What does 'the state is the great fiction' mean?
This phrase suggests that the state is a construct that doesn't have an absolute or essential existence. The state is defined by our collective beliefs and actions. We give it power, functions, and a sense of identity. For instance, the state's authority to tax, make laws, and enforce regulations is based on the general acceptance of the people. It's like a fictional story that we all believe in and act according to, but it doesn't exist in the same way as natural physical entities.
What does 'the state is that great fiction' mean?
This statement might suggest that the state is a fictional entity in that it is often idealized. For example, states are often presented as unified and harmonious entities, but in reality, they are made up of diverse groups with different interests, and the idea of a monolithic 'state' is a sort of fiction. It also could mean that the power and authority we attribute to the state are not as absolute as they seem, as they are often based on social contracts that are more fluid and changeable than we sometimes assume.
What does Bastiat mean by 'the state is the great fiction'?
Bastiat's statement 'the state is the great fiction' can be understood as a critique of the over - glorification of the state. The state is not some kind of self - existent, all - knowing entity. It is created by humans, and often its functions and powers are not as clear - cut as we might be led to believe. It's a fictionalized concept in that it is made to seem more than what it actually is, which is a system created and run by fallible human beings with various interests and agendas.
What does it mean to be in the state of a novel?
The status of the novel referred to the story line or ending of the novel that was still being serialised but not completed. Some novelists would announce that they would suspend their novels in a certain chapter or at a certain point in time, or reveal the ending of the novel in advance. This was known as " cheating." In online novels, cheating was a common phenomenon. Some authors would encounter creative bottlenecks in the process of serializing or stop serializing for other reasons. However, their works would usually continue to be circulated in the hands of other authors and become classic works for other readers.
What does 'government is that great fiction' mean?
The statement 'government is that great fiction' perhaps suggests that government is an elaborate and man - made idea. It's not a tangible, natural thing like a tree or a river. Governments are formed through social contracts and agreements among people. They exist in the realm of ideas and institutions. We give them power and legitimacy, which makes it seem like a sort of fictional entity that has real - world consequences. For example, the way a government's currency system works or its laws on property are all constructs that are part of this 'fiction' that we as a society uphold.
What does 'government is the great fiction' mean?
This statement might suggest that the idea of government is a sort of grand illusion. Governments are made up of various institutions, laws, and people in power. But in a sense, it's a human - created concept that we've come to accept as real and powerful. It often functions based on the collective belief and cooperation of the citizens. If people stop believing in its authority or following its rules, it loses much of its power.
What does a state of comic ecstacy mean?
It basically means being in a state of extreme joy and laughter because of something funny.
What does 'a state of comic ecstasy' mean?
It usually refers to a situation where someone is in extreme joy and laughter, perhaps because of a funny event or experience.
What does Hayek mean by 'quote the great fiction'?
Well, Hayek was a complex thinker. 'Quote the great fiction' might imply citing some fundamental but perhaps not fully understood or often misinterpreted concept. It could be his way of highlighting the importance of a particular theoretical construct. Maybe it has to do with the idea that society operates based on certain fictions that are, in fact, very real in their consequences. For instance, the belief in property rights and the rule of law are fictions in the sense that they are human - created concepts, but they form the basis of a functioning economic and social order. Without understanding and 'quoting' these fictions in the right way, according to Hayek, we may misunderstand how society and the economy work.
What does great-great-grandmother mean?
Great-great-grandmother referred to the wife of the great-great-grandfather in a family, which was also the wife of the great-great-grandfather. In the family tree, great-great-grandmother was the name of the female ancestors above the great-great-grandfather.
What does 'fragile state every day a story' mean?
It could imply that in a fragile state, every day has a story to tell. Maybe it refers to a country or a situation that is unstable, and each day within that context is filled with events or experiences that can be considered as stories.