Thinking & Drinking: Rule or Be Ruled

Prompt: Rule or Be Ruled

Aristotle once wrote in his work, Politics: “From the hour of their birth, some are marked out for subjection, others for rule.”

This idea—that one group of people is destined or entitled to rule over others—appears again and again throughout history, in empires, monarchies, and even modern governments.

1. Do you think it is possible for humanity to exist without rulers?
2. Why do you think Aristotle (and many others) believed that some people are “born to rule” while others are “born to be ruled”?
3. If so, does this conflict with the principle that "all men are created equal"? Why or why not?
4. If certain people are "born to rule" does that, by default, mean others are "born to be ruled"?
5. Why do you think the same concept reappears across different cultures and times, even after revolutions?
6. American society tends to tell children "you can be anything you want to be." Is this genuine, in light of these human feelings on hierarchy?

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Not Aristotle, apparently, but we like the quote anyway.

Thinking & Drinking is put on by Chisholm Creek Academy, but you don’t need to be affiliated with the school to join us! We are cross-posted with A Book Walks Into A Bar (the best book club in the area, join them too!) and usually host between 8-14 people per discussion. Actively seeking new discussion members!

ALL ARE WELCOME. The whole concept is to discover new ideas, so you'll hear things that oppose your viewpoint. Sometimes, it's even on purpose (devil's advocate). So, if you do not like being questioned, this may not be the group for you. Also, please note, we have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy on hate speech.

Finally, if you've never tried this kind of thing, don't worry, just jump in! The water (and the wine!) is fine! We love meeting new people with new ideas!