#state of nature

[diogeneswannabe]

Rousseau really said "reject humanity, return to monke"

[the-ephemeral-ethereal]

It is impossible to enslave a man without having first put him in the position of being incapable of doing without another. This being a situation that did not exist in the state of nature, it leaves each person free of the yoke, and renders pointless the law of the strongest.

from Discourse on the Origin of Inequality by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1754)

[doom-dreaming]

"when i was your age, i was working three jobs to help support my family" and "when i was in college i was sleeping on a mattress on the floor and living off of soup"

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO DO THAT. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO DO THAT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN TO YOU THAT THIS ISN'T A CHARACTER-BUILDING LESSON, IT'S JUST BAD

[trusswork]

Anarchism of the classic LeGuin/Bitcoin kind is a vision of human self-government when just out of a Rawlsian the state of nature - ie, how would people do or operate with each other on an initially equal footing. The fact that cryptocurrencies are absorbed by profitable exchanges, and that LeGuin's Annaresti bureaucracy comes to exercise more and more of what looks like power, is a different "tragedy of the commons," one featuring a relentless anti-Deleuzian pull toward nodes and centralization . Anarchist society is a snowflake, a Higgs boson, a moment only.

[nerdy-prude]

So, I study philosophy, and today, bc our teacher is the way she is, we had to make memes about the state of nature debate

Here is one of my creations:

[omegaphilosophia]

The Implicit Contract in Social Contract Theory

Social contract theory is a foundational concept in political philosophy that explores the origin and legitimacy of political authority and the rights and duties of individuals within a society. At the heart of social contract theory is the idea of an implicit contract between individuals and the state. This implicit contract outlines the mutual obligations and expectations that form the basis of a stable and just society.

Key Elements of the Social Contract

State of Nature:

Social contract theorists often begin with a hypothetical "state of nature," a pre-political condition where individuals exist without an established government or social order. The state of nature is used to illustrate the problems and challenges that lead individuals to form a social contract.

Mutual Agreement:

The social contract is an agreement among individuals to create and recognize a governing authority. This agreement is often seen as implicit, meaning it is not an actual historical event but a theoretical construct that explains the origin of political society.

Surrender of Certain Freedoms:

Individuals agree to surrender some of their natural freedoms and submit to the authority of the state in exchange for protection and the benefits of organized society. This surrender is necessary to achieve security, order, and the enforcement of laws.

Protection of Rights:

In return for their submission, individuals expect the state to protect their remaining rights, such as the rights to life, liberty, and property. The state’s primary role is to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.

Legitimacy of Authority:

The legitimacy of political authority is derived from the consent of the governed. The state's power is justified because it is based on the collective agreement of individuals to form a government that serves their interests.

Major Theorists and Their Views

Thomas Hobbes:

In his work "Leviathan," Hobbes describes the state of nature as a condition of perpetual conflict and insecurity, where life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." To escape this, individuals collectively agree to create a powerful sovereign authority to enforce peace and prevent chaos. The social contract, in Hobbes' view, involves individuals giving up all their rights to the sovereign in exchange for security.

John Locke:

Locke's version of the social contract, as outlined in "Two Treatises of Government," presents a more optimistic view of the state of nature, where individuals possess natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Locke argues that individuals consent to form a government primarily to protect these rights. If the government fails to protect these rights or becomes tyrannical, individuals have the right to revolt and establish a new government.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau:

In "The Social Contract," Rousseau argues that the state of nature was a peaceful and harmonious condition but became corrupt with the advent of private property. Rousseau's social contract aims to restore freedom and equality by creating a collective "general will" that represents the common interests of all individuals. The government’s role is to implement the general will, and individuals must adhere to it for the common good.

Implications of the Social Contract

Rights and Duties:

The social contract establishes the rights and duties of both individuals and the state. Individuals are expected to obey the laws and contribute to the common good, while the state is obligated to protect the rights and interests of its citizens.

Political Obligation:

The concept of political obligation arises from the social contract. Individuals have a moral and legal duty to obey the laws and support the government because they have consented to its authority.

Legitimacy and Justice:

The legitimacy of a government is based on its adherence to the terms of the social contract. A just government is one that respects and protects the rights of individuals, fulfills its obligations, and operates with the consent of the governed.

Revolution and Reform:

If a government fails to uphold its end of the social contract, individuals have the right to seek reform or, in extreme cases, to overthrow the government. This principle underpins many democratic movements and revolutions throughout history.

The implicit contract between individuals and the state in social contract theory provides a powerful framework for understanding the foundations of political authority and the relationship between citizens and their government. By exploring the mutual obligations and expectations that form the basis of this contract, social contract theory offers insights into the principles of justice, legitimacy, and the rights and duties that sustain a stable and just society.

[reasonsforhope]

"Tilia is a vest-wearing conservation dog that the 444-acre [Mequon] nature preserve relies on for vital conservation and restoration work.

The dog’s responsibilities include sniffing out invasive and endangered species in the prairies, forests, and wetlands of Mequon.

Conservation dogs have become more commonplace in wildlife organizations, tapping into their astonishing scent-detecting abilities.

“Dogs in general already have up to 200 million olfactory sensors,” Cory Gritzmacher, the director of operations at the nature preserve, told Wisconsin Life.

Humans, on the other hand, have about 5 million.

“[Dogs are] already set up and designed for scent detection,” Gritzmacher added. “It’s really just finding a dog that’s motivated, that wants to do it on a regular basis and is excited to do it.”

Tilia was the pup for the job.

One of her main roles is to detect wild parsnip, an invasive species that staff removes once it is found on the property.

Compared to humans, Tilia can find parsnip in its first year, while it’s still close to the ground and camouflaged by other plants. This is vital, since parsnip will start to spread rapidly by the time it reaches its second season in the preserve. 

Studies show that the estimated damage caused by invasive species has cost the United States around $120 billion annually, as it impacts agriculture, recreational industries, and wildlife management. 

By catching invasive species that take hold of local flora and fauna early, Tilia achieves something no humans can.

“The best trained volunteers or staff in the world won’t even be able to find what a canine can,” Gritzmacher said. “That’s the pretty impressive part of it. And who doesn’t want to go to work with a dog?” ...

Tilia began training as a puppy, and now nearly seven years old, she’s a pro at scent detection — which all started with some treats hidden in cardboard boxes...

“As she continues to hit on the correct scent, then she gets rewarded. So, she’s going to get paid again. We do our work, we get paid. She does her work, she gets paid.”

Tilia can also spot Blue-Spotted and Easter Tiger Salamanders, which are endangered in the area. Her other scents include Wood Turtle and Garlic Mustard.

Of course, her workload remains balanced with time off. Her official owner is the director of Mequon Nature Preserve, who is happy to embrace her as the family dog when she’s not out sniffing.

But Gritzmacher, who trains and works alongside Tilia, adores her, not only for her companionship, but for the miracles she is able to work as an asset to Wisconsin’s conservationists.

“Canines are going to start to play a huge role in the conservation field just because of their amazing detection skills,” Gritzmacher said, “especially when resources are limited, staff is limited and you have to search potentially thousands of acres or miles.”

In fact, Tilia was joined by a partner in crime a few years ago: Timber, another chocolate lab who is actually the offspring of Tilia’s sister.

By following in her pawprints, Timber’s “powerful nose will be a key tool” in the preserve’s “land restoration efforts,” according to its website.

“For years, scientists have tried to replicate the power and efficiency of the canine nose,” Mequon Nature Preserve adds on a webpage for Tilia and Timber.

“The results keep coming back the same: The canine nose is second to none. Coupled with an insatiable desire to work and serve, Tilia and Timber help us find things humans often can’t.”"

-via GoodGoodGood, December 2, 2024

[pangeen]

" Step into another world " // © Arndt-Christoph Föcks

[deletingmyself]

(by Aram)| Wyoming, US

[devotion-disorder]

some more catboy kuunya action inspired by this lovely art by @ren-the-other-blog :DD

[cute-girls-from-vns-anime-manga]

I enjoy dumping a bunch of rb of "im sorry but im not yuri" onto people and just watching as half my following start melting and deperately going to read the entire manga

[maureen2musings]

Wildflowers and fog

jhamilbader

[frommylimitedtravels]

Pieces of Fall along the North Fork

Skokomish River - Olympic National Park

[shushmal]

"I think it's sweet," Steve says.

Robin wrinkles her nose. "Nothing about Eddie Munson is sweet. He's a sewer rat, at best. Or like twenty opossums in a trench coat."

"Opossums are cute."

"He probably has rabies."

"You say that about me all the time, so I guess that's good. We'll have rabies together."

"He gave you a rock."

"You give me rocks all the time," Steve says, rolling his eyes. He runs his thumb along the textured edge of the rock Eddie'd handed to him.

"Yeah, good rocks." Robin scoffs. "That one sucks."

[riverwindphotography]

Salmon River Falls after Tropical Storm Debbie moved through the area.

(c) riverwindphotography, August 2024