It is my view that there are always BOTH centripetal AND centrifugal forces operating within human society and within the human individuals that make it up. Social "centres" which become very heavy and centralised are what we know as "civilisations", but even as they form there are individuals who stride away from the centre, sometimes acquiring names (which are generally given from the perspective of the civilised, who write these things down) such as "tribal" "backward" "uncouth" "primitive" "barbarian" and etc. However there are always "civilised" individuals moving outward, sometimes as far as to become "barbarian" and there are always "barbarian" individuals moving towards the centre, sometimes as far as to become "civilised". People tend to think, and I was certainly educated to think, that these are completely distinct evolutionary phases, but nowadays I am more inclined to agree with James C Scott and others who argue that "civilised" and "barbarian" are political choices in a larger picture landscape, that represents the choice of whether to be governed or not. Scott says "tribalism and ethnicity begin where states and taxes end".
I think what is happening on these threads, is that both the centripetal (centre-seeking) forces and the centrifugal (outward-seeking) forces are strongly operational, and people are feeling both pulled, and also are personally inclined, more one way or the other.
It should go without saying, that, having a barbarian, ungovernable, sensibility myself, I am utterly comfortable in the company of those who are "outward bound" and more willing to govern themselves. However, those who are "centre-bound" also have their story and their reality, and are part of the pattern of the whole. There are always costs, no matter which direction you move. There are always benefits, too.
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branchandroot
Re: Big Picture Questions
Date: 2023-01-13 10:23 am (UTC)I think what is happening on these threads, is that both the centripetal (centre-seeking) forces and the centrifugal (outward-seeking) forces are strongly operational, and people are feeling both pulled, and also are personally inclined, more one way or the other.
It should go without saying, that, having a barbarian, ungovernable, sensibility myself, I am utterly comfortable in the company of those who are "outward bound" and more willing to govern themselves. However, those who are "centre-bound" also have their story and their reality, and are part of the pattern of the whole. There are always costs, no matter which direction you move. There are always benefits, too.