Author Topic: Ancient candidates for socialism  (Read 534 times)

Zea_mays

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 563
    • View Profile
Re: Ancient candidates for socialism
« on: April 06, 2022, 09:32:35 pm »
That makes sense. So if the social contract is not an acceptable basis for a leader to justify their "mandate" to rule, then what? I suppose we can say it's the Führerprinzip/Leader Principle that the leader is the embodiment of the nation's aspirations and that, consequentially, citizens have a duty to support their leadership (and the leadership has a corresponding duty to ensure the welfare of the nation as a whole)?

The Leader Principle seems like it would encompass the non-traditionalist interpretation of "divine right". Many historic leaders claimed to be the living embodiment of a god or that they alone possessed the capabilities to fulfill the ethical goals set forth by a religious/philosophical creed. They justified their rule on the basis that they were individuals of uniquely high quality who alone could fulfill the duties of leadership.

(Come to think of it, Jesus being referred to as "king of kings" could be portrayed as an example of the Leader Principle, and an example of how socialist attitudes can be traced back to him).

This is in contrast to the traditionalist interpretation of "divine right"--that certain dynasties have a "right" to rule simply because their ancestors ruled, and that this hierarchy is "divine" and should not be questioned (even if the ruler is of low ethical quality and poor administrative talent).

The willingness to test the social contract theory, democracy, and other 'Enlightenment' ideas was a reaction to this ignoble traditionalist form of divine right, but merely as a way to keep Western Civilization progressing after progress had become stagnant.