CHAPTER 5CHAPTER 5

Delicate Co-Existence:Delicate Co-Existence:

The Human Love/HateThe Human Love/Hate

ConditionCondition

Snell and Gail Putney Snell and Gail Putney write:write:

““The age of cultural innocence The age of cultural innocence is passing: the American is is passing: the American is beginning to recognize the beginning to recognize the patterns to which he conforms.”patterns to which he conforms.”

Psychiatrist R. D. Psychiatrist R. D. Laing writes:Laing writes:

““They are playing a game. They They are playing a game. They are playing at not playing a are playing at not playing a game. If I show them I see they game. If I show them I see they are, I shall break the rules are, I shall break the rules and they will punish me. I must and they will punish me. I must play their game, of not seeing play their game, of not seeing I see the game.”I see the game.”

HistoryHistory

• Philosophers have studied history to Philosophers have studied history to discern if there are patterns that can discern if there are patterns that can reveal hidden implications or “messages”reveal hidden implications or “messages”

• Is history making progress?Is history making progress?• Is history leading to something?Is history leading to something?• If so, is history leading to doom or a If so, is history leading to doom or a better future?better future?

• Is the Western civilization fated to Is the Western civilization fated to disintegrate like most other historical disintegrate like most other historical societies?societies?

• Is it possible to benefit from the “lessons Is it possible to benefit from the “lessons of history”?of history”?

Theater of the AbsurdTheater of the Absurd

• The philosophy of history asks two The philosophy of history asks two central questions, although each leads central questions, although each leads logically to countless others: (1) Does logically to countless others: (1) Does human history have meaning? (2) Can we human history have meaning? (2) Can we learn from history? learn from history?

• ““Nature and history do not agree with Nature and history do not agree with our conceptions of good and bad; they our conceptions of good and bad; they define good as that which survives, and define good as that which survives, and bad as that which goes under; and the bad as that which goes under; and the universe has no prejudice in favor of universe has no prejudice in favor of Christ as against Genghis Khan.” --Will Christ as against Genghis Khan.” --Will Durant/Ariel DurantDurant/Ariel Durant

The Meaning of HistoryThe Meaning of History

•Deuteronomic HistoriansDeuteronomic Historians

•Saint AugustineSaint Augustine

•Friedrich HegelFriedrich Hegel

•Karl MarxKarl Marx

•A Feminist Reappraisal of historyA Feminist Reappraisal of history

•Edward GibsonEdward Gibson

•DarwinDarwin

A Feminist Reappraisal of A Feminist Reappraisal of HistoryHistory

• ““All history has been written by men, and All history has been written by men, and their selection of events, their selection of events, interpretations, values and attitudes, and interpretations, values and attitudes, and even their words and style, have reflected even their words and style, have reflected a masculine point of view that has shaped a masculine point of view that has shaped their reconstruction and presentation of their reconstruction and presentation of the past.”the past.”

• Marija Gimbutas, Marija Gimbutas, The Gods and Goddesses of The Gods and Goddesses of Old Europe; The Language of the Goddess; Old Europe; The Language of the Goddess; The Civilization of the GoddessThe Civilization of the Goddess

• Humanity’s first great spiritual image was Humanity’s first great spiritual image was the Mother Goddessthe Mother Goddess

Toynbee’s Organismic Toynbee’s Organismic Interpretation of HistoryInterpretation of History

•Peace and contentmentPeace and contentment

•Disillusionment and sufferingDisillusionment and suffering

•Salvaging of valuesSalvaging of values

•Period of creativityPeriod of creativity

•Peace and contentmentPeace and contentment

The Plight of Western The Plight of Western CivilizationCivilization

• Western civilization is not yet dead Western civilization is not yet dead and buried, not quite.and buried, not quite.

• When a civilization becomes When a civilization becomes materialistic and “sensate” in its materialistic and “sensate” in its values, then it is in troublevalues, then it is in trouble

• Nationalism is a necessary but passing Nationalism is a necessary but passing phenomenonphenomenon

• Disintegration of a civilization is not Disintegration of a civilization is not the ultimate tragedy we may think it to the ultimate tragedy we may think it to bebe

The Roots of ViolenceThe Roots of Violence

•First, human history is largely First, human history is largely a story of wara story of war

•Second, human societies live Second, human societies live almost entirely by myth, almost entirely by myth, including myths of warincluding myths of war

•The deepest roots of violence The deepest roots of violence are evolutionary?are evolutionary?

Can We Learn from Can We Learn from History?History?

•Be careful how we interpret Be careful how we interpret historyhistory

•Understand othersUnderstand others

•Understand ourselvesUnderstand ourselves

•Discover that empathy with Discover that empathy with living creatures is normal and living creatures is normal and is perhaps the most distinctive is perhaps the most distinctive quality that makes us humanquality that makes us human

G.W.F. HegelG.W.F. Hegel“Reason: Substance of the “Reason: Substance of the

Universe”Universe”• ““The real is rational, and the rational is The real is rational, and the rational is real”real”

• ““Reason is the substance of the Reason is the substance of the universe. . . . Te design of the world is universe. . . . Te design of the world is absolutely rational.”absolutely rational.”

• Hegel believed that he was the first thinker Hegel believed that he was the first thinker in all of history to have seen and properly in all of history to have seen and properly located the essence of what is real in the located the essence of what is real in the Universe, namely, the mind of GodUniverse, namely, the mind of God

• The mind of God is the essence of what is The mind of God is the essence of what is realreal

Reflections…Reflections…

• What is the goal of “the philosophy of What is the goal of “the philosophy of history”? history”?

• Does history of meaning? And, if so, Does history of meaning? And, if so, what is that meaning?what is that meaning?

• What are the sources of meaning?What are the sources of meaning?

• How could we go about gathering evidence How could we go about gathering evidence to find our if history has meaning?to find our if history has meaning?

• How would you respond to these How would you respond to these questions?questions?

Laws ConscienceLaws Conscience

•Every society is burdened with Every society is burdened with more than just one set of rules more than just one set of rules that represent different values that represent different values and concernsand concerns

•Which set of rules is best? Is Which set of rules is best? Is any set of rules best?any set of rules best?

Conflicting LoyaltiesConflicting Loyalties

• Fundamental tension in society between Fundamental tension in society between individual freedom and the structure individual freedom and the structure of law and orderof law and order

• Fundamental tension in society between Fundamental tension in society between the various forms of individual the various forms of individual structure of law and order and structure of law and order and individual freedomindividual freedom

• The American people are “no longer The American people are “no longer innocent, but not yet wise.” --Charles innocent, but not yet wise.” --Charles OsgoodOsgood

Good Laws & Bad LawsGood Laws & Bad Laws

•No matter how strongly one No matter how strongly one advocates lawful obedience to advocates lawful obedience to the state and its laws, it is the state and its laws, it is inevitable that some laws will inevitable that some laws will turn out to be bad onesturn out to be bad ones

•Unless laws are periodically Unless laws are periodically challenged, they don’t get challenged, they don’t get improvedimproved

Loyalty to Higher Loyalty to Higher AuthorityAuthority

• Western (Judeo-Christian) legal Western (Judeo-Christian) legal tradition takes the form of a hierarchy tradition takes the form of a hierarchy of laws – a sort of jurisdictional of laws – a sort of jurisdictional totem pole – with a clear order of totem pole – with a clear order of precedenceprecedence

• Loyalty to an institution considered to Loyalty to an institution considered to have divine authority over the statehave divine authority over the state

• Loyalty to “God’s law” as personally Loyalty to “God’s law” as personally understood – by revelation, spiritual understood – by revelation, spiritual knowledge, conscienceknowledge, conscience

Obedience to the Rule Obedience to the Rule of Lawof Law

•Laws must be obeyed, for if Laws must be obeyed, for if each person were permitted to each person were permitted to decide which laws were good and decide which laws were good and which were bad, social chaos which were bad, social chaos would necessarily resultwould necessarily result

The Personal DilemmaThe Personal Dilemma

•To obey or not to obeyTo obey or not to obey

•Saint PaulSaint Paul

•Martin LutherMartin Luther

•HinduismHinduism

•The Milgram ExperimentThe Milgram Experiment

•Joseph KlausnerJoseph Klausner

•SocratesSocrates

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau“I will breathe after my “I will breathe after my

own fashion.”own fashion.”•““My purpose in going to Walden Pond My purpose in going to Walden Pond was not to live cheaply nor to live was not to live cheaply nor to live dearly there, but to transact some dearly there, but to transact some private business with fewest private business with fewest obstacles…”obstacles…”

•““Private business?”Private business?”•““That government is best which That government is best which governs not at all…I was not born governs not at all…I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion.”my own fashion.”

Reflections…Reflections…

•““Our Western experience has been an Our Western experience has been an ongoing conflict of loyalties.” From ongoing conflict of loyalties.” From your point of view, how do you your point of view, how do you assess this conflict? How much have assess this conflict? How much have you been victimized by it? By you been victimized by it? By conviction and temperament, which conviction and temperament, which way do you tend to leap in your way do you tend to leap in your allegiance: toward the mandate of allegiance: toward the mandate of personal conscience of the personal conscience of the necessities of a lawfully ordered necessities of a lawfully ordered society?society?

LifestylesLifestyles

• AcculturationAcculturation – the process by which – the process by which individuals are gradually conditioned to individuals are gradually conditioned to accept the ideas and values of the accept the ideas and values of the culture they are born into. Once culture they are born into. Once conditioned, an individual no longer conditioned, an individual no longer perceives himself or herself simply as perceives himself or herself simply as human but identifies with an ethnic, human but identifies with an ethnic, social, political, economic, or social, political, economic, or religious subunit and feels that her or religious subunit and feels that her or his primary allegiance is to the role his primary allegiance is to the role appropriate to that subunit.appropriate to that subunit.

The Bonds of CultureThe Bonds of Culture

•Our social roles, along with Our social roles, along with their supportive functions, also their supportive functions, also become our prisons. We assume the become our prisons. We assume the carefully defined roles that carefully defined roles that society has constructed for us, society has constructed for us, and enormous pressures are and enormous pressures are brought to bear upon us to stay brought to bear upon us to stay with the confines of those roles.with the confines of those roles.

PrisonersPrisoners

•Professor Zimbardo’s halted Professor Zimbardo’s halted experimentexperiment

•How easily we accept the How easily we accept the impersonal rules of order as impersonal rules of order as substitutes for human substitutes for human understanding, how conditioned understanding, how conditioned we become to respond to we become to respond to dominant symbols of authoritydominant symbols of authority

Alternatives to Remaining Alternatives to Remaining PrisonersPrisoners

•We recognize the cultural We recognize the cultural patterns that have shaped our patterns that have shaped our existenceexistence

•We are involved in a We are involved in a cataclysmic increase in cataclysmic increase in cultural interactioncultural interaction

•We have new insight into the We have new insight into the dynamics of our inner worlddynamics of our inner world

Cultural RelativityCultural Relativity

• In any society, specific BTF-patterns In any society, specific BTF-patterns (behavior, thought, feeling) are considered (behavior, thought, feeling) are considered “normal” not merely because the majority “normal” not merely because the majority adheres to the, but also because they are adheres to the, but also because they are meaningful and functional (Ex. Dobu and Zuni)meaningful and functional (Ex. Dobu and Zuni)

• ““Normal” behavior supports and enhances unityNormal” behavior supports and enhances unity

• ““Insanity in individuals is something rare--Insanity in individuals is something rare--but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs, but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs, it is the rule.” --Friedrich Nietzscheit is the rule.” --Friedrich Nietzsche

Personal AlienationPersonal Alienation

• What happens to you and me as we try What happens to you and me as we try to adjust to a cultural eclecticism?to adjust to a cultural eclecticism?

• ““Our culture is fragmented, so we too Our culture is fragmented, so we too become fragmented”become fragmented”

• Identify with a single isolated Identify with a single isolated strand of culture strand of culture

• Join a truth-groupJoin a truth-group

• Experience “psychosis”Experience “psychosis”

• Conform to nonconformityConform to nonconformity

Humankind’s Most Humankind’s Most Dangerous MythDangerous Myth

• The Concept of RaceThe Concept of Race– 1. Race is a myth1. Race is a myth– 2. Racial classifications are just one 2. Racial classifications are just one of many ways we organize informationof many ways we organize information

– 3. Race Myths are expressions of us-3. Race Myths are expressions of us-them mentalitythem mentality

Diogenes the CynicDiogenes the Cynic

• The Hound-Dog PhilosopherThe Hound-Dog Philosopher

• ““I am a citizen of the world”I am a citizen of the world”

Reflections…Reflections…

•This chapter suggests that This chapter suggests that freedom has been imposed upon freedom has been imposed upon us whether we wish it or are us whether we wish it or are ready for it. Do you agree?ready for it. Do you agree?

Politics Politics

•Political philosophy attempts Political philosophy attempts to answer the most basic to answer the most basic questions about government and questions about government and its functionsits functions

We are Political We are Political AnimalsAnimals

•Aristotle said human beings are Aristotle said human beings are political animalspolitical animals

•““The world has always been The world has always been inhabited by humans beings who inhabited by humans beings who have always had the same have always had the same passions.” --Machiavellipassions.” --Machiavelli

What Form of Government What Form of Government is Best?is Best?

•Alexander PopeAlexander Pope

•PlatoPlato

•AristotleAristotle

•Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas

•MachiavelliMachiavelli

•HobbesHobbes

•MillMill

Alexander PopeAlexander Pope

• Alexander Pope said that only a fool Alexander Pope said that only a fool would argue over what form of would argue over what form of government is bestgovernment is best

• Political philosophy is the study of Political philosophy is the study of which forms of government are bestwhich forms of government are best

PlatoPlato

• Plato, “Unless either philosophers become kings or those Plato, “Unless either philosophers become kings or those whom we now call our kings and rulers take to the pursuit whom we now call our kings and rulers take to the pursuit of philosophy . . . There can be no cessation of troubles of philosophy . . . There can be no cessation of troubles for our states, nor, I fancy, for the human race either.”for our states, nor, I fancy, for the human race either.”

• State consists of three kinds of peopleState consists of three kinds of people– 1. Those controlled by sensuous appetites (craftsmen, artisans and 1. Those controlled by sensuous appetites (craftsmen, artisans and farmers)farmers)

– 2. Those who live by courage and discipline (solders, police 2. Those who live by courage and discipline (solders, police officers)officers)

– 3. Those who live by reason (the rulers of the state)3. Those who live by reason (the rulers of the state)

• According to Plato’s “myth of the metals,” the first (and According to Plato’s “myth of the metals,” the first (and lowest ranking class) have brass souls, the second (and lowest ranking class) have brass souls, the second (and intermediate class) have silver souls, and the third intermediate class) have silver souls, and the third (highest ranking class) have gold souls)(highest ranking class) have gold souls)

• Plato distrusted human nature and democracyPlato distrusted human nature and democracy• The Republic is Plato’s idea stateThe Republic is Plato’s idea state

AristotleAristotle

• Aristotle, “Whereas it [the city-state] comes Aristotle, “Whereas it [the city-state] comes into being for the sake of life, it exists for into being for the sake of life, it exists for the sake of the good life”the sake of the good life”

• The purpose of the state is to foster the kind The purpose of the state is to foster the kind of environment in which individuals could of environment in which individuals could attain the good lifeattain the good life

• EudaimoniaEudaimonia• Aristotle rejects both an autocratic monarchy Aristotle rejects both an autocratic monarchy and democracy; the former leads to the tyranny and democracy; the former leads to the tyranny of the minority, the latter to the tyranny of of the minority, the latter to the tyranny of the majoritythe majority

• The ideal state is one that is lead by the The ideal state is one that is lead by the noblest, ablest and best-trained individualsnoblest, ablest and best-trained individuals

Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas

• Arguably the greatest thinker in the history of Arguably the greatest thinker in the history of the Catholic Churchthe Catholic Church

• Agreed with Aristotle that the purpose of the Agreed with Aristotle that the purpose of the state is to foster conditions in which state is to foster conditions in which individuals can achieve personal fulfillmentindividuals can achieve personal fulfillment

• Argues that the state must be subservient to the Argues that the state must be subservient to the ChurchChurch

• Just as the soul is the master of the body, the Just as the soul is the master of the body, the Church is the master of the stateChurch is the master of the state

• Three kinds of lawThree kinds of law– 1. Human Law1. Human Law– 2. Natural Law2. Natural Law– 3. Divine Law3. Divine Law

MachiavelliMachiavelli

• Father of political scienceFather of political science• Author of Author of The PrinceThe Prince• The best way to maintain rule is The best way to maintain rule is through ruthless oppression and the through ruthless oppression and the myths of religionmyths of religion

• Political systems are the result of Political systems are the result of irrational human natureirrational human nature

• Dominant value in successful state Dominant value in successful state is not justice; rather it is poweris not justice; rather it is power

HobbesHobbes

• Published Published LeviathanLeviathan• State of NatureState of Nature• In a state of nature, life In a state of nature, life would bewould be “solitary, poor, nasty brutish, and “solitary, poor, nasty brutish, and short”short”

• Individuals give up personal liberty to Individuals give up personal liberty to enter a covenant with othersenter a covenant with others

• Covenant is called the “Social Contract”Covenant is called the “Social Contract”• Only under the authority of an absolute Only under the authority of an absolute sovereign can law developsovereign can law develop

John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill

• The purpose of the state is to create The purpose of the state is to create conditions that will produce the greatest conditions that will produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number of peoplehappiness for the greatest number of people

• Principle ingredient of happiness is Principle ingredient of happiness is individual freedomindividual freedom

• ““All restraint, qua restraint, is evil”All restraint, qua restraint, is evil”• ““He who knows only his own side of the case, He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that.”knows little of that.”

• Mill feared public opinion--the tyranny of Mill feared public opinion--the tyranny of the majoritythe majority

• Published Published Subjection of WomenSubjection of Women where he argued where he argued in favor of women’s rightsin favor of women’s rights

Three Contemporary Three Contemporary World-SystemsWorld-Systems

•DemocracyDemocracy

•CommunismCommunism

•TheocracyTheocracy

Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela The Long Road to The Long Road to

FreedomFreedom•On May 10, 1994, after years of On May 10, 1994, after years of imprisonment for protesting imprisonment for protesting social injustice, Mandela social injustice, Mandela became the first became the first democratically-elected democratically-elected president of South Africapresident of South Africa

•ApartheidApartheid

ReflectionsReflections

•If you had been living in South If you had been living in South Africa during the years of Africa during the years of apartheid, how would you have apartheid, how would you have personally adjusted to the personally adjusted to the racist laws then in effect? racist laws then in effect?

EthicsEthics

•Several distinct criteria are Several distinct criteria are commonly used for making moral commonly used for making moral judgmentsjudgments

•What is moral or immoral?What is moral or immoral?

•Whom (and what) we should care Whom (and what) we should care about?about?

Sin and/or VirtueSin and/or Virtue

•Gibran writes: “Last night I Gibran writes: “Last night I invented a new pleasure, and as I invented a new pleasure, and as I was giving it the first trial, an was giving it the first trial, an angel and a devil came rushing angel and a devil came rushing toward my house. They met at my toward my house. They met at my door and fought with each other door and fought with each other over my newly created pleasure; over my newly created pleasure; the one crying ‘It is a sin!’ – the one crying ‘It is a sin!’ – the other, ‘It is a virtue!’”the other, ‘It is a virtue!’”

Debatable & Nondebatable Debatable & Nondebatable Value JudgmentsValue Judgments

•Type I – value statements of Type I – value statements of personal taste and temperament personal taste and temperament and are not debatableand are not debatable

•Type II – value statements that Type II – value statements that lend themselves to rational lend themselves to rational analysis and empirical analysis and empirical investigation and are, investigation and are, therefore, debatabletherefore, debatable

The Morality of Ethics/The Morality of Ethics/The Ethics of MoralityThe Ethics of Morality

•Bank employeeBank employee

•ManhuntManhunt

•““The best genes”The best genes”

•Frontier villageFrontier village

•““Haggling over price”Haggling over price”

•The William BrownThe William Brown

•Arkansas donorArkansas donor

Three Ethical QuestionsThree Ethical Questions

•Who actually makes an ethical Who actually makes an ethical decision?decision?

•What criteria should I use in What criteria should I use in making a relevant and making a relevant and meaningful ethical decision?meaningful ethical decision?

•To whom (or what) do my moral To whom (or what) do my moral obligations apply?obligations apply?

Who Really Makes Who Really Makes Decisions?Decisions?

•Authoritarian decisionsAuthoritarian decisions

•Autonomous decisionsAutonomous decisions

•What is humanity’s task?What is humanity’s task?

What Makes a Decision What Makes a Decision Right or Wrong?Right or Wrong?

•What criteria should I use in What criteria should I use in making a relevant and making a relevant and meaningful ethical decision?meaningful ethical decision?

•The formalistThe formalist

•The relativistThe relativist

•The contextualistThe contextualist

Whom (and what) Should Whom (and what) Should I Care About?I Care About?

•How large should we (I) draw How large should we (I) draw the circle of ethical concern?the circle of ethical concern?

The Dalai LamaThe Dalai LamaCourage and CompassionCourage and Compassion

•““This, then, is my true religion, This, then, is my true religion, my simple faith. In this sense, my simple faith. In this sense, there is no need for temple or there is no need for temple or church, for mosque or synagogue, church, for mosque or synagogue, no need for complicated no need for complicated philosophy, doctrine, or dogma. philosophy, doctrine, or dogma. Our own heart, our own mind, is Our own heart, our own mind, is the temple. The doctrine is the temple. The doctrine is compassion.”compassion.”

Reflections…Reflections…

•Are you an “issue maker”? That is, Are you an “issue maker”? That is, are you prone to creating issues when are you prone to creating issues when it might be easier to solve problems? it might be easier to solve problems? Or, are you essentially a pragmatic Or, are you essentially a pragmatic problem-solver? Can you give examples problem-solver? Can you give examples from your own experience of persons from your own experience of persons or personalities who are especially or personalities who are especially visible for the making of petty visible for the making of petty issues?issues?