On Wolves, Dogs, Aesop and fascism as a preference for security over autonomy (and anarchism as the reverse).

I'm a big fan of Aesop's fables -- in fact, being an atheist, they were a key part of the package of mythologies and folklore I used to raise my kids on.

One of my favorites was the one about the Dog and the Wolf:

A GAUNT Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened to meet a House-dog who was passing by. “Ah, Cousin,” said the Dog. “I knew how it would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruin of you. Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your food regularly given to you?”

“I would have no objection,” said the Wolf, “if I could only get a place."

“I will easily arrange that for you,” said the Dog; “come with me to my master and you shall share my work.”

So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together. On the way there the Wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part of the Dog’s neck was very much worn away, so he asked him how that had come about.

“Oh, it is nothing,” said the Dog. “That is only the place where the collar is put on at night to keep me chained up; it chafes a bit, but one soon gets used to it.”

“Is that all?” said the Wolf. “Then good-bye to you, Master Dog.”

“BETTER STARVE FREE THAN BE A FAT SLAVE."

Now, it occurs to me that there is quite a parallel in this parable to the relation of anarchists to fascists -- with anarchists being like the Wolf and fascists like the Dog (which makes this sub basically like the pre clock-punching part of the old Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog cartoon).

I find it interesting because, having been partially raised by a fascist father myself, I often think about what in one's disposition and upbringing will cause one person dissatisfied with liberalism (by which I mean both liberalism and conservatism) and the status quo to choose anarchism, and another similarly dissatisfied to choose fascism.

And I think looking at Aesop's wolf and dog helps provide an answer. The anarchist values liberty and autonomy enough to risk security and safety for it. Perhaps they don't value security and safety much, perhaps they simply value autonomy more, perhaps they have enough confidence and pride in their capacity to conquer their liberty that they feel the risk in doing so is justified -- but, for whatever reason, they, like the wolf, would prefer liberty over security. The fascist is like the dog though. They don't mind being ruled if it means they can be assured that they will be safe and secure. Maybe their need to feel so is very high, maybe they have very little desire for individual empowerment, or maybe they simply prefer safety to freedom.

But, I don't want to leave it at that even -- a simple dispositional cleavage. I would like to lay the challenge at fascists that Aesop lays at his readers. I would like to say that I think fascism is the result of a lack of self confidence and a lack of self pride, and a need to belong to a larger and imposingly powerful group in order for one to feel safe, secure and whole.

Of course, this being a fascist sub, I am sure I'll get quite a bit of disagreement. Thankfully this isn't just a fascist sub, it is a debatefascist sub -- so disagreement is precisely what is desired -- eh Sam?