Chomsky on Anarchism.pdf - Zine Library

SIX
CONTAINING THE
TH REAT OF DEMOCRACY
(1990)
In his illuminaring smdy of the Scorrish intellectual tradition, George Davie
identifies its central theme as a recognition of the fundamental role of "natural
beliefi or principles of common sense, slich as the belief in an independenr
external world, the belief in causality, the belief in ideal standards, and the
belief in the self of conscience as separate from the rest of one." These principles
are sometimes considered to have a regulative character; though never
fully justified, they provide the fo undations for thought and conception. Some
held that they contain "an irreducible element of mystery," Davie points om,
while others hoped to provide a rational foundation for them. On that issue,
(he jury is scill om.1
We can trace such ideas to 17th century thinkers who reacted to the skeptical
crisis of the rimes by recogn izing (hat (here are no absolutely cenain
grollnrls for knowlcig, hur rh;Jr w fio, nvrrhd.s, h;Jv W;JYs ro ga in a reliable
understanding of (he world and to improve that understanding and apply
it-essentially the standpoint of the working scientist today. Similarly, in normal
life a reasonable person relies on the natural beliefs of common sense while
recognizing that they may be too parochial or misguided, and hoping to refine
or alter (hem as understanding progresses.
153
Davie credi(s David Hume with providing (his panicuiar cast to 5couish
philosophy, and more generally, with having taught philosophy the proper
questions to ask. One puzzle (hat Hume raised is paniculariy peninent to the
questions we are hoping to address in these two days of discussion. In considering
the First Principles of Governmenr, Hume found "nothing more surprising"
than
to see the easiness with which the many are governed by the few;
and to observe the implicit submission with which men resign
their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers. When
we enquire by what means this wonder is brought about, we
shall find, that as Force is always on the side of the governed, the
governors have nothing to support them but opinion. 'Tis therefore,
on opinion only thar government is founded; and (his
maxim extends to (he most despotic and most military governmems,
as well as to the mos( free and mos( popular.