Zookie wrote:If you read the Tau background material you really do not see a race of emotionless automatons that only pursue the goals of their race (See Tyranids and Necrons for that).

Here is my take on it. I think that the Tau/communism comparison is not accurate. Tau culture a fictionalization of real world Eastern philosophy that puts the needs of the group (family, nation, etc.) before the needs of the individual (just like the Imperium is a fictionalization of Political Catholicism during the during the Late Middle Ages). The tone of the Tau fluff about the Greater Good seems to be based on the three primary Eastern philosophies Taoism (Tau=Tao), Confucianism, and Buddhism. I seems fitting to me that they would have some sort of belief system as they go hand in hand with these philosophies . I could see the Tau believing in some sort of reincarnation (Whether they really are or not is another story) but with no real deity to speak of, or a religion that focuses on mediation on the Greater Good for enlightenment and purification (Sort of Buddhism meets Confucianism). However I could also see them pursing a secular humanists (Tauist?) philosophy that they should be good for the sake of being good but and maybe following cultural religious traditions that date back to prior to the advent of the philosophy of the Greater Good, but not accepting the reality of a deity or afterlife.

1hadhq wrote:No a caste system isn't an antithesis to communism.

You seem to mix the theory / ideal and the practice.

A theoretical form of communism would not allow castes, a practical form does.


Possible castes:

- "working class"
- "soldiers"
- medium / higher ranking party members.
- ZK, secretary of the ( KPDSU,SED,...)

Anidem wrote:
Personally i thought the Greater Good was a directed nod to The Eightfold Path to enlightenment by Buddha. And that the society as a whole was Zen-Buddhist, given everyone's desire to be good for the sake of being good, there want for peace in the galaxy. To be honest it fits the Cast system they have quite well, for those that don’t know it


There is no "lowest", or demeaned cast, the 4 primaries are all equal, they just have separate roles in Tau society. And if you take a look at something
Fire = Warriors/hunters, this is generally what everyone plays with/against in the game of 40K
Earth = workers/builders, these guys build all of those nifty STR 10 AP 1 guns everyone knows and loves
Water = traders/beurocrats, these guys move the money and do the trading within Tau and with races welcomed into the society
Air = Messengers/pilots, these guys are the Tau's equivalent of a Navy and directly compliment the Fire cast much like the US Navy compliments the USMC (they get them there, they do the fighting, and provide support as needed)
Eternal = The absolute leaders of Tau, the decide major campaigns, negotiations with other races, and guide the race in the pursuit of the Greater Good


Now I'm not sure how many people here have read Miyamoto Musashi, but each of these casts corresponds with one of the "Five Rings" (earth, fire, water, wind, void) which I believe even further pushes the notion that this society would/does likely support the idea of reincarnation

SmackCakes wrote:How can you fight against demons and still be an atheist?

Anidem wrote:Tau arent alone in death-sentencing/discriminating people for relations outside of their cast, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India while their current constitution has worked strongly against it, due to people clinging to tradition, it still exists. And them pushing natural selection worked for the betterment of their race, each cast evolves specific traits that allowed each to greatly further the Greater Good.

Anidem wrote:Their entire population isnt based on mind control. If you where raised from day one that giving freely of yourself for the betterment of society, by your parents and teachers, you would take this beleif as your own. They just sucessfully got everyone to follow the same message, this is possibly the only Utopian Society in ALL of WH40K

Anidem wrote:Read up on both the Vespids and the non-merc Kroot (the merc ones try to stay away from Tau), and the Imperium Traitors that willingly defected to the Tau empire. They are treated favorably for their contributions, they are given supplies, shelters, and most (if not all) gain Tau assistance on tachnology, while some of them actually gain Tau technology. Even though it explicitly states that "Tau seek out races that have similar traits as them" (IE ranged fighters) and yet go out of their way to save the Kroot from getting completely wrecked by the Tyranids. The Kroot, in turn, willingly give up warriors to fight along side of the Tau on a regular basis, who are actually compensated for their work, even though in the beleif of the Greater Good all must give freely of themselves to further the cause

SmackCakes wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:They're not communists but it does appear they're atheists.

How can you fight against demons and still be an atheist?

4M2A wrote:The idea it's the least evil means that relative to the other races, they are the most good race. It all depends on perspective.

If Tau have got 31% of the vote and are leading the other 69% believing another race is irrelivant. Otherwise multiple choice polls would never work unless one group got more than 50%. Having the highest vote means they are leading. Thats how they work.

I think if we want to carry this on we should go into the other thread as this is derailing this thread.