Author: Philo

human

Truth in Poetry: 14

Problem: Civility

As the population grows and people move to cities en masse, the vast majority of people live in close quarters to one another.  As this phenomenon continues to grow there becomes a “rat king” problem.  Also, as our society evolves technologically, we have less and less need for our “neighbors”.  This leads to the attitude that the “other guy” is getting something that I could have had, rather than the more healthy: there’s enough for everyone attitude.  Now with cellphones we can disconnect at any time, for any reason, and anywhere.  Furthering the problem of civility was Covid.

As civility wains in our societies, so do our societies.  It is perhaps a well-known secret that the formalities of government keep government civil; they are often what makes a good government.  The same applies to societies.  When the so-called formalities of a good society wain, the society becomes less good.  As we as a society disregard accepted norms and traditions, we often lose some that are actually useful, and good.

Although civility is an esoteric concept, it is also one which can be recognized.  There are many examples of the dissolution of civility ranging from the way we drive, to the way we dress but civility, in all its forms is a cornerstone of any society worth living in.  It is not easy, and that is a problem since ease has become more and more important to us as citizens.  However, we must remember that easy is often not the best motivation for doing anything.

Solution: Parenting, Education, Population Control

            Yes.  Good parenting is an essential solution to the problem of civility.  However, sadly to say, there are many bad parents in the world, but solutions to bad parenting come with their own set of issues.  We could take Plato’s approach, that in The Republic. Population control, however, is an issue that must be addressed no matter what.  And this would seem to help civility.  If we are to live in close quarters, the less of us there are, the better behaved we might be.

            Of course, the primary solution has to be the education of children in the importance of being civil.  This could range from utilitarian manners to lessons in basic ethical philosophy (sympathy, empathy etc…)  We could broaden the education to those in prison, and those charged with lesser crimes.  If we chose to go China’s way, we could punish people for slight infractions, although it is not clear that that approach actually makes for a civil society.

            The easiest and the most difficult is for us all to realize that we would live in a better society if we all acted civilly towards one another.  Several other issues that could be enacted have been mentioned above.  If we as individuals simply acted responsibly and courteously towards one another at all times, it would go a long way.  However, getting to that point seems problematic without some kind of education in civility.

Truth is Like Poetry: 13

Problem: Militarization of Society

Someone, somewhere, said something like: war is simple-minded, stupid, and immoral.  But sometimes it’s necessary.  The attitude behind such a statement is that military machines are necessary for society, but should not be central to the concept of society.  Eisenhower actually coined the phrase “military-industrial-complex” when he said in his farewell speech: “We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military–industrial complex.”

The problem is that the militarization of society has occurred.  In short, our societies have been unjustifiably influenced by the military industrial complex.  Partially out of fear.  Fear introduces profiteering, military build-up, the introduction of laws giving the military more and more power.  But also out of greed.  People with a vested interest in the militarization of our societies have a greater and greater say in its laws and policies.  Unfortunately, violence pays and there’s always someone looking to make a buck.

As our societies become more militarized they become more fearful, leading to xenophobia, and a larger fear of the world itself, often times of our own countrymen and neighbors.  This leads to further phobias about anything that seems ‘out of the ordinary’.  Boogiemen are seen everywhere and conspiracies become accepted and normalized. A vicious cycle starts.

Corporations use the military as a profit-cow, and governments use the military as an easy way to bolster support, and to veil actual issues that they do not want to or cannot address.  This leads to a less civil, less peaceful, less desirable society in which to live.

Solution: Close lobbying loopholes, change contractual laws, military powers given back to Congress

            The military-industrial complex was created after WWII when corporations realized there was massive profits in the war machine.  This realization and the deregulation of corporations by government through lobbying in particular (starting with Reagan in particular), has allowed for the massive military build up that we have today.  Closing military-based lobbying loopholes for all corporations is necessary.

            During another Republican’s watch, W. Bush’s failed stint as a president, Dick Cheney had vested interests in Haliburton.  Others had vested interests in other corporations that were feeding the military machine. Private “security” forces such as Blackwater arose.  Contracts with the government should be limited to individuals with no associated ties to the government or people in the government whatsoever and any privatization of military should be banned.  Contracts should be open to all companies, and not just a select few.

            Lastly, over the past years, the decision to put the military into action has been slowly been given to the executive branch and taken away from congress.  This must change.  The decision to go to war, or to enact the military in any way must be solely given to civilian officials.

            Perhaps and unfortunately violence is a condition of being human.  If so, we must remember that rational thinking is also a trait of humanity.  With that in mind, we must always ask: what kind of society do we want?  A peaceful, progressive, productive one, or one based in fear and ignorance?

Truth is Like Poetry: 12

Problem: Social Disconnect

While individuals have historically relied primarily on family and tribal ties, in modern societies we have been given the opportunity to broaden our horizons because of agriculture and economic systems.  From there, technology has further allowed us comfort and lastly ease in acquiring comfort.  Now modern societies and individuals seem to be slowly losing the historic ties to one another that we’ve had throughout history.

      Today it is not uncommon to see people with a cellphone in their hands almost all of the time, or seemingly talking to themselves (and not paying attention) while on walks with their dogs and/or children, or with friends.  This lack of connection with our environments and with each other is becoming ubiquitous and as it grows our very real need for each other is forgotten.  The problem is that we actually need each other in many ways.

      First, in order to have a civil society we must ourselves act civil.  To act civil we must be responsible and courteous citizens.  These are processes that are necessary not only for individuals, but for groups of individuals.  The internet, rather than actual discussion has taken over much social discourse.  Individuals text while in the company of others.  And the longer that this goes on, the more normalized it gets. The more normalized these slights become the less connected we become with the world around us.  While these seeming slights are seen by many as little nothings, they make up a large portion of what makes societies civil in the first place: our actual connection to those around us and the environment that we find ourselves. 

      As civility wanes because of social disconnections, we are slowly slipping into uncivil practices that then become more normalized.  It is a vicious cycle.

Solution:  Clubs/family connections, social mindset change, and tech company regulation

            The solution to social disconnect must start with individuals’ decisions to live their lives in healthy ways.  Individuals must understand that the “latest fad”, the “newest shiny object” in the arsenal of our consumeristic societies is not always worth the price we pay.  This will, perhaps, happen with time, but it will need to be pushed along by individual’s understanding that they are being fenagled, fed their opinions, and are to great degree, influenced by others, especially sales and marketing.  The decision to “think for one’s self” is influenced a great deal by technical companies.

            Recently most of the social-media giants have been found out to actually be the sellers and buyers of a us as products.  Many if not most of their dealings could be considered immoral at best, and illegal at worst.  For these reasons strict regulation of what tech companies can and cannot say and do must be enacted.  Again, the reminder that this solution is not about censorship, but about the capitalistic motivations behind tech companies.

            Perhaps another solution is to create a society in which the concept of family is once again put central to society.  The family unit in past decades has been the victim of poverty, drugs, consumerism, and general malaise caused by the infatuation of money by society.  This needs to change.  These solutions are not simple nor should they be.  We have allowed ourselves to be herded and corralled.  Now we must make the decision to be free once again.

Truth is Like Poetry: 11

Problem: Fascism and Dictatorships

Unfortunately, this particular problem is apropos to the times that we are currently living in.  In 2022 Vladimir Putin is attacking the Ukraine and Donald Trump seems to be gearing up for another run at western Democracy.  These two individuals are typical examples of what fascism and dictatorships are.  And a further unfortunate truth is that they are not, and have not been alone.  Throughout history there have been fascists and dictators that have wrecked and ruined otherwise civil societies.  That’s what fascists and dictators do; they do it to further their own, selfish ends.

The ultimate problem of fascism and dictatorship ought to be apparent.  But the problem that fascism and dictatorships stem from is deeper.  Typically, they take power by promising and fear-mongering.  The basis of fascism and dictatorship is the same: groups of people within society that are fearful, ignorant, or are generally unhappy with the society that they live in.  These people tend to be a faction of the minority (in a Democracy) in a given society.  They feel their “rights” have been suppressed in some way or that they have been unjustly represented (in a representative government)

The other side of civil unrest is civil apathy, and this too allows for fascist and dictatorial ideas to come to fruition and grow.  As apathy towards politics grows so do the chances for fascist and dictatorial ideas gain traction.  It is often in the dark, un-visited corners of our societies that these ruinous ideas are born.  And so it is with apathy towards the politics of one’s society.  If few pay attention, then a few will do as they will.

Solution: *Eradication of Poverty***, re-implementation of separation of powers

            The solution to government overthrow by those who would disregard civil societies is not a simple one, nor is it one that will last without close attention by citizens who want civil societies.  There must be, of course, consequences for those that would be dictators as there should be for those that would have fascist tendencies.  However, it is the strength of any civil society to allow for voices and viewpoints from all sides.  This is why it is important to allow even violent voices a place. 

            However, the true eradication of these tendencies would be in eradicating the reasons that they come to exist.  Poverty has been, throughout history, a breeding ground for revolution because poverty is often the result of unfair and unjust government policies, greed, over-reach.  With this in mind, the eradication of poverty is necessary in order to undermine the need for, or the belief that there is a need for a fascist and/or dictatorship.  With poverty eradicated, there must be a voice for citizens in the government by which they are a part of.

            Government itself can lend a helpful hand to undermining fascist/dictatorial movements.  But like these movements, government itself has been, or allowed itself to be, part of the problem.  The founding fathers of the United States borrowed concepts from their forefathers, and their forefather’s forefathers when they introduced the concept of a governing citizenry.  Whatever form of government that a society takes upon itself, that government must be able to be held accountable.  One of the best ways to do so is to separate powers, sequester the chance for a government to allow fascist ideas to breed, or dictators to manipulate.  Donald Trump is a perfect example of what can happen when powers are separated in theory only rather than in reality.  He is the dark and foreboding face of apathy and governmental greed and the ignorant masses that follow dictators and fascists.

Truth is Like Poetry 10

Problem: Poverty           

There have always been the poor and most likely there will always be impoverished people.  Poverty has been an excuse, a plague, a problem, and a scapegoat throughout history.  In other words, the problem of poverty seems to be a natural consequence of civilization.  The solution for this general poverty would be the allocation of funds, goods, and services to people across the planet, but this takes money, planning, and a political desire.  These are in actuality the problems of poverty.

Income disparities are often the consequences of politics and greed, corporate greed in particular.  Corporate greed alone probably accounts for a great percentage of global poverty, which is to say that most poverty is human-born.  Even if corporations (which hold the vast majority of the wealth on the planet, not including governments*) were to find the motivation to try to solve general poverty, planning such an endeavor would prove unlikely given the history of governments across the planet.  Furthermore, most governments are at least in part controlled by large sums of corporate monies.

Lastly, the political desire to eradicate global poverty would be necessary.  This alone is enough to make this endeavor impossible.  Human beings are tribal and primarily understand their immediate surroundings.  An endeavor to end world poverty is beyond the scope of human empathy not to mention political will.  There might be a way to conjure political will to eradicate poverty, but it would most likely be limited at best.

Solution: John Rawls “invisible curtain”

            John Rawls, an ethical philosopher, wrote The Theory of Justice which introduced a philosophical theory of justice based upon two principles which are important.  They are:

First Principle: Each person has the same indefeasible claim to a fully adequate scheme of equal basic liberties, which scheme is compatible with the same scheme of liberties for all;

Second Principle: Social and economic inequalities are to satisfy two conditions:

  1. They are to be attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity;
  2. They are to be to the greatest benefit of the least-advantaged members of society (the difference principle) (JF, 42–43).

These two principles play a part when citizens (individuals within a given society) are put behind what he calls the “invisible curtain”.  In short, all theories of justice in that given society are to be made by everyone within that society.  However, no individual actually knows their particular place in that society.  In this way, everyone has ‘skin in the game’ so to speak.

With Rawls’ hypothetical ‘curtain’ in place, the likelihood of anyone allowing for extreme poverty would at least be lowered.

Truth is Like Poetry 9

Problem: Racism

For the sake of this argument, I will state that we are all racists.  Racism is, after all, a bias.  Given that, racism is not limited to two or more races of human beings.  However, racism in the sense that is meant here, is a conscious giving in to that bias based upon fear and/or ideologies.  Typically to be a racist is to be biased against someone’s skin color, which is ludicrous.  So, in the simplest sense of the word, racism is irrational and based in ignorance at best.  This simple problem is problem of stupidity and has its own solutions which will not be covered here.

However, racism, in a broader, more complex sense, encompasses much more than just skin color.  Racism is cultural, it is social, it is tribal.  And so, the problem of racism is found in those concepts rather than simple bias based upon skin color.  Culture and social norms are primarily tribal, and so it would follow that racism is a tribal problem.  But human beings are tribal by nature.  For most of our history we have lived in small groups that have been completely ignorant of any others, or at least very few others, and we have and continue to view strangers, people different than ourselves, and people with different viewpoints, with quite a bit of wariness.

The problem, therefore, is not racism in the broad sense, but that we are no longer limited to living in small groups.  We continually meet others, mostly strangers that are different than ourselves.  And we constantly meet those with differing viewpoints.  Now we must live with these “strangers”.  These “strangers” are people that live in the same country, in the same town and in the same city.  Furthermore, with the inception of the internet, these “strangers” are virtually anywhere and anyone with any viewpoint at any time of any given day, month or year.  The problem is that we as individuals are still tribal while we live in a global environment.

Solution: travel/internet/time

The solution to simple, stupid racism is ironically enough, more complex than the solution to racism as tribal problem, although both the narrow sense and the broader sense are very closely related.  The narrow solution is primarily a cultural one, encompassing ridding ourselves of religious views, ridding ourselves of irrational fear, and confronting the major issue, poverty, which inevitably creates ignorance in both realms.  In the narrow sense of the word, the solution lies in regulation of false claims by religious, social and political institutions while making a good education (one steeped in critical thinking) available to all.

In the broader sense, the solution is a bit of the opposite.  While the spread of disinformation and misinformation is ubiquitous online and should be regulated, any other censorship should not be allowed.  While not everyone has the means to actually travel, the internet gives those that do not a chance to explore the world far outside of their own.  Part of the solution is to make this virtual “world” as close to the “real” world as possible.  However, in Europe it is much more the norm for young people to take off and travel for months early on.  This is in part due to the social systems in place in most countries of Europe.  And so, this too is part of the solution.

Lastly, innate problems like both the narrow and the broad senses of racism take time, generations often, to work themselves out.  The older generations cling to the “old” world ways and beliefs while the “new” generations do their best to break free and be “normal”.  There are several ways to promote this generational shift but many of those are often deemed immoral or simply not realistic.  And so, time is of the essence.  We can only hope that we have enough.

Truth Is Like Poetry 8

5.    Problem: War*

War is, of course, waged for numerous reasons but all of these reasons can be summed up into two basic camps.  First, there is the need and desire for resources, and then there is the desire for political power.  These two often coincide with each other.  Of course, the problem of war is steeped in human limitations (greed, arrogance etc…) as well.  As the population grows, the world becomes smaller, and more and more nations become richer, resources will continue to grow in importance.  The obvious problem here is that there is limited resources and a seeming exponential growth in population.  The other side of the population growth is that more and more people desire to live in more and more luxury: more things, more tech, more consumerism.

Secondly, the desire for political power is a ubiquitous problem for those in power.  And, as political power often equates to economic power, war is often waged for money.  Money and politics rarely mix well, especially when business and government coincide.  Oligarchical and plutocratic tendencies are as old as human society.  So common and accepted is the idea of corporately-corrupt politicians that a new term has been bandied: corporatocracy.  But these problems have now become even more dangerous with the easy spread of disinformation coupled together with public fear and ignorance.

War is often the result of the sordid soup of politics, money, and power, but it is almost always based upon fear and ignorance.  While we may never rid ourselves of our warlike tendencies, we can at least accept that we are a violent species and start changing from there.

Solution: National governments/Global Economies (the UN)

            The solution to war is, of course, a complicated one.  Not so easily come to and won’t happen quickly.  But, in order to create a workable basis government(s) must work together, which they rarely do on a larger scale.  For this reason, an international government is needed.  This sets the stage for two things.  First, national interests become cultural and social, not economic; and secondly national interests are separated from the economic interests.  The European Union is, perhaps, an example of this on a smaller scale.  Each country keeps its autonomy to an extent, but economic needs and desires are defined on a larger scale.

            With an economic “government” on a global scale, economic power and decision-making are spread over numerous countries, which still maintain power and decision-making on a cultural and social level.  The idea is the separation of political power while maintaining a global interest economically.  With a global economic system, each country will hopefully have a more vested interest in each other while at the same time being separate countries.  A global economic government which is comprised of both economic and political powers will only be larger cauldrons in which the same old problems cook.

Truth Is Like Poetry 7

Problem: Immigration

First, although countries like the United States include the idea of a “melting pot” of cultures, the reality of this is that immigrants typically do not “melt” into society for at least a generation or two if ever.  This causes micro-cultures to form and these micro-cultures create cultural, religious, and social divides within the larger society itself, which in turn cause the undermining of society as a whole. 

Secondly many of the countries, especially those with a large number of asylum seekers (in particular), have personal issues stemming from the countries that they are leaving, that do not coincide with the culture and society in which those seekers are coming.  In short, there is a lot of so-called “baggage” that is foreign and carried into the country in which they are coming.  This includes many things such as ethical, political, and cultural differences that do not coincide with existing ethical, political and cultural systems.  These differences often cause a divide, which tends towards political and social violence.

Third, the influx into a country by large numbers of immigrants and asylum seekers undermine the existing culture, itself being as valuable as any other, changing its form and foundations to be something that it is not without the express consent of those that make up the existing society.  This is not as big a problem in countries such as the United States, where multi-culturalism is theoretically the end goal, “theoretically” being the key word.  There is an ethical component to this, as well as a practical component that needs to be addressed, which is beyond the scope of these short studies.

Fourth, many people who immigrate to the United States (in particular) are not accustomed to the social and economic realities that come with living in such a country.  These people often fail and end up in poverty or in impoverished situations because of their lack of understanding of the social and economic systems in which they migrate.

This problem comes with a caveat, however.  Many of the issues in the poorer countries that people immigrate from have been or are being caused by rich countries, those countries that people tend to immigrate to.  That problem aside, immigration causes these several problems.

See also: problems 1,2,4,5 & 6

Solution: Fair pay, fair prices, and narrowed policies

The reality of large, rich countries is that the corporations in these countries rely upon cheap labor, and it is them, the corporations, that create the motivation and the mode for immigrants, both legal and illegal to immigrate.  These corporations pay slave wages to “illegal” immigrants and often to the contractors they hire as well.

First, the need to regulate corporations and their ability to hire labor at slave wages is imperative.  This includes the corporate movement to immigrate to countries with little or no regulation in order to circumvent more fair practices in the country that they are in.  The immigrants who take these jobs do so for several reasons, but two predominant reasons are the pay scale, horrible as it may be, is better than the pay scale in their own country, and often social conditions are dangerous in their own countries.  However, once immigrated, their rights are limited and so they have no recourse in either country.  This situation, in turn, causes a myriad of other related problems.

Secondly, the public in the rich countries rely, consciously or not, on cheap prices.  Certain chains such as Walmart, Target, and most chain grocery stores, rely upon selling goods, services and food at well below realistic prices.  As the corporations that supply these outlets are regulated, prices will rise.  This, however, is not unfair or surprising.  As long as pricing is artificially low, the market will be contrived.

Lastly, as long as corporate money is interwoven with government policies, immigration policies will not change and the previously stated problems will continue.  However, this aside, government polices do need to be put in place to limit and/or control immigration into countries.  Historically, right or wrong, societies depend upon boundaries to make them civil.  These policies need to be fair to all involved, but strict.

Truth is Like Poetry 6

Problem: Government*

A good government (one that increases the amount of happiness for most people) must balance the desires of individuals with the desires of the society in which the individual lives; think of government as a seesaw with individuals on one side and society on the other.  The seesaw will always swing one or the other way, but not too much.  This is its natural state of what I will call the “rights-relationship”.  It is when the natural state of the governmental seesaw is changed artificially by individuals or society that problems become inherent.  The seesaw starts seesawing radically.

It is important to remember that government is a philosophical idea and an objective reality, and at the same time it is defined by human limitations. So, a second problem is that the essence, the ultimate goal of government becomes biased, or corrupt unnaturally by human limitations instead of progressing towards its philosophical ideal.  One might say that one of the jobs of government is to regulate stupidity: to lessen human limitations in order to progress towards social and philosophical ideals.  It has failed in this.

Lastly, governments are defined by laws and so it would seem to follow that any law ought to protect the “natural state” of the rights-relationship, the natural state of the seesaw, between individuals and society.  It is the concept of rights, after all, that we are discussing when we discuss the concept of government.  However, laws are linguistic and so there will always be the problem of interpretation.  It is when interpretation of the law is used for the above reasons that bias and corruption become problems.

*see problems 4 & 5

Solution: Enforceable Law/social changes/re-establishment of separation of powers/money

First, rights are defined by law.  They are not “God-given”.  Nor can they be assumed simply because we are human beings.  That being said, any law must be written and enforced as to allow for the most rights for both individuals and society; both must compromise.  In essence, laws are amendments, and as such are changeable (amendable) but the ultimate goal, the most rights for both individuals and society, must always be the end-result.  Once in place, any and all laws must be enforceable and applicable to all individuals, the whole of society.

Secondly, unlimited lobbying and money must be taken out of governmental decision making.  The ability of the rich (or any minority) to control the government must be ended.

Lastly, law is interpretable.  Language is a tool of interpretation, and government is defined by the language that it uses.  This is where the issues start most of the time.  It is important to remember that interpretation itself is not a problem.  However, the issue is interpretation that is unnecessary, rhetorical, biased or corrupt towards an end other than the natural state, or that amendable laws are arbitrary.  This is typically caused by one or another section/part/power of the government gaining an upper hand through legal and sometimes illegal methods by re-interpreting law to their favor in lieu of the ultimate goal. To combat this inevitable problem, a true separation of powers is necessary.  This will need to be done legally and be enforceable.

All of this may sound like a mess, but it is the nature of government.  At the base of this mess must be a platform.  What that platform is must be clear, but can change if enough individuals within a society deem it necessary (a legal majority).  Enforce laws and change society, if needed, in order that laws may be enforceable and amendable if necessary.

Truth is Like Poetry 5

Problem: Government

A good government (one that increases the amount of happiness for most people) must balance the desires of individuals with the desires of the society in which the individual lives; think of government as a seesaw with individuals on one side and society on the other.  The seesaw will always swing one or the other way.  This is its natural state.  It is when the natural state of the governmental seesaw is changed artificially by individuals or society that problems become inherent. 

Government is a philosophical idea, and at the same time it is defined by human limitations and so a second problem is that the essence, the ultimate goal of government becomes biased, or corrupt unnaturally by human limitations.  One might say that one of the jobs of government is to regulate stupidity, to lessen human limitations.  It has failed in this.

Lastly, governments are defined by laws and so it would seem to follow that any law ought to protect the “natural state” of the rights-relationship, the natural state of the seesaw, between individuals and society.  It is the concept of rights, after all, that we are discussing when we discuss the concept of government.  However, laws are linguistic and so there is the problem of interpretation, often used to create the bias and corruption mentioned above.

*see problems 4 & 5

Solution: Enforceable Law/social changes/re-establishment of separation of powers/money

First, rights are defined by law.  They are not “God-given”.  Nor can they be assumed simply because we are human beings.  That being said, any law must be written and enforced as to allow for the most rights for both individuals and society; both must compromise.  In essence, laws are amendments, and as such are changeable (amendable) but the ultimate goal, the most rights for both individuals and society, must always be the end-result.  Once in place, any and all laws must be enforceable and applicable to all individuals, the whole of society.

Secondly, law is interpretable.  Language is a tool of interpretation, and government is defined by the language that it uses.  This is where the issues start most of the time.  It is important to remember that interpretation itself is not a problem.  However, the issue is interpretation that is unnecessary, rhetorical, biased or corrupt towards an end other than the natural state, or that amendable laws are arbitrary.  This is typically caused by one or another section/part/power of the government gaining an upper hand through legal and sometimes illegal methods by re-interpreting law to their favor in lieu of the ultimate goal. To combat this inevitable problem, a true separation of powers is necessary.  This will need to be done legally and be enforceable.

Lastly and in short, unlimited lobbying and money must be taken out of governmental decision making.  The ability of the rich to control the government must be ended.

All of this may sound like a mess, but it is the nature of government.  At the base of this mess must be a platform.  What that platform is must be clear, but can change if enough individuals within a society deem it necessary (a legal majority).  Enforce laws and change society, if needed, in order that laws may be enforceable and amendable if necessary.