Single Idea 23155

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / c. A unified people]

Full Idea

In historical societies such as ancient Egypt only a minority at the top of the social scale - the king, the aristocracy and the priests - needed any psychological mechanism towards social cohesion; all the rest merely obeyed.

Gist of Idea

In early societies the leaders needed cohesion, but the rest just had to obey

Source

Bertrand Russell (Authority and the Individual [1949], 2)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Authority and the Individual' [Unwin 1977], p.24


A Reaction

This is why even now I take obedience to be a key right-wing virtue, though it is usually reinforced through national myths and distorted proganda. Quasi-worship of the leader also seems to be a major ingredient. Obedience unifies armies.