> And, yes,
>
> "Bad deeds are terrible."
>
> [a courtesy to Alec]
Then if bad deeds are terrible, and it isn't authoritarian to defend oneself, a revolution that the oppression of the working class isn't authoritarian, even though Engels says the opposite. This isn't mere "quibbling" over terms. At root is the concept of authoritaianism, which is what Engels had been addressing. Engels and subseuqently many of his followers don't just misuse the *word* "authoritarianism" the way that,f or example, someone would be misusing the word "dog" when they used it to refer to a cat. He doesn't even appear to understand what the concept is. This isn't merely a semantics game.
> Terms such as "authoritarianism" and "totalitarianism," in my
> opinion, have no clearly defined meaning and hence of little utility
> in political analysis and explanation. Maybe useful in propaganda,
> though.
They're as problematic as the term "democracy," I agree. Nevertheless, I still maintain that the US is not really democratic, though it professes to be; and I also maintain the USSR was never socialist, though it also professed to be. The problem is that I find myself repeatedly having to use words to describe things - not just in political situations either, but in every day life. I don't think I'm alone. Surrendering the usage of words because they have become too problematic is one option, I suppose. But inventing a new vocabulary is of no interest to me.
The issue would still remain: how to refer to the problem of "authoritarianism," which exists whether there is a word for it or not. Finding a new signifier (a la de Sausurre) to represent what is signified by the term "authoritarianism" could be interesting - but it reminds me of Orwell's warning that systems of thought control gain their efficacy through redefining terms so that the limits of discourse are confined within acceptable bounds (viz. "Freedom," as a word, signifying slavery.) If the real-world phenomenon known as "authoritarianism" cannot be signified by the term of the same name, it seems to me something along this line has happened. What else could it be called? It's the signified that interests me - not the signifier.
> Words may indeed have a corrupting influence on hearts and minds, but
> it is beautiful words for which we had better watch out.
Well said.
Brian
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"Shouting from trucks / Spitting on, beating down those who strayed / Shitting on, beating in those who strayed / Who would not be crushed by the offensive line's weight / Jock Gestapo and apple pie ignorance." - Born Against, "Jock Gestapo"
"And Mr. Block thinks he may / Be President some day." - Joe Hill, "Mr. Block"