Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Group effects

"Society" is a name for a group of individuals. Just like "group". Or "swarm". Or "the market".

More than that, it is the effect those individuals have. It is the result of individuals acting individually, but having an effect that is greater than the sum of the parts. It is emergent.

That's why I don't object to the term "society" as much as some do- as long as it isn't being claimed that "society" has rights above and beyond those of individuals or not possessed by individuals.

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2 comments:

  1. I like to think of "Society" as the sum of all voluntary interactions. I'm quite pleased with the society of central North America, where people are accepted and treated as individuals regardless of their origins. The "hard work pays off" attitude, and the fun stuff, too.

    That whole gray area of personal choice, between the black of government prohibition and the white of government mandate.

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  2. ……And that area is becoming “more contrasty” by the day- meaning fewer shades of gray and more dominant black and white.

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