[net.philosophy] A memo to survivalists/isolationists

williams@kirk.DEC (John Williams 223-3402) (05/07/85)

                    The Artificial Manifesto


        Hmmm .  .  .  There appear to  be  survivalists  in  this
newsgroup.   As  I understand it, survivalists recognize that the
bulk of rules governing society are artificial, that is  to  say,
that   evolution  is  enforced  by  artificial  selection.   They
naturally expect a breakdown of this artificial system, and  wish
to  prepare  themselves  for  survival when decomposition reduces
these back to natural laws.

        It is not so clear whether  these  artificially  enforced
laws  will  break  down, however, for a simple reason, that being
that the artificial laws we have in modern society have a  fairly
close   alignment   with   natural   laws,   in   an   analogical
transposition,  and  that  evolution  is  maintained,  but  in  a
relatively peaceful environment.

        Now, we know that natural laws work.  This is the essence
of  what  I  am  saying.  In order for artificial laws to work as
well, they must coincide along some  transposition  with  natural
laws,  otherwise,  they  would  not work.  What we are witnessing
today is the integration of a community, in many ways similar  to
the  integration  that  has already occurred at a cellular level,
that  allows  specialization,  and  enhances   intelligence   and
learning  potential.   (  It is very difficult to learn when your
first mistake causes your expiration ) So, although  we  consider
ourselves individuals, society still tends to act as a whole.

        Individuals act as symbols within this intelligence, with
the survival of that symbol is dependent upon acceptance from the
majority.  Now this survival has been transposed, meaning that if
society  does  not like the symbol you represent, you are free to
change, that is, learn  from  your  mistake.   One  of  the  most
important criteria for any set of artificial laws is that it must
coincide closely with natural ones.  It has  been  proposed  many
times  that mankind's intelligence has evolved more out of social
interactions than anything else.   This  is  a  good  example  of
artificial selection as a species interaction, with communication
in particular being one of the more remarkable traits.

        Something that is important  to  remember  is  how  these
artificial laws are enforced and supported.  We could not support
" life, liberty, and the  pursuit  of  happiness  "  without  the
enforcement of the militia, and we are responsible as benefactors
of  society  to  make  sure  that  these  foundations  are   well
established.  If too much emphasis is placed on the militia, then
it is natural for society to degenerate into  violence.   Militia
is   protection   against   the   occasional  exception,  and  is
essentially useless without social programming.   It  is  natural
that  during the early stages of development the social integrity
have a heirarchical structure, but,  as  communication  develops,
the structure should begin to look more autonomous.

        We must also recognize that artificial  laws  will  never
exactly  coincide  with  natural  ones,  and that we must observe
deviations from this, to modify  laws  that  do  not  accommodate
evolution on some suitable transposition.

        So, the survivalist movement  presents  a  symbol  within
society  that should serve to remind us our where the foundations
are.  That we should not accept artificial laws as natural  ones,
but  should  always  be keeping a watchful eye on how the natural
laws are preserved, and to maintain the rules so  that  evolution
follows a natural pattern.

        To a large extent, you will find that governments do  not
follow  their  particular political ideals, but rather approach a
more natural coexistence from an ideal, changing  the  laws  that
simply  do  not  work.   Socialism  does  not  allow  for  active
competition, in it's most ideal form,  and  capitalism  does  not
account  for the common intelligence and the way in which harmful
symbols may effect society as a whole.  As a matter of fact,  the
government acts to provide a proper blend of these two particular
ideals  that  is  appropriate  to  our  phase   of   evolutionary
development.

        We cannot make  the  mistake  of  thinking  that  we  are
somehow  able  to  isolate ourselves from our environment, and in
particular,  our  social  environment,  for  it  is  indeed   our
participation that allows the continued peaceful transposition.

                                                John Williams

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