On Wed, 28 Feb 2001, Tim May wrote:
Polycentric law is still with us, of course. One hundred or more nations, law of the seas, the UCC, etc. Anarchy is the norm in most parts of our lives.
Polycentric law is not anarchy. The fact that something is unregulated does not equate to anarchy either. Polycentric law is clearly not equivalent to unregulated either. For each center to communicate and cooperate there MUST be agreements (ie tests of faith and intent) between the factions. Those agreements must, in a large part at least, follow the tenets and beliefs of each party. If there is too disparate a difference between the cultures then no cooperation is really possible. Anarchy is the denial of regulation, not the lack of same. Randomness does not equal anarchy. Most people (actually most life) live lives where one day looks pretty much like the next. Anarchy is not a norm anywhere (ie animal societies or even say a rain forest as an example of a multi-dependent ecology) except in human society. Why? Because there's no possibility for a 'leader' to develop in the first place. Anarchy is a function of human psychology, not some axiomatic aspect of nature. It's a rejection of 'community' in a real sense (consider what happens to a wolf that breaks the pack code). ____________________________________________________________________ Before a larger group can see the virtue of an idea, a smaller group must first understand it. "Stranger Suns" George Zebrowski The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------