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One thing a lot of people don't realize about the modern concept of the "social contract" is that it depends on the capacity to exit, which requires the existen
by bbctol 10y ago
One thing a lot of people don't realize about the modern concept of the "social contract" is that it depends on the capacity to exit, which requires the existence of the frontier. John Locke's idea of government wasn't just influential to the development of the United States, it was openly influenced by the existence of America; he wrote a lot about how the "state of nature" that exists independent of government was the American frontier (he didn't care much for/about Native Americans.) Now, the idea that a government is a social contract between citizens and rulers is universal, but we've eliminated its original foundation: an empty space citizens can settle when they decide their government is worse than nothing.
There's no easy solution to this problem. We're out of unclaimed land (seasteading and Mars colonization wouldn't really resolve it, even if they were more plausible.) I don't think Srinivasan has a great concept of why nations work; the problem with a Silicon Valley exit is less that Silicon Valley doesn't have aircraft carriers, and more that it doesn't have, you know, farmland, and I don't think the opt-in society would be allowed: Silicon Valley is rich and prosperous because of the large pool of mainly American consumers it sells to, and it is protected by the auspices of the US government. If they really wanted to leave, they wouldn't be able to take the money-making with them, as the US has no incentive to protect the businesses of a foreign power. I actually think that instead of getting more and more small countries as time goes on, we'll get increasing large blocs caring for things like defense and very general welfare, and increasingly small, atomized communities, either geographically or online, caring for other needs. If we have a large United States government that takes care of the nuclear weapons stockpile, coordinates response to natural disasters, and makes sure people don't die for arbitrary reasons, smaller communities can tax, spend, negotiate as they will. And I expect these communities will increasingly go online; online, Locke's dream can be realized, as there really is infinite space to colonize (if you don't like your current forum, go found a new one.) As long as people have a basic level of security, they'll be free to self-organize and explore new models of society in a virtual world. I can't tell if this vision of the future is utopian or dystopian.
- ashark 10y agoIn the Second Treatise, or somewhere else? I don't recall Locke mentioning any requirement for wild frontier to prop up the legitimacy of government. I do remember his "state of nature" as a kind of fable, presented as if it were or had been a real thing in some meaningful sense, propping up his premises. But his Second Treatise is the only document of his I've read.
- dragonwriter 10y agoLocke's concept of the requirements for social contract are not the original ones; while he was an influential early social contract theorists, he was not the first, and his ideas (in general or on that point specifically) were not universally accepted among social contract theorists, so describing Locke's idea of the requirements as the "original foundation" of the idea of a social contract is historically false.
- avn2109 10y agoThis is an interesting claim but I'm not qualified to evaluate its truth or falsehood. Can you link us to the "original foundation?"
- dragonwriter 10y agoThere's not one "original foundation", but there were a number of earlier social contract theorists than Locke with different ideas, like Hobbes, as well as contemporary and later theorists whose work wasn't grounded entirely in Locke's. Locke was an early and important writer in social contract theory, but not the original source in which all social contract theory is grounded.
- ryanmarsh 10y ago> You don’t have to actually go and get your own island; you can do the equivalent of dual-booting or telecommuting. You can opt out, exit at whatever level you prefer. And the government will be there to kindly remind us that: "Democracy is asset insurance for the rich"[0] and we may not skimp on the payments. [0] Austerity: The History of a Dangerous Idea by Mark Blyth
- nkurz 10y agoYou are likely referring to Blyth's book by this title[1], but for those desiring a softer introduction, the author also made an excellent 5 minute introductory video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go2bVGi0ReE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go2bVGi0ReE [1] http://centredelangues.ens-lyon.fr/anglais/espace-etudiants/retire/the-transatlantic-circulation-of-ideas-and-policies/class-10-reinhart-and-rogoff-bolster-transatlantic-austerity/Mark%20Blyth%20-%20Austerity-%20the%20History%20of%20a%20Dangerous%20Idea.pdf http://centredelangues.ens-lyon.fr/anglais/espace-etudiants/...