Refugees from the anthill

I have just made the startling discovery that many people view themselves as integrally part of society, and not really separate from it at all.

Now, I realize that this will not be a shocking revelation for most, but I had simply never considered that most people do not view themselves as being inherently outside of society, a participant in instance only, not an inseparable member.

I had this epiphany watching ants, trying to imagine myself as one. An ant cannot survive as an individual, and ultimately neither can humans. So, as an ant, I would interact and participate in whatever ways met my needs, and allowed for my continued participation, but would also pursue my own, separate agenda. But I could not live in this way were it not for the other ants, dutifully following orders from the queen, so I realized that essentially that made my ant counterpart a symbiont at best, parasite at worst.

And so it is with me. I interact with society as meets my needs, and I contribute as I desire, but view myself as essentially separate - A refugee from the anthill.

I realize that this paradigm has its dangers -it is essentially sociopathic in nature. I think that if one were to study criminals, politicians, and leaders in business and industry, one would find a high occurrence of this or a similar worldview.

hmmm. food for thought.

If there are any other refugees from the anthill out there, I'd like to hear your views on the subject, so please comment.

Request for discourse

For those of you who have stumbled here.... I ask:


Can a state exist without a monopoly of coercive force?

Can a state exist within a state?

Can a state exist without any coercive force, other than social?

Please comment intelligently.