The concept of the political is at the core of human existence from "summary" of The Concept of the Political by Carl Schmitt
The political is not just an aspect of human life, but rather it lies at the very heart of human existence. It is through the political that individuals come together to form a collective identity, to establish order, and to make decisions that shape their lives and the world around them. In this sense, politics is not simply a matter of governance or policy-making, but a fundamental dimension of what it means to be human. At its core, the political is about the distinction between friend and enemy. This distinction is not based on personal feelings or individual preferences, but on a deeper sense of belonging and identity. The friend is not just someone we like or agree with, but someone with whom we share a common bond, a common purpose, a common destiny. The enemy, on the other hand, is not just someone we dislike or disagree with, but someone who threatens our very existence, our way of life, our values and beliefs. This distinction between friend and enemy is not arbitrary or subjective, but objective and existential. It is based on a recognition of the fundamental differences that separate us from others, differences that cannot simply be wished away or ignored. In this sense, the political is not about consensus or compromise, but about conflict and struggle, about the willingness to defend ourselves and our way of life against those who would seek to destroy it. This existential dimension of the political is what sets it apart from other forms of human activity. While economics is about the production and distribution of goods, and culture is about the creation and appreciation of art, politics is about the protection and preservation of our very being. It is about the struggle for survival, the defense of our values and beliefs, the assertion of our identity in the face of those who would seek to destroy it. In this way, the concept of the political is not just a theoretical or abstract idea, but a concrete and lived reality. It is something that shapes our lives and our world in profound and fundamental ways, something that demands our attention and our engagement. To ignore the political, to turn away from it, is not just to abdicate our responsibility as citizens, but to deny our very humanity. For in the end, it is only through the political that we can truly realize who we are and what we stand for in this world.
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