Philosophy Now Forum

The history of Man is based upon exploitation - Man exploits his own kind throughout his history.
Kingdoms, democracies, socialist states - You name it and one or more groups are exploiting other individuals and groups under their control - No such thing as a true democracy or a true socialist state. The rich and/or the state in control exploits the population - a very Machiavellian and/or Nietzscheian world where a power elite rises to the top and in one form or another exploits the masses under its control.

So the question I have is it possible to have a non-exploitative government - a true Democracy based upon real social equality? Or is it in the nature of Man and his governments for exploitation to be necessary for the government to function. Does Man by necessity need exploitation for his civilization and government to function

"We are yet to have a conscience at all about the exploitation of human cultures."
==Arthur Erickson

“You're captives of a civilizational system that more or less compels you to go on destroying the world in order to live. … You are captives—and you have made a captive of the world itself. That's what's at stake, isn't it?—your captivity and the captivity of the world.”
― Daniel Quinn, Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit

“The values most important to us are always the most easily exploitable.”
― A.J. Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar

“If we lose our significance (character) we fall in ruin. The exploiters take over and sell freedom from fear, from guilt, from want. They excuse all corrupt actions. Collective status degenerates the human spirit.”
― Moxie Will, Something That Will Change Your Life

“Society is a voluntary scheme of mutual benefit. The state is a compulsory scheme of mutual exploitation.”
― Jakub Bożydar Wiśniewski, The Pith of Life: Aphorisms in Honor of Liberty

Without the will to be exploited there would be none. It is so much easier to not study, to not think, to let others do it for you, to follow. Look at how social media works. Facebook has people following others as does Twitter. Someone declares something about an article or issue and the followers believe them never researching into it.
We are intelligent herd animals.

kriswest wrote:Without the will to be exploited there would be none. It is so much easier to not study, to not think, to let others do it for you, to follow. Look at how social media works. Facebook has people following others as does Twitter. Someone declares something about an article or issue and the followers believe them never researching into it.
We are intelligent herd animals.

Relative to the other species at least.

Exploitation is always going to be a part of humanity's opportunistic spirit. Exploitation can be fought with knowledge and skepticism but you'll never get rid of exploitation in any system involving humans.

Hasn't so far. Man must exploit his resources. Always has, always will. That is true of both one single person, or a whole world.

Herd/pack/flock, any social animal has exploiters and exploited, the only difference with humans is the knowledge or understanding.
The exploited human knows and understands just as the human exploiter does. Take a look at slavery in any point in history. The enslaved generally outnumbered their masters greatly. With the sacrifice of some, most could have freed themselves. Only once or twice did slaves sacrifice and overthrow their masters. Why only so few? Because it was easier to be exploited and it still is.