Academy of the Arts/The Art of Philosophy/Why Have Nobility?

The Function of Nobility

by Shin Shenron

It is a question when not raised, often inferred by various modes of discourse: why are nobles greater than peasants? For most (and rightly so,) it is a given fact that nobles are superior to commoners in everyone way. However I have begun to feel that this sentiment is not thoroughly understood. Instead of just being inherently superior to commoners, I claim that nobles are integral to the functioning of the human race. If nobles were to dissappear and our traditions were lost, humanity would quickly abscond into the darkest depths of hell. In this way, our very existence must be defined by our contrast to the rabble.

My first point will be an ode to all things great about the nobility. Even when we quarrel, those of nobility always adheres to certain standards. These standards, or more correctly; this one overarching standard is the fact that all nobles recognize the hierarchy. Even those nobles who practice misguided religion accept the basic fundamentals of our society. These funadamentals include the need for a realm, a ruler, dukes, lords, knights and most importantly; commoners below all. The very fact of the widespread recognition of this order is proof enough of our inherent greater intelligence. When we investigate the achievements of nobility, our merit becomes more obvious than ever. While the commoners have only achieved the overthrow of a region lord every now (in the midst of crises of course,) the nobility have been able to harness the rabble into great contraptions of society, bringing armies into enemy lands, order to chaos, divinity to the ignorant and knowledge to the young. Every advancement in society has been because the nobility. We are the higher caste of humanity and to this end it is absoloutely essential that our contrast to the rabble is kept sacred.

Many young nobles have often made gestures "equality." While I find this highly suspect inherently, it is important to seek the roots of this disgusting idea so they may be poisoned. First of all, there is a disctinction to be made. Some nobles want nobles abolished so all men may be equal (these ones are obviously crazy and deserve no attention) and then there are those who propose that while nobles are obviously above commoners, all nobles are then equal. The latter is the idea that I want to root out. This claim obnoxiously overlooks the very fundamental difference between nobles and commoners. If nobles are equal to nobles, and commoners equal to commoners, then where can we find the difference between the two groups. The whole point of nobility is that equality is not valued. Unlike the commoners, we nobles have a strict hierarchy that clearly separates men by rank. This is the very order to which we owe our success to; the reason we wield vast armies and govern powerful realms. The notion that we can just be "equal" is in fact equating us with commoners (though I can see this if often unintentional, just the workings of an undeveloped mind...)

Ultimately, if we are to understand the problems that we face today, we must look to our innermost principles. We must understand how we function as nobility and this order must be protected at all costs. To this end, I would encourage all young nobles reading this paper to survey your own immediate surroundings and ask yourself; "Am I, and those around me, staying true to the original tenents of nobility?" If not, then you will have likely found the root of all problems that can be found in your realm.