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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
18 ideas
from 'Authority and the Individual'
23154
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We divide mankind into friend and foe, and cooperate with one and compete with the other
[Russell]
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23153
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Gradually loyalty to a creed increased, which could even outweigh nationality
[Russell]
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23152
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Increasingly war expands communities, and unifies them through fear
[Russell]
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23151
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A monarch is known to everyone in the group, and can thus unite large groups
[Russell]
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23155
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In early societies the leaders needed cohesion, but the rest just had to obey
[Russell]
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23157
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Government has a negative purpose, to prevent trouble, and a positive aim of realising our desires
[Russell]
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23156
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The economic and political advantages of great size seem to have no upper limit
[Russell]
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23160
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Being a slave of society is hardly better than being a slave of a despot
[Russell]
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23162
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Managers are just as remote from workers under nationalisation as under capitalism
[Russell]
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23158
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Slavery began the divorce between the work and the purposes of the worker
[Russell]
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23161
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Slaves can be just as equal as free people
[Russell]
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23159
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Scarce goods may be denied entirely, to avoid their unequal distribution
[Russell]
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23164
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Modern justice is seen as equality, apart from modest extra rewards for exceptional desert
[Russell]
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23165
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Socialists say economic justice needs some state control of industries, and of foreign trade
[Russell]
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23168
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A state is essential, to control greedy or predatory impulses
[Russell]
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23167
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Power should be with smaller bodies, as long as it doesn't restrict central powers
[Russell]
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23163
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In an anarchy universities, research, books, and even seaside holidays, would be impossible
[Russell]
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23166
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In democracy we are more aware of being governed than of our tiny share in government
[Russell]
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