THEM'S THE RULES - Pirate Code and Democracy: It Takes a Pillage

Pirate Code and Democracy: It Takes a Pillage

09/14/21 • 40 min

We owe the humble pirate a depth of gratitude.
Sure, they terrorized the seas for hundreds of years—pillaging, plundering, raping, torturing, and murdering—but violent legacy aside, they gave us the foundation for democracy!

In this episode, Bronwen uses historical record to contextualize pirate code, breaking down the complicated economic situations of the 17th and 18th century to find newfound empathy for these “ruthless barbarians.”
Despite their lengthy criminal rap sheets, pirates were victims, too. With crews largely formed of refugee sailors fleeing abusive autocratic rule, these men sought to build egalitarian societies with institutional mechanisms to protect individual freedom and prevent leader predation—over a hundred years before America’s Declaration of Independence.

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Previous Episode

COVID Rulebreakers: Masking for a Friend

To mask, or not to mask, that is the question...

In this episode, Bronwen tries to understand the reasons why people refuse to follow preventative measures to contain the coronavirus. By channeling her unconditional positive regard for the human condition, she looks at the situation from the "other side's" point of view. This takes her into an exploration of "rules philosophy," allowing her to ask:
How do we choose which rules to follow?
Why do we choose to follow them? Break them?
What are we to do when there are two opposing figures of authority issuing different rules?
Bronwen approaches the mask and social distancing dilemma from as many perspectives as possible in a single episode -- human nature, social psychology, constitutional scholarship, moral philosophy, and integrated threat theory -- and comes to a surprising conclusion.
Key Points from this Episode:

What the most basic definition of a rule is and different reasons we follow them.
The two phases to using rules.
Why rules need to be flexible, but not too flexible.
The cultural influence of collectivism vs. individualism in following or not following mask mandates.
How perceiving the virus s a realistic or symbolic threat influences our willingness to follow public health guidelines.
Why social distancing hits us in our humanity.
The conditions upon which individual liberties are guaranteed by the US Constitution and why the First Amendment doesn’t offer protection from mask mandates.
The ruling in Jacobson v. Massachusetts and what four standards it set that must be met for governmental health measure to permissible restrict individual rights.
The instinct of psychological reactance and how it informs our reactions to criticism.
The fears dividing society any the risk too much fear poses to social cohesion.
How politics became the most important factor in predicting whether or not we follow the rules.
The commonalities of human nature and how our instinct to survive made us all react rationally to our perceived threats, regardless of science.
The charged subtext of mask enforcement.
What the “broken window theory is” and how its hypothesis is helpful in understanding why former rule followers are now becoming rule breakers.
Why we are seeing more American flags everywhere.
The difference between morality and ethics.
What “negative liberty” is and what role it plays in our federal government.
The definition of “rule consequentialism” and what flavor of this theory we see in America.
What the predominant theory of morality is and how both sides of the political divide are acting accordance with it, despite different perspectives.
How the Milgram Experiment can shed light on how Donald Trump became president of the USA.
The dangers of moral hypocrisy.
Realistic steps we can all take to mitigate the volatility in the mask debate.

LINKS

Threat Perception Study from UNCFOLLOW THEM'S THE RULES: || WEBSITE || INSTAGRAM || FACEBOOK || TWITTER ||

Next Episode

Finders Keepers: The Claim Game

We all know the rhyme: finders keepers, losers weepers. It ruled the playground, granting us permission to take ownership of lost property without having to deal with moral consequences. But this unwritten rule isn’t just a childhood relic—society historically has maintained its philosophy across every sector, including the legislation, technology, and the military. In this episode, Bronwen digs into the hypocrisies surrounding “finders keepers,” shedding light on the inherent conflict presented between morality, legality, and practicality. From the invisible world of data to the vast infinitude of space, “finders keepers” is a rule that will continue to have a major impact on your life.
Key Points From This Episode:

An overview of the logic behind “finders keepers, losers weepers.”
The first known record of the rule.
What the Bible says about found property.
Why America is so fond of finders keepers, and the hypocrisy this entails.
What the Homestead Act was and how it relied on finders keepers logic.
Rules on possession and how finders keepers can work against you.
How snipers in the US Army misused finders keepers in Iraq.
What Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is.
The three motivators of ethical behavior.
Why we feel extra guilt around money.
The distinctions between lost, mislaid, and abandoned property.
How to determine “superior claim” to something found.
Is the claim of “finders keepers” viable in court?
The definition of common law.
What to do if you find if you find an item of value, according to Oregon state law.
The legal, moral, and ethical challenges of finders keepers.
What is meant by “best effort?”
The history behind the law of estray, and what to do if you find a lost pet.
English property law in Parker v. British Airways Board.
What rules apply to shipwrecks and “treasure trove” property?
Why you should (or should not) watch the documentary, Finders Keepers.
A consideration of morality, in context.
the difference between law, ethics, and morality.
The implications of teaching our kids “finders keepers, losers weepers.”
How big data relies upon a finders keepers ethic to justify its business.
Finders keepers and the Space Act, and its geopolitical threat