In addition to a poll I have two questions for you. Before answering the poll please consider the questions:
Question 1: Do you think that the political community should collectively surrender its sovereignty and invest it into a benign despot who could then rule over all people in a way that is free of ideological bias or sectional interest? That takes the long-term objective perspective in its decisions and works for the common good, according to the principle of the greatest happiness for the greatest number? (In a way that tolerates minority opinions and rights) And who listens to expert opinions over various lobbies?
Basically: should the demos install a despot to rule over them?
That is more or less what Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) said should happen in his book Leviathan in which he said we should be ruled by a powerful and absolute ruler, for our own good. Having personally witnessed the destruction of the English civil war, which he saw as destructive disunity.
I agree with him to an extent, but I am however ideologically attached to democracy and elections, so perhaps I’d agree with him in some circumstances and disagree with him in others
If the right ruler came along and his or her powers were to be limited by a constitution and subject to checks and balances then I’d probably go along with it. If they had all the right answers and embodied certain virtues and had pure motivations. Especially if we were in turbulent or uncertain times.
But I would expect their continued rule to be subject to democratic review.
Of course, it could be said that this has already happened - or is currently happening!
Question 2: If we look at the COVID situation, do you think things would have been handled better if we had an elective despot, with wide, sweeping powers?
I think I do
But it would have to be a despot with power over the entire planet to co-ordinate a truly global response to the (global) pandemic, which is after all a truly global problem.
So perhaps the people of Earth should elect a temporary global despot to lead the world in the fight against COVID?
But who???
Bonus Question: Is there any living person you'd like to see as elective despot of Earth? If doesn't have to be a politician. It could be someone you know, or even someone from RF
Question 1: Do you think that the political community should collectively surrender its sovereignty and invest it into a benign despot who could then rule over all people in a way that is free of ideological bias or sectional interest? That takes the long-term objective perspective in its decisions and works for the common good, according to the principle of the greatest happiness for the greatest number? (In a way that tolerates minority opinions and rights) And who listens to expert opinions over various lobbies?
Basically: should the demos install a despot to rule over them?
That is more or less what Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) said should happen in his book Leviathan in which he said we should be ruled by a powerful and absolute ruler, for our own good. Having personally witnessed the destruction of the English civil war, which he saw as destructive disunity.
I agree with him to an extent, but I am however ideologically attached to democracy and elections, so perhaps I’d agree with him in some circumstances and disagree with him in others
If the right ruler came along and his or her powers were to be limited by a constitution and subject to checks and balances then I’d probably go along with it. If they had all the right answers and embodied certain virtues and had pure motivations. Especially if we were in turbulent or uncertain times.
But I would expect their continued rule to be subject to democratic review.
Of course, it could be said that this has already happened - or is currently happening!
Question 2: If we look at the COVID situation, do you think things would have been handled better if we had an elective despot, with wide, sweeping powers?
I think I do
But it would have to be a despot with power over the entire planet to co-ordinate a truly global response to the (global) pandemic, which is after all a truly global problem.
So perhaps the people of Earth should elect a temporary global despot to lead the world in the fight against COVID?
But who???
Bonus Question: Is there any living person you'd like to see as elective despot of Earth? If doesn't have to be a politician. It could be someone you know, or even someone from RF
