I'm not sure how someone like Jammie would fit in in the Commonwealth. I'm not sure whether they could keep her alive as long as we did in the 20-21st century. People like Alexenos do have a place in Commonwealth society, though: I thought that was very clear. The Polis as a whole goes out of its way to find them worthy and productive work, suited to their mental abilities. I don't know, but I suspect, that they have their own Status network, and that the Whole recognizes their internal 'rankings' when dealing with them as a subset of the Polis. On the other hand, and despite the meritocratic basis of Commonwealth Society, there's that underlay of anarchic egalitarianism: nobody can be refused food, shelter, or clothing and everyone is expected to contribute something to the Whole. Someone like Jammie, who everyone can see is unable to contribute much if anything, still would have the basic Status of a Commonwealther. Is there a subset of the Med Guild that specializes in the care and 'entertainment' of them? Do people like Alexenos get asked to help out with that work? Maaybe. I'll let you know if I get more data. All of which is separate from the question posed above: what if anything in the 'knightly virtues' or the Code of Chivalry is still of value in the modern world? Can we extract tools for living, even philosophical principles, from warrior societies of the past? I think *I* at least can, and have, done so. Hence these essays, not just this one but 4x4 as well.
Re: To Corvideye
Date: 2012-09-21 03:15 am (UTC)People like Alexenos do have a place in Commonwealth society, though: I thought that was very clear. The Polis as a whole goes out of its way to find them worthy and productive work, suited to their mental abilities. I don't know, but I suspect, that they have their own Status network, and that the Whole recognizes their internal 'rankings' when dealing with them as a subset of the Polis.
On the other hand, and despite the meritocratic basis of Commonwealth Society, there's that underlay of anarchic egalitarianism: nobody can be refused food, shelter, or clothing and everyone is expected to contribute something to the Whole. Someone like Jammie, who everyone can see is unable to contribute much if anything, still would have the basic Status of a Commonwealther. Is there a subset of the Med Guild that specializes in the care and 'entertainment' of them? Do people like Alexenos get asked to help out with that work? Maaybe. I'll let you know if I get more data.
All of which is separate from the question posed above: what if anything in the 'knightly virtues' or the Code of Chivalry is still of value in the modern world? Can we extract tools for living, even philosophical principles, from warrior societies of the past? I think *I* at least can, and have, done so. Hence these essays, not just this one but 4x4 as well.