Enlightened Societies

I’ve heard a lot of talk about enlightened societies, lately. I hear that enlightened societies take care of their own. They care for the sick and the infirm, the old and the young. They care for those that can’t care for themselves. They educate their children and catch those who fall. Laudable. I want an enlightened society, I think.

According to Merriam-Webster, a society is defined as:

3a. an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another
3b. a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests

So, with that understanding of society, where does “government” come from? It derives as a natural consequence of the baser instincts of humanity. We come together for common support (society), but we establish a governing authority to keep in check the more ignoble behaviors of the people.

Now, I’d like to ask a series of questions and get your thoughts on it.

1) So, if 85% of the members of a society give freely to another 10% of society that needs help, would that be indicative of an enlightened society?
2) From (1) above, if the remaining 5% percent (that could) do not wish to give and the other 85% (that do) were to force them to do so (via direct enslavement or the “softer” illusion of taxes) and/or punish them for their refusal (whips in the first scenario or prison in the second), would that be indicative of an enlightened society?
3) If half of the 10% who received the help, did not need the help, but took advantage of the other 90%, would that be indicative of an enlightened society?
4) Assuming that (2) & (3) both obtained, we would have a situation where 5% of society worked and produced and were punished for resisting the collective master, while 5% of the population was rewarded for taking advantage of the collective. Would this scenario be indicative of an enlightened society?

Our society works much like the scenarios painted in 2, 3, and 4. Our society has established a government and then via the use of police-backed force has mandated the altruism of the people. But that’s a purely nonsensical notion “mandated altruism”. It’s as nonsensical as a cold number or a green thought.

In reality it’s more akin to justified larceny. Armed robbery is the collective’s method of taking from everyone under the guise of an ethical and moral imperative. The problem here is that there’s no logically necessary reason to believe that the mob is more enlightened than those from whom they’re stealing.

Whenever you hear terms like “enlightened societies” being used to support notions of mandated altruism, remember what is being said and not said. What’s being said is, “Let’s force people to do what we believe is good,” and what’s not is, “let’s enlighten our fellow man in the ways of goodness”. These enlightened societies are like rotting trees bound with iron for strength (via laws that demand altruism). Because the tree is tall and straight, it has the illusion of being strong. But the tree itself is weak and now restricted from further growth. Treat the sickness of the tree, feed it, water it, and give it sunshine. Otherwise, leave it alone to flourish. Then you’ll find your enlightened societies. Most people call it charity.