TV still broke....y'know...last night looking up after posting some more on 'spontaneous conspiracies'...I found myself reading Adam Smith and his bit on the 'hidden hand'...since the economy is in the news...an appropriate thought thread!!...brb...
quote...quoted in another blog!..
As every individual, therefore, endeavours as much as he can both to employ his capital in the support of domestic industry, and so to direct that industry that its produce may be of the greatest value; every individual necessarily labours to render the annual revenue of the society as great as he can. He generally, indeed, neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it. By preferring the support of domestic to that of foreign industry, he intends only his own security; and by directing that industry in such a manner as its produce may be of the greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for the society that it was no part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. [The Wealth of Nations, IV.2.9]
unquote
dont know but some 'hidden hands' are way too busy blogging!
anyway..what I was thinking...well first I recollected that movie The Postman and the notion of a 'headless conspiracy'...brb...
quote
The year is 2013 and war has crippled the earth. Into this apocalyptic wasteland comes an enigmatic and initially nameless drifter (Kevin Costner), with his mule named Bill and a talent for Shakespeare.
unquote
brb...
well..I'll have to watch the movie again to remember how I derived "headless conspiracy' from it...and actually there's one going on right now..the enemy Taliban with bin Laden have somehow managed to decentralize themselves so that they crop up spontaneously here and there..."it's like they get together for pick up basketball" one tv panel talker put it...exactly...shooting at US has become a kinda sport.
Anyway...somewhere from all this I'm trying to articulate the notion of conspiracies that have no top down hierarchies...or hard links between members...but rather just sprout up...like fads..hoola hoop like....fans of RockandRoll singers dont think of themselves conspiring...but to critics of the movement...dastardly record burners!...they see the whole pop culture as a conspiracy...and indeed....'from a distance'...fandoms are very conspiracy looking...
And all over the country the awful self similar shooting and mayhem and gangland culture that is besetting...looks...like a conspiracy...but...it's headless...
there is a military tactic...a gureilla war sorta things...that is exactly like this...brb...
well..I just cant recollect and too late to go through old posts that have it!...meanwhile...wiki provides a list!
a pinpoint
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he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention.
unquote
well...that is very much what the critters do!...they pursue without wavering their own lives...yet somehow they contribute to the wider 'ecosystem'...which 'from a distance'...appears as God's handiwork....the Ultimate Conspirator I'd say!...and all this is likely why Muir had the notion that God made Creation...and then let Creation go it's way...which I kinda like too...anyway..
a conspiracy can motivate people..for good or bad...from a wide range of inputs...some so subtle and fleeting that it's very hard to pin down if they are indeed an influence...on say.... someone's need to collect baseball cards!
Bette Midler on youtube "From a Distance"
One should read Adam Smith with Baseball Cards in mind!!
another pinpoint
quote
By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it.
unquote
which makes me wonder if I should just chuck it all and 'follow your bliss'....
sigh...
DavidDavid
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