Kings should be selected according to character [Aristotle]
19936 Kings tend to fight wars for glory, rather than for peace and liberty [Spinoza]
19937 Monarchs are always proud, and can't back down [Spinoza]
19940 Deposing a monarch is dangerous, because the people are used to royal authority [Spinoza]
19885 Absolute monarchy is inconsistent with civil society [Locke]
19972 The nobility are an indispensable part of a monarchy [Montesquieu]
19974 Monarchs must not just have links to the people; they need a body which maintains the laws [Montesquieu]
19976 Ambition is good in a monarchy, because the monarch can always restrain it [Montesquieu]
19978 In monarchies, men's actions are judged by their grand appearance, not their virtues [Montesquieu]
19985 In a monarchy, the nobility must be hereditary, to bind them together [Montesquieu]
19986 Monarchies can act more quickly, because one person is in charge [Montesquieu]
21097 Modern monarchies are (like republics) rule by law, rather than by men [Hume]
19798 Ancient monarchs were kings of peoples; modern monarchs more cleverly rule a land [Rousseau]
19831 The highest officers under a monarchy are normally useless; the public could choose much better [Rousseau]
19833 Hereditary monarchy is easier, but can lead to dreadful monarchs [Rousseau]
19834 Attempts to train future kings don't usually work, and the best have been unprepared [Rousseau]
19589 The whole point of a monarch is that we accept them as a higher-born, ideal person [Novalis]
22677 A monarchical family is always deeply concerned with the interests of the state [Tocqueville]
23151 A monarch is known to everyone in the group, and can thus unite large groups [Russell]
23839 A lifelong head of society should only be a symbol, not a ruler [Weil]