From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!menlo70!sytek!zehntel!tektronix!ucbcad!ucbesvax.turner
Newsgroups: net.politics
Title: Re: definition of politics - (nf)
Article-I.D.: ucbcad.184
Posted: Tue Apr 19 09:30:36 1983
Received: Mon Apr 25 02:56:23 1983

#R:uwvax:-82600:ucbesvax:7500007:000:1002
ucbesvax!turner    Apr 18 18:34:00 1983

	"All purposefull [sic] human activity"?  I rather hope not.  I tend
    towards Macchiavelli's implied definition.  In fact, I think the very fact
    that Macchiavelli DOESN'T define all of purposeful human activity as
    political is itself a good indication that he is right.  That he could
    be obsessed with politics (as he was) and yet see something apart from it
    says something about him as a person.

	The world can be comprehended politically.  It can also be comprehended
    esthetically, or in any of a number of different ways.  (Physically,
    algorithmically, whatever...)  To blanket social reality with political
    perception might be to stifle other modes of value.

	As a meta-discussion, this topic could plausibly be moved to
    net.philosophy.  To keep it here, however, is for me an attractive
    alternative to the current exchange of rhetorical bazooka-fire with
    Tom Craver.  We could certainly see some calmer dialogue.

	Michael Turner
	ucbvax!esvax:turner