as I believe humans to be social and compassionate by nature
It’s best read as part of the broader debate about whether human nature pushes people into being cruel or generous or noble or something else, in the absence of social structure.
It’s not even necessarily commentary on the average person, but whether a power vacuum would enable the worst among us to be even worse than they can be in a highly structured society. Bad people taking power can still happen in a group that is 90% good, if the cruel or evil or narcissistic will take control for their own ends, and the good aren’t successful (or don’t try) in maintaining social control for good.
It’s best read as part of the broader debate about whether human nature pushes people into being cruel or generous or noble or something else, in the absence of social structure.
It’s not even necessarily commentary on the average person, but whether a power vacuum would enable the worst among us to be even worse than they can be in a highly structured society. Bad people taking power can still happen in a group that is 90% good, if the cruel or evil or narcissistic will take control for their own ends, and the good aren’t successful (or don’t try) in maintaining social control for good.
That is also a good reading!