3 ms·

Are there any successful communes like this that are rational and science based? East Wind's focus on the naturalistic fallacy makes it quite unappealing.

0x8BADF00D 8y ago
I’m also a bit wary of communes in general. The line between a commune and a cult is basically non-existent. For an example of this, I’d highly recommend the Netflix documentary “Wild Wild Country”, which explores a commune gone wrong.
- boonewheeler 8y ago
  "The line between a commune and a cult is basically non-existent." I'd say this is a stretch. Communes can come in all shapes and sizes. Cults are generally centered around a charismatic leader and lack transparency. FEC communities have no central leader, hold land and property in common, and are income sharing.
  - 0x8BADF00D 8y ago
    It’s their right to do so b/c of freedom of assembly. But personally, I believe strongly in private property rights. To each his own I suppose.
  - paxus 8y ago
    Actually, the distinction between a cult and a commune is quite well established. Cults have these characteristics: 1) It has a living charismatic leader 2) You give them all your money 3) You are kept away from your old friends and family 4) You can’t leave when you might like Communes (at least the FEC communes) do none of these things. For more insight into this see https://funologist.org/2015/06/19/you-are-a-cult-right/ https://funologist.org/2015/06/19/you-are-a-cult-right/
dv_dt 8y ago
It's a outside the full focus of a commune, but along the continuum, cooperatives are somewhat related. One example of a very successful cooperative is the Mondragon corporation. Revenue in the billions of euros. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation
entwife 8y ago
East Wind is secular. It's parent commune, Twin Oaks, was in part inspired by a behaviorist novel. The early days (1960s, 1970s) are described in "Walden Two Experiment". In brief, the behaviorist theories were mostly abandoned - there are still sweets in the workshops - and the community is still there. The Federation of Egalitarian Communities includes these and other allied income-sharing groups.

0x8BADF00D 8y ago

I’m also a bit wary of communes in general. The line between a commune and a cult is basically non-existent. For an example of this, I’d highly recommend the Netflix documentary “Wild Wild Country”, which explores a commune gone wrong.

boonewheeler 8y ago
"The line between a commune and a cult is basically non-existent." I'd say this is a stretch. Communes can come in all shapes and sizes. Cults are generally centered around a charismatic leader and lack transparency. FEC communities have no central leader, hold land and property in common, and are income sharing.
- 0x8BADF00D 8y ago
  It’s their right to do so b/c of freedom of assembly. But personally, I believe strongly in private property rights. To each his own I suppose.
- paxus 8y ago
  Actually, the distinction between a cult and a commune is quite well established. Cults have these characteristics: 1) It has a living charismatic leader 2) You give them all your money 3) You are kept away from your old friends and family 4) You can’t leave when you might like Communes (at least the FEC communes) do none of these things. For more insight into this see https://funologist.org/2015/06/19/you-are-a-cult-right/ https://funologist.org/2015/06/19/you-are-a-cult-right/

dv_dt 8y ago

It's a outside the full focus of a commune, but along the continuum, cooperatives are somewhat related. One example of a very successful cooperative is the Mondragon corporation. Revenue in the billions of euros. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation

entwife 8y ago

East Wind is secular. It's parent commune, Twin Oaks, was in part inspired by a behaviorist novel. The early days (1960s, 1970s) are described in "Walden Two Experiment". In brief, the behaviorist theories were mostly abandoned - there are still sweets in the workshops - and the community is still there. The Federation of Egalitarian Communities includes these and other allied income-sharing groups.