Russia's War Against Ukraine

[Jarhead0331]

I feel like deep down I know this - but the perfect world I've built in my head is full of perfect people looking out for each other 

You know - I used to take the default view that people were good and I'd let them prove me wrong. I liked that me.

Then I met a guy at work who told me "I take the opposite view - I see everyone as a **** and let them change my mind...it stops me being disappointed"

Whilst I still think his view is sad and cynical, as I get older I realise there was some logic to his sad, cynical view. 

This is the classic debate on the contrasting views on human nature. Thomas Hobbes vs. John Locke.  Particularly in the context of the "state of nature" and the social contract and the role of government. Hobbes believed the state of nature was chaotic and brutal, requiring a strong sovereign to maintain order and protect citizens from themselves, while Locke saw the state of nature as governed by natural law and natural rights, and government's role as protecting those rights.

Hobbes viewed the state of nature as a "war of all against all," where life is "nasty, brutish, and short" due to the absence of a governing power. He believed individuals are driven by self-interest and a desire for power, leading to constant conflict and a lack of security. Locke, by contrast, argued that the state of nature is governed by natural law, which dictates that individuals have inherent rights to life, liberty, and property. He believed individuals are capable of reason and morality, even without government.

I'm clearly of the Hobbesian school of thought. You seem more Locke to me, and that is a beautiful thing. I think it is noble to believe in the inherent good of man. I just don't buy in to the notion based on what I have seen in the world, particularly the evil that men do. But, to you sir, I humbly bow.

[JudgeDredd]

 

Well I did not know that. I guess there would of course been some analytical discussion and papers on the subject.

Whilst I called the guys ideas "sad and cynical", he could indeed have labelled me naive.

I guess the reality probably is that both Hobbes and Locke are both right.

Of course as we get older, perhaps inherently we move closer to Hobbes because - you know, life experiences?

[Jarhead0331]

If you're interested. Check out, Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes from 1651 and Two Treatises on Government by John Locke from 1689. These are likely their most famous works on the topic.

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-h.htm

https://www.yorku.ca/comninel/courses/3025pdf/Locke.pdf

[JudgeDredd]

If you're interested. Check out, Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes from 1651 and Two Treatises on Government by John Locke from 1689. These are likely their most famous works on the topic.

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-h.htm

https://www.yorku.ca/comninel/courses/3025pdf/Locke.pdf

I will do - thank you

[JudgeDredd]

Actually, no I won't. Sorry - there's way too much text for me there. I'm a slow reader and generally only read when going to bed - which often means I get a page or two read before it's lights out. Those papers would take me a year each to read.

Thanks for the thought - but yeah, nah - I'll never get through those

If you've read them, then I, to you sir, humbly return the 

[Jarhead0331]

As a history and political science double major in college, I had to read them. That being said, these two works are widely regarded as the greatest philosophical writings on the nature of man and the role, relationship and responsibility of government. It's heavy stuff and certainly not for everyone. I guess I only brought it up since the philosophical struggle you mentioned above is clearly one that man has being having since the dawn of modern thought. Im surprised it's not something you were familiar with.

[JudgeDredd]

As a history and political science double major in college, I had to read them. That being said, these two works are widely regarded as the greatest philosophical writings on the nature of man and the role, relationship and responsibility of government. It's heavy stuff and certainly not for everyone. I guess I only brought it up since the philosophical struggle you mentioned above is clearly one that man has being having since the dawn of modern thought. Im surprised it's not something you were familiar with.

Colour me very impressed 

I learned some Latin at my Glasgow Secondary School (high school equivalent?) - that's as fancy as my education got. And there was no university for me - straight into the army - I can't see a moment in my life when those papers, or even the existence of debates on the subject, would have crossed my path.

I do appreciate the links. I do read - it's just one of my lesser hobbies. The Hunt for Red October has been getting read at bed time and has been sitting on my bedside table for 3 months and I'm only 3 chapters in 

Thank you 

[Tripoli]

JD-If you are ever interested in some really good, free, college-level introductory courses on a variety of "Western Civilization" type courses, check out Hillsdale College's catalog: https://online.hillsdale.edu/courses

[Crossroads]

According to British military intelligence, the Russian casualties are now at 950 000 killed and wounded.

At this rate, by Midsummer, the Special 3-day Military Operation will have caused one million Russian casualties.


https://xcancel.com/DefenceHQ/status/1918563185390502173


Edit: General Mick Ryan's "The Big Five" post talks also about the casualty ratio. Free link to article available here:

https://bsky.app/profile/warinthefuture.bsky.social/post/3locvz3pe7s2v

[Jarhead0331]

These numbers represent killed and wounded. How is wounded defined? Also, what kind of intelligence are these estimates actually based on and what is the margin of error?

[Crossroads]

These numbers represent killed and wounded. How is wounded defined? Also, what kind of intelligence are these estimates actually based on and what is the margin of error?

If they have revealed their sources I might have missed it. Perun did a quite thorough estimation based on a number of sources a couple of months ago, and he concluded the ballpark numbers end up quite close each other.

Here is the summary part of his video, that alone towards the end is well worth wathcing imho: https://youtu.be/Ja6-espHVSE?si=-4HixM7oxVrRdPR_&t=3231

[JudgeDredd]

Now he's done it - Trump has pissed off Anna!

[JasonPratt]

Well, she wasn't much of a fan of his political maneuvers anyway (understandably).

[UN Weapons Inspector]

sorry for double post

[UN Weapons Inspector]