Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Of Civil Liberty', 'Epistemological Disjunctivism' and 'Twilight of the Idols'

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3 ideas

24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / b. Monarchy
Modern monarchies are (like republics) rule by law, rather than by men [Hume]
     Full Idea: In modern times monarchical government seems to have made the greatest advances towards perfection. It may now be affirmed of civilized monarchies, what was formerly said in praise of republics alone, that they are a government of laws, not of men.
     From: David Hume (Of Civil Liberty [1750], p.54)
     A reaction: Dreams of simple 'government by law' disappeared with the rise of modern media, which can be controlled by wealth.
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / f. Against democracy
Democracy is organisational power in decline [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: Democracy has always been the declining form of the power to organise.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Twilight of the Idols [1889], 8.39)
     A reaction: Even when Nietzsche is wrong (and who knows, here?) he always challenges you to think!
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / g. Liberalism critique
The creation of institutions needs a determination which is necessarily anti-liberal [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: For institutions to exist there must exist the kind of will, instinct, imperative which is anti-liberal to the point of malice: the will to tradition, to authority, to centuries-long responsibility, to solidarity between succeeding generations.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Twilight of the Idols [1889], 8.39)
     A reaction: This sounds like a lovely challenge to Popper, who seems to have been a liberal who pinned his faith on institutions.