The image is a bit of circular reasoning, as it’s very close to one of the definitions of what a state is.
But it’s good to be reminded of it once in a while.
this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2025
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I find that most people are not actually familiar with the definition of a state. And it helps remind just how brutally direct that definition is
Thats such a spook lul (Stirner quote)
This spook?
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/max-stirner-the-ego-and-his-own
I’m afraid I’m not really understanding what he’s getting at. It seems like some weird cross of superstition and social construct, but I’m not sure what makes it different from either of those things.
Also, I really hate 19th century prose for anything but fiction ;)
Social construct would be a more nuanced less derogatory modern term. 'Bullshit we just made the fuck up' is good too and a little closer to what he meant
Common stirner W
Catboy Stirner catboy Stirner
All societies impose rules on individuals.
since you are not explaining what you are trying to say with this, i have to assume.
i assume you are trying to imply that since all societies impose rules on individuals, states are no worse than any other way to organize a society, and criticising them (pointing out how they arbitrarily legitimize their own violence and criminalize that of individuals) is hypocrytical or pointless.
if this is what you are trying to say, then i have to disagree. not all power structures are equal. states are a hierarchical way to organize societies, disempowering the many, to empower the few. rules are not imposed on people, by themsleves, but by a higher authority. they are authoritarian and oppressive. state violence is illegitimate and defence against it is likely legitimate. this is something states try to obscure and it is something people need to realise, so they will consider overthrowing the states ruling over them.
if you did not mean to imply this. i am sorry for misunderstanding you. tbf i did try to get you to explain yourself. i would still like to read what you meant.
what are you trying to say?
That you deserve it and that no society was about you, because the elites deserve their privileges of causing everyone else pain for their own profit.
“All the other kids do it too mom!”
Exactly what I wrote.
What did you think I meant?
your comment does not seem directly related to the content of the post. i assume you are therefore implying something with your statement. otherwise, what led you to comment it?
Which particular word confused you?
none. i am trying to understand why you said what you said. how is "all societies impose laws upon individuals" related to "states legitimize their own violence and criminalize the violence of individuals"?
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(3 replies)
what’s ur fav boot flavour, you seemingly enjoy licking the dirt off them
A state is just a group with a monopoly on violence.
Yeah ghastly is essentially just being definitional here
i do not believe stirner opererated on that definition.
here is maletesta's definition of the state, which i find far more useful for critiquing states.
“Anarchists, including this writer, have used the word State, and still do, to mean the sum total of the political, legislative, judiciary, military and financial institutions through which the management of their own affairs, the control over their personal behavior, the responsibility for their personal safety, are taken away from the people and entrusted to others who, by usurpation or delegation, are vested with the powers to make the laws for everything and everybody, and to oblige the people to observe them, if need be, by the use of collective force.”
i would go as far as to say that the entire anarchist critique of states builds on such a an understanding of states, and in turn becomes less coherent with a defintion like the one you are using.
I don't understand why those 2 definitions are excluding; if the last thing that enforce everything is the collective force, it means that everything has been built to be protected by the collective force. Legit violence is what is structuring everything else. It means that when justice have to choose between defending the police and the army (the wole institutions), it will defend it.
(and that is good)
It is when the people are in charge of the state.
No. It is so there isn't civil war. No duels, vigilantes and non state actors who profiteer of e.g. drugs, fossil resources etc.
Exactly. If people wield that power they can use it to stop people profiteering off of drugs and fossil resources.
But instead the rich wield that power so they use it to keep people starving on the streets because they don't care about the well being of everyone, only that they remain wealthy so they'll crack down on anyone who gets out of line.
I do enjoy stirner. He was very weird in many ways and had some baffling opinions on things but he also had some intresting insights.
Ghastly
Translation needs work, its 'terrorism' now
bro thinks he's a philosopher who drops crazy one liners