Is Government Necessary for the Fulfillment of All Natural Desires?

  • Thread starter Thread starter kyle_soule
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Government
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the necessity of government in fulfilling natural desires, such as health and protection. Participants examine various perspectives on the role of government, anarchism, and the subjective nature of desires, with a focus on the implications for happiness and societal structure.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant argues that government is necessary for achieving happiness by meeting natural desires, contrasting this with the idea of an anarchist state.
  • Another participant questions whether all natural desires should be met, suggesting that not all desires contribute to happiness.
  • A distinction is made between 'natural desires' as needs and 'bad desires' as wants, with a focus on the implications for happiness.
  • Concerns are raised about the subjective nature of 'good' desires and the potential for political conflict arising from differing values.
  • Some participants express that while the theoretical ideas behind government may be good, practical applications often lead to problems.
  • One participant highlights that an anarchist state could allow for the fulfillment of harmful impulses without punishment.
  • A proposal is made for a perfect government as a true democracy, emphasizing equal participation without a governing body, though acknowledging the challenges of pleasing everyone.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the necessity and nature of government, with no consensus reached on whether government is essential for fulfilling natural desires or what constitutes a 'perfect' form of government.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes subjective interpretations of desires and the complexities of human needs versus wants, as well as the challenges of implementing theoretical governance models in practice.

kyle_soule
Messages
238
Reaction score
1
Government ----> Good or Bad?

Let's take a look at Government from the natural desires point of view. Is Government necessary for the fulfillment of all ones natural (good) desires? Such as health, protection, etc.?

I used to think that an Anarchist state is the most natural state we can live in, as you would basically observe such ungovernered, through oppression and authority, states in nature. Then I took a closer look at the needs and differences of humans from other animals, and I concluded that a Government is, in fact, necessary in order for one to achieve happiness, in the sense of all ones naturals desires being met.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I'm not so sure all those 'natural desires' ought to be met...
 
Originally posted by BoulderHead
I'm not so sure all those 'natural desires' ought to be met...

Natural desires are all those desires that are good, in those natural desires you will find eating and such. In the sense of the word I am using all the natural desires don't have to be met, but for happiness they ought to be met.

EDIT: Bad desires are wants, natural desires are needs, in a nutshell.
 
because the notion of 'good' you speak of is subjective, well, you can see what happens just by observing the politcal machines; One group against another trying to impose there own "authoritarian allocation of values" (to borrow a semi-famous quote) on their fellow man.
It's the story of the human race, pretty much.
 
Something from a Stuck Mojo song called "Declaration"

Some believe that it is the responsibility of government to provide for you. In truth, we form government to ensure and protect the freedom that is already inherently ours

Check out all the lyrics.

http://www.modernrocklyrics.com/S/stuckmojo_declarationofaheadhunter.php


I think the ideas behind government are good. But like anything that works perfect in theory, there are always problems when applied.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I would also point out that an anarchist state covers "bad" impulses as well. You could kill a man out of anger, spite or jealousy- still only fullfilling your impulses, and not be punished for it.
 
Originally posted by Zantra
I would also point out that an anarchist state covers "bad" impulses as well. You could kill a man out of anger, spite or jealousy- still only fullfilling your impulses, and not be punished for it.

This is what I realized once I began to think of wants and needs and desires and such.

A perfect form of government, perhaps government in definition, is what I am addressing, of course government will become oppressive and power will cause many problems. Power is a 'bad desire' and it intervenes with good desires, so a power-hungry government isn't the form I speak of.
 
I believe the only perfect government would be a true democracy(and I don't mean the US) It would be one governed by the people equally, without a governing body, where everyone had an equal say, not one above anyone else. Of course not everyone would get their way, but you know what they say:

You can't please some all the people some of the time, Some of the people all of the time, but you can't please all the people all of the time.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
7K
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 103 ·
4
Replies
103
Views
15K
Replies
65
Views
15K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
7K
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
11K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K