What's a good leader?

[Traitorfish]

It depends on what you mean by "good", but if we're talking about the sort of leader that you would personally admire, then I'd say that a good leader is a facilitator, rather than a commander. They function as "big men" rather than "chiefs", to borrow a distinction from anthropology, administering democratic decision-making rather than handing out orders, and articulating the views and interests of the group to others rather than dictating to the group what their views and interests are.

Agreed! Unfortunately such people generally don't tend to be all that popular among the masses.

Ah, the Swinish Multitude school of political theory. Who'd have thought we'd see that in this thread?

That is because ideology is much easier to articulate and more palatable to the ones who hear it. Ideology represents itself as the solution of every problem and among the common rabble, nothing is more persuasive than that.

But the real question is: do we ban just some poetry, or all poetry?

A Good leader is one that isn't there hahaha

"Leader" doesn't necessarily mean "authority". Nestor Makhno, Buenaventura Durruti or Big Bill Haywood were all leaders in their own way.

 

[Tahuti]

But the real question is: do we ban just some poetry, or all poetry?

What's that kind of false dilemma? Besides, from an anti-ideological perspective, banning poetry (and art in general) would do more harm than good for it is arguably one of the best ways to describe how the world isn't as black-and-white as ideologies claim it is.
After all, an ideology is shaped by a definition of good and evil and the promise of a utopia brought about by the destruction of all that is defined as evil.

 

[Traitorfish]

What's that kind of false dilemma? Besides, from an anti-ideological perspective, banning poetry (and art in general) would do more harm than good for it is arguably one of the best ways to describe how the world isn't as black-and-white as ideologies claim it is.
After all, an ideology is shaped by a definition of good and evil and the promise of a utopia brought about by the destruction of all that is defined as evil.

Did you click the link? Because I don't think that you're really understanding me...

 

[timtofly]

Did you click the link? Because I don't think that you're really understanding me...

Justice would have to be blind, or without preference, even if it hurt. Feeling good is not the intended result, but feeling free is. One can be free, yet in chains of guilt.

Ideology is just giving up a certain amount of freedom, to bring people together in unity.

A good leader knows he is not good, but just. Is not there to lead, but exemplify being led. Strong, but not tyranical. Calm under preasure and able to admit a mistake, and go on despite of failure. An insane person only goes on after mutiple failures, there is an end to everything, even good things.

 

[Traitorfish]

Justice would have to be blind, or without preference, even if it hurt. Feeling good is not the intended result, but feeling free is. One can be free, yet in chains of guilt.

Ideology is just giving up a certain amount of freedom, to bring people together in unity.

I don't know what that has to do with anything.

 

[civver_764]

"Leader" doesn't necessarily mean "authority". Nestor Makhno, Buenaventura Durruti or Big Bill Haywood were all leaders in their own way.

yes but you've spoiled the dumb joke I was trying to make.

 

[timtofly]

I don't know what that has to do with anything.

Everything. Justice is as much needed as a leader is. Ideology brings men together more than a leader can. Most groups start with an ideology and elect a scape goat to carry out the ideology. Those groups that start with a leader either become a dynasty or a die suddenly.

 

[Traitorfish]

Everything. Justice is as much needed as a leader is. Ideology brings men together more than a leader can. Most groups start with an ideology and elect a scape goat to carry out the ideology. Those groups that start with a leader either become a dynasty or a die suddenly.

I meant that I don't know what it had to do with anything I said.

 

[Tahuti]

Did you click the link? Because I don't think that you're really understanding me...

Yes I do: Plato's Republic proposed banning poetry.

 

[Traitorfish]

Yes I do: Plato's Republic proposed banning poetry.

So what was with the attempt at a serious response to a sarcastic question (and the proffering of an idiosyncratic and frankly silly definition of "ideology")?

 

[Tahuti]

So what was with the attempt at a serious response to a sarcastic question (and the proffering of an idiosyncratic and frankly silly definition of "ideology")?

Frankly, the sarcastic part wasn't really that particularly strong...