Allegiant (Book to Film Review and almost argumet for anarchy)

[MysterionMuffles]

I've been averse to dystopian stories my whole life thinking that they're all about having overly complex concepts, but that of course robbed me of the value that can be seen in some of them in terms of mirroring the challenges we face as a species today. Recently I read Allegiant, part 3 of the Divergent series and enjoyed it tremendously more than I thought I would. Here is my book to film review on the dystopian trilogy's finale that almost...ALMOST made an argument for anarchy.

 

[luxfelix]

Curious: Have you come across any books/movies/etc. that advocate anarchy/voluntarism? 

[MysterionMuffles]

Curious: Have you come across any books/movies/etc. that advocate anarchy/voluntarism? 

 

The East is the closest I've found in terms of depicting Anarchists as heroes. Anti-heroes, but heroes nonetheless. 

 

Have you?

[luxfelix]

I've read a bit about Tolkien's libertarian-minded Shire, but nothing else comes to mind.

 

I've noticed that a lot of fiction uses monarchy nostalgically, such as fairy tales or chieftain monarchies like Avatar. (If everyone were a monarch then I suppose that would be another name for anarchy.  )

 

Edit: That's excluding the common perception of a dystopian anarchy.

 

I found this upon a cursory search:

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/voluntarism/comments/44e1l0/tales_of_voluntary_societies_free_anthology_of/

[shirgall]

I've read a bit about Tolkien's libertarian-minded Shire, but nothing else comes to mind.

 

I've noticed that a lot of fiction uses monarchy nostalgically, such as fairy tales or chieftain monarchies like Avatar. (If everyone were a monarch then I suppose that would be another name for anarchy.  )

 

Edit: That's excluding the common perception of a dystopian anarchy.

 

L. Neil Smith writes a lot of libertarian fiction.

[MysterionMuffles]

The Shire was Libertarian? Really?! How? I'm not that big on LOTR so it may have slipped my mind when I watched the films oh so many moons ago.

[shirgall]

The Shire was Libertarian? Really?! How? I'm not that big on LOTR so it may have slipped my mind when I watched the films oh so many moons ago.

 

When King Argeleb II allowed the hobbits to settle part of his hunting grounds to form The Shire he insisted that they acknowledge his lordship, maintain the roads, and provide aid to his messengers should they need to pass through. As a result, the Hobbits made a post service, Shirriffs to keep the peace, and Bounders to deal with immigration. After the fall of Arnor, they elected a Thain (afterward hereditary) and a Mayor on a regular basis to hold the power of the king in his absence. The families formed clans that kind of managed themselves most of the time,

 

They had ancient Rules and lawyers, but for the most part everyone followed them without being overtly forced to.

 

After LOTR the Shire's King was Aragorn and his offspring.

 

The movies spent very little time on the politics of the Shire, focusing instead on pipe-weed, pubs, and parties (the three P's that form the libertine version of libertarians).

 

Not exactly Anarchocapitalutopia, since anarchy requires no rulers, but close enough, right?

[luxfelix]

Also, if you're a fan of Avatar: The Legend of Korra, Zaofu (metal city) is rather libertarian. 

[luxfelix]

I found this recently which pictures a society that values self reflection and parenting (even if some of the conclusions are a miss):

 

[MysterionMuffles]

Wow interesting I don't know why I didn't see it that way. That utopias are a way to address current problems by having this ideal standard. I guess I'm just too used to the idea of people being scorned and shamed into looking crazy for wanting (what they think) what's best for humanity.

Yeah that conclusion about drilling into a child's character at a young age rather than letting them show who they really are and what really want as they grow up, but in the meantime let them be kids. Unless I misunderstood what he said.

 

And wtf is that crap about sincere democracy? How are taxes collected? Would they be voluntary? That should have been mentioned.

 

What conclusions do you disagree with?

Though I can get behind secular litergies and rituals, the temples of virtues. They could be like a free market of spirituality where they co-compete with each other. The times will tell which virtue is most needed the most. Interesting video thanks for the share!

[luxfelix]

What conclusions do you disagree with?

Though I can get behind secular litergies and rituals, the temples of virtues. They could be like a free market of spirituality where they co-compete with each other. The times will tell which virtue is most needed the most. Interesting video thanks for the share!

 

The last one stood out the most (sincere nanny government). Though, if the characters in the video went through the effort to raise their kids peacefully and take self-reflection as seriously as presented, I'd imagine the government would be widely believed irrelevant (using the entrepreneur section beforehand instead).

 

Yeah, I've heard of art/science museums (and even national parks) becoming a kind of secular temple, complete with relics and pilgrimages to promote certain values and teach about natural laws. As far as free market competition, I'd bet modern art museums would rapidly lose value for exhibiting works such as "the canned detritus of the artist within different states of mind" (etc.)... 

 

My pleasure! 

[Aspiring Skywriter]

It's funny you mention this, I was thinking that some of the concepts thrown around in the movie mirror the language used by anti-leftists against the Left.

 

An elite that thinks it knows better than the people it rules over, purity tests (based on inherited characteristics, too!), an experiment that's been running for a long time but has failed...

 

Yeah. XD As for libertarian fiction....can't think of any offhand. I'll try to find some, in my brain or elsewhere. XD