Let's extend this metaphor. If society is a human body, then the state is the brain. Humans are unaware of their motives. If asked "why do you eat?" you might say "bc food tastes good" and not "bc I need food to survive." What might a state's food be? (hint: are pills food?)https://twitter.com/Aella_Girl/status/993212066801516544 …
-
Show this thread
-
Replying to @simpolism
state isn't the brain. it's a combination of immune system, liver, spleen, deleterious vestigial traits, and viral dna.
1 reply 1 retweet 2 likes -
-
Replying to @simpolism
state is mainly concerned with keeping the body (the population) secure (immune system), "pure" (liver), and providing a safety net (spleen, red blood cell safety net), but is the product of a messy history including genetic parasitism.
2 replies 0 retweets 3 likes -
Replying to @danlistensto
then who or what decides which actions the body that is society performs?
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @simpolism
nobody. the metaphor breaks down if you try too hard to force chordate physiology on it. mycelial network super-organisms is a better model.
1 reply 0 retweets 4 likes -
Replying to @danlistensto @simpolism
this is a shocking thing and basically intolerable to most people so there is a performance art aspect of government that is meant to sincerely convince people that someone is in control. they aren't though.
1 reply 0 retweets 4 likes -
Replying to @danlistensto
you mean there's no governmental cabal making foreign policy decisions? when acting voluntarily/with agency, humans mostly don't choose to modify themselves: they go for other humans or something else in the world
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @simpolism @danlistensto
not saying your metaphor is wrong, but all metaphors are wrong and I'm trying to point this one in a particular direction :P
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
have at it then. i think if you insist on central state authority as brain you'll talk yourself into tinfoil hat level conspiratardism though
-
-
Replying to @danlistensto @simpolism
If the state is the brain I feel like it would have to be a narrow subset, like just the prefrontal cortex maybe. It’s more like the extra-weaponized self-concept...? I find the metaphor works better in reverse: a lot of ppl conflate themselves with The Central Govt of the Self
0 replies 0 retweets 2 likesThanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.