Actually, the prevailing finding among human development researchers is that children actually do need authority, that is, firm discipline and guidance, to develop normally, and will make trouble if they don't get it. Many of the more articulate will actually demand it explicitly. As they grow up they will normally internalize that discipline until it becomes self-discipline, and also a parenting skill they can apply to their own children.
That doesn't mean they may not also resist it, testing the boundaries. We are all multiple personalities. That is what led to the id/ego/superego paradigm, which while simplistic does indicate an important element of human development. Most people never fully mature to the point where they are all adult and no longer childlike. Too many libertarians are in an incomplete or intermediate stage of emotional development. True adults would need no government, but they are a minority in any population. Stress can also cause chronological adults to regress to a more childlike state of mind. Wars and depressions can do that, causing people to surrender their wills to a Leader who promises to protect them. We can see that in the Canute (or Cnut) syndrome, in which insecure people attribute godlike powers to the seemingly strongest guy around, perhaps getting vicious if their "god" fails to deliver. We can see a lot of that in the ways people on this forum have turned on a Constitution that was never godlike in its power to make government officials behave. Insecure or immature humans tend to want to be relieved of responsibility. That is a flaw that one might hope can some day be overcome. Never send to know who is responsible. You are responsible. On 10/12/2009 02:13 PM, Sasan wrote: > I don't think that the need for Authority is part of Human Nature, but rather > a Tradition that must be broken. It's a self-perpetuating cycle of > dependency, but it won't last forever. > > If Authority is really a part of Human Nature, then why do Humans react so > adversely to it? Why does Freedom, the opposite of Authority, produce the > most prosperity and happiness? > -- Jon ------------------------------------------------------------------- Constitution Society 2900 W Anderson Ln C-200-322, Austin, TX 78757 512/299-5001 www.constitution.org [email protected] -------------------------------------------------------------------
