Category: Thought

Mumblers I hate; so plainly speak your fear.

Gnaeus Naevius (c. 270 – c. 201 BC), quoted by Festus, 424, 27.

Diaulus, lately a doctor,
Is now an undertaker:
What he does as an undertaker,
He used to do also as a doctor.

Martial, Epigrams, XLVII. ON DIAULUS.

Many evils must mortals bear.

Gnaeus Naevius (c. 270 – c. 201 BC), quoted by Jerome, ad Heliodorus, 3.

The full, non-​slogan version of Nozick’s “entitlement theory” of justice, expressed roughly in an extended version of the classic form:

From each according to what he chooses to do, to each according to what he makes for himself (perhaps with the contracted aid of others) and what others choose to do for him and choose to give him of what they’ve been given previously (under this maxim) and haven’t yet expended or transferred.

Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State And Utopia (1974), Ch. 7: Distributive Justice, Section I, Patterning.

To each as they choose, from each as they are chosen.

Anarchy, State, and Utopia (1974), Ch. 7: Distributive Justice, Section I, Patterning, p. 160.

A slogan to counter the socialist principle of distributive justice, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” The full, non-​slogan version of Nozick’s “entitlement theory” of justice, expressed roughly in this form, appeared a few sentences before:

From each according to what he chooses to do, to each according to what he makes for himself (perhaps with the contracted aid of others) and what others choose to do for him and choose to give him of what they’ve been given previously (under this maxim) and haven’t yet expended or transferred.

“This,” Nozick admitted, “has its defects as a slogan.” Which is why he provided the shorter version.

It’s not the best sign for your society when comedians are the political commentators. In a much better world, I should be nowhere near any of these topics. However, when the kind of ruling elite has become so corrupt and so embarrassing and so pathetic that even a regular comedian can just absolutely destroy them and see through all of their nonsense, I do think that role becomes more necessary and more important.

Dave Smith, comedian, in conversation with Glenn Greenwald during his first appearance on Greenwald’s System Update (Rumble).