Controlling Violence

A Monopoly on Violence

Nobody wants violence inflicted on them. So, in an effort to try and stop this, human beings band together and form states to try to collectively govern this violence. However, this does not really 'stop' the violence because, not only does it use violence against its own populace, it uses it against those outside of the system. It creates a kind of 'join us or die' attitude. Individual potential for destruction turns into a much more powerful, collective one. However, there really is no such thing as collective property or collective power. Since only one will can be exerted on one object, a collective decision is ultimately the decision of individuals.


The Collective Body

Decisions are made within the brain of an individual. Since there is no collective brain, it is really difficult to argue that a collective decision can even be made. But it is possible when all brains come up with the same conclusion. If one does not agree, he can either be convinced, forced to obey, traded with or, in extremely rare cases kicked out or ignored. The collective fist, on the other hand, is something much more physical and objective. Whatever the brain comes up with, the collective fist enforces. A fist can only be stopped by another fist but that just means that the fist has been replaced by a stronger one. The only way to stop the cycle is to not be apart of it. Control your own violence, don't let your fists assimilate into the collective, but if you do, you will have very little control of what it does meaning that it could hurt those who you do not want it to hurt, including yourself.