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In the context of Dang's experiment, I think a better definition of politics is "anything which involves coercion onto an unwilling party." Politics is etymolo
by Double_Cast 10y ago
In the context of Dang's experiment, I think a better definition of politics is "anything which involves coercion onto an unwilling party."
Politics is etymologically related to policy. Which is a set of norms over a group. I.e. all policy is group policy.
The role of the governmemt to set and enforce those policies. Governance
is generally preferable to anarchy because governance allows us to reap economies of scale. Which is invaluable in a universe of scarce resources. But due to conflicts of interest, optimal policy is often disagreed upon. Therefore, it is common that policy is forced upon one or more parties which believe the policy suboptimal, in the name of compromise.
I personally dislike when someone forces something upon me. Likewise, I dislike when I must force something upon someone else. As a result, negotiation of policy can feel frustrating and exhausting. This sentiment is where I suspect the desire for "politics-free spaces" originates from.
Regarding Dang's flag experiment. I cautiously propose the rule that: any article whose thesis asserts "a normative statement which may affect an unwilling party" is worthy of a flag. E.g. while most think of the Supreme Court as an inherently political entity, and while litigation involves an unwilling party (whoever loses), the above article's thesis is informative rather than persuasive. Therefore, I would not flag the above article. This flag policy would aim to target the inciteful, rather than the insightful.
- user5994461 10y agoWait... What?! Politics is etymologically related to "polis", which is the greek word for "city". The greek (and the later adaptation in latin) gave "politic" to designate 'the affairs of the city', and 'polites' for 'citizen'. To put that simply, "politic" is supposed to be the management of a city.
- Double_Cast 10y agoI agree. "Polis" is the root of both "politics" and "policy" [0]. The modern definition of policy extends to groups both larger or smaller than cities. I don't know which claim is under dispute. [0] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=policy&allowed_in_frame=0 http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=policy&allowed_in_f...
- hisham_hm 10y ago"Politics" and "policy" even translate today to the same word in Portuguese and Spanish (and probably others). * "public policy" = "políticas públicas" * "company policy" = "política da companhia" * "political campaign" = "campanha política" * "gender politics" = "políticas de gênero"
- adrienne 10y agoThis is a very political (and ideological) definition of "politics". Excellent example of how definitions themselves are not, and cannot possibly be, apolitical!
- Double_Cast 10y agoBut is it inaccurate? Whatever its ideological biases, I nonetheless believe my definition is more accurate than "anything regarding the exchange of power or money". Such a wide definition includes the purchase of groceries. Yet a typical grocery purchase is hardly an illocutionary political statement. More importantly, is it unproductive? I.e. would my threshing-method fail to reliably discriminate? I honestly believe my criterion is practical. Otherwise, I would not have made the suggestion. I challenge someone to find a case where the predicate returns a controvertible result.
- adrienne 10y agoYes. And yes.