Part 5. Hierarchial and Holistic in Synthesis
There are many who want to shove down people's throats falsely
contrived and manipulated "lessons" that are used deliberately to
further a fallacious arrangement. The correct response is that wisdom
is gained by taking lessons that are right rather than ones that are
wrong, and by having perspective that makes such judgments possible.
Through manipulation of social climate and attitudes and actions and
reactions pursuant those attitudes, consequences are assigned to
actions that are not natural, but rather artificial & create an
impression of good actions being bad and bad actions being good. We see
that run through all societies and times. We have, for example, Pakis
saying that romance is disastrous and proving it by killing those who
fall in love. We have, for example, Cubans saying that business is
antisocial and proving it by killing those who do business. The idea of
God being through all things is used to excuse deliberate social
manipulation, by modes and creators of modes, as though those were
divinely ordained rather than manmade. The obvious problem is that
substance may manifest through nodes, but nodes, involving choice, mean
that they are not obligated to the ground of being but are as such
nodes capable of deliberate choice, God-ordained or not!
And then it is used to impose this order as though it was divine. Which
requires calling the bluff. If God is through all things, in other
words, then not only the order you create but the order I create is
manifestation of God - as is the order created by any of your other
enemies.
So we have environmental science claim that environment exists
according to its order, unless disturbed by man (devil #1). We have
systems like Confucianism that claim society as a matter of social
order having a place for everyone - place according to divine order -
unless that order is disturbed by man's ego (devil #2). We have
economic science that has applied this to economic activity and said
that all things are guided by "invisible hand" when in a "free-market"
context, with everyone competing against everyone, unless disturbed by
intellectually conceived and goal-directed political action (devil #3),
even as this same science adopts will and ego and montarily defined
self-interest (combination of devil #1 and devil #2) as basic concept
of legitimate human interest and claims the competition within
framework of law to be the natural order. After which we have the
concept of intellectual-political action uniting people in what it
believes to be intellectually right ideology; that seeks to educate
people based on intellectual and philosophical ideas and shared
interest (and which the economic mindset sees as meddling or evil or
arrogance - the same way the social interest was to the economic
mindset from the beginning - even as the media-intellectual-political
ideas created anyway necessitate for the people to move toward a place
of politics and philosophy and awareness of their civilization beyond
the dogmas of laissez-faire and even to protect laissez-faire demand
political and intellectual action on the part of the business class).
In this political-intellectual order the devil (devil #4) is
spirituality, which main proponents of this ideology see as being one
or another form of mental malfunction - much like the capitalists think
of the political-intellectual. Once that stops working, after many
corpses and disfigurements, and people start realizing after collossal
battling that, no, spiritual experience is real, the next step seeks to
create an order of people united in their spiritual experience and
loyal to their knowledge and conception of the divine. In that order,
the devil #5 is attained will. In all cases, we see a concept of
nature, then society, then economy, then intelligence, then
spirituality, then attained will, being divine; which order in all
cases starts through one or another stage of will-assertion. Each level
considers itself divine - unless disturbed by the artifact of man's
deliberate act of choice and of will as it stands to disrupt these
supposedly divine workings. And what each level fails to understand is
that the case of something being divine does not make what goes to the
next level less divine.
Each of these deified orders regard the next one as being demonic in
origin. It refers to it as one or another form of hubris, without
realising that according to a previous order it itself has been
regarded as hubris, and that what works is for gradations of hubris to
build on itself! We have evolutionists saying that the problem with the
world is that "freaks won't know their place" when if his belief in
evolution is true then it is the freaks that are the source of all
evolution, and it is their "place" to move the world forward. The
social order is based on man - the demon vis-a-vis the natural order.
The capitalist economy is based on ego - the demon vis-a-vis the social
order. The politics and ideology are based on ideology-based action,
which is the demon vis-a-vis capitalism. The same dynamics work at the
next levels. And what we are seeing at every level is, essentially,
demonization of the next stage of liberty, until it is either
supplanted by it or unless it subverts it to perpetuate itself.
The interesting part consists, once again, in the absolute insistence
of each preceding order ind the demonic quality of the coming one. The
new order gives promise to lift man to a higher level; the previous
order attacks by claiming that motive to be based in thinking oneself
better than the authority by which the order is believed to be ordained
(and to which will is made to believe to be subjugated). Essentially
each order considers the preceding level to be divine and the following
one as based in disruption of divine order. Both are right, and both
are wrong. If all is God, then so is what man does (and to all the
you-think-you're-God people, the response is: "ye are gods" is part of
the New Testament, it's a matter of how you use it). As the situation
rises, the deliberateness quotient rises, but the complexity of the
system builds. The life becomes more free of the preceding level, but
more tied to the following level. The devil becomes the shaper and is
then himself exceeded.
The patric religions and ideologies therefore envision a hierarchical
worldview, in which the levels (whether they be chakric, or corporate,
or social, or political) build on top of each other. Each succeeding
level is held in higher esteem than does the preceding, and each
succeeding level is held to be closer to the truth than the preceding.
The matric religions and ideologies envision a holistic worldview, in
which the totality of human beingness is held in similar esteem and
seen to be worthy of nurturing and existence.
I am of the belief that the two must combine, in a way that checks the
disagreeable features within each other and synergize to create the
best of all.
The hierarchical worldview is frequently visualized as a triangle, or a
pyramid. The holistic worldview is visualized as a circle, or a sphere.
The complete worldview I see as being visualized as a triangle within a
circle, or a pyramid within a sphere.
The hierarchical and holistic approaches are both ways of attaining at
divinity. Both the pyramid and the sphere are perfect, and
indestructible. It is impossible to destroy a sphere because there is
no space in it to invade it and shatter. It is impossible to destroy a
pyramid, because its sides are arranged in such a way as to make
destruction impossible.
Both are perfect; but both are also incomplete. Both likewise possess
capacity for right and capacity for wrong. The hierarchical model leads
to excellence, but also leads to cruelty and coldness and contempt for
what is held to be lower levels. The holistic model is encompassing,
but lacking the quality consideration fails to lead to improvement and
excellence. In combining the two it becomes possible for the two models
to check each other in capacity for wrong and to synergize in a way
that makes the best of both.
>From the perspective of the center of the sphere, every place on the
sphere is equidistant. To the sphere, all things are equal in worth.
The triangle however increases in worth as it rises above the
foundation. The combination of the two arrives at a correct conclusion:
That all things are equal in inborn worth (sphere) but entirely
distinct in accomplished worth (triangle).
The sphere enfolds, nurtures and gives life to all levels and the
entirety of human beingness. The pyramid motivates and structures and
leads toward higher places. When the two combine, life is served; so is
improvement. The sphere prevents the pyramid from becoming cruel and
oppressive and instead imparts beauty and goodness and kindness toward
life at all levels. The pyramid prevents the sphere from becoming
ensnaring and static and therefore guides toward excellence.
Both the sphere and the triangle serve and take away freedom. The
sphere frees from cruelty and coldness but also is capable of being
devouring and entrapping. The triangle frees from ensnarement but also
is capable of stomping, controlling and brutality. The freedom is
served, as it does in the government of checks and balances, when the
two levels must compete with each other and check each other's wrong,
while combining at what is right to achieve a greater state than each
is capable of doing.
The two levels of attaining divinity therefore must both work together
and work to check each other. The holistic gives life and goodwill to
all and makes the process beautiful rather than cruel and soulless. The
hierarchical motivates toward self-improvement and guides people to
make the most of themselves and the most of all. Like Quaballistic
pillar of mildness and pillar of severity, the sphere and the pyramid
work together to make the most of human existence: To make the most of
human experience through the the sphere's awareness and goodwill and
kindness, and to make the most of humankind through the pyramid's
rigor, motivation and demand.
In combining the sphere and the pyramid, are combined two great
approaches to wisdom. Both, I repeat, being perfect; but both being in
and of themselves incomplete. The two complete each other and check
each other's capacity for wrong, while together combining to do what
each is in of itself incapable of doing.
It is held in holistic approach that the heart is a way toward
knowledge and wisdom - that, being created in divine image, it
contains in itself blueprint for truth. It is held in hierarchical
approach that the mind is a way toward knowledge and wisdom. Both are
capable of knowledge and wisdom; but they know and are wise in
different ways. The way at which the mind and the heart both attain at
the same truth, is to be seen as the consummation. In the interim is
possible wrong in both cases; and in checking each other in doing
wrong, while guiding each other to consummation, both the holistic and
the hierarchical reduce the wrong done while improving each other and
helping each other be its best and make the most of life.
The holistic and the hierarchical, the heart and the mind, like female
and male, are of equal truth and of equal value. They synthesize to
make the most of each other and most of self and to make likewise what
has not existed before. The holistic nourishes and heals and
replenishes; the hierarchical motivates and guides. When the two come
together in mutual understanding, is achieved a state of affairs that's
both kind and excellent. And as they check and balance each other, what
is eliminated is the wrong in each other, while allowing the right in
each other to blossom and achieve more magnificent state of affairs
than one of which either is capable.
The result of this combination is complete humanity and complete human
experience, where life is made best it can be as are the living. People
are motivated to be their best; they are also given (and give) goodwill
and love and nourishment toward that purpose. The mind is improved; so
is the heart. And the mind and the heart, both being made their most
and both as such imparting of their fruits to the living, work together
to make the most of human experience, both for humanity and for each
human being.
Checking each other in each other's capacity for wrong, and synergizing
in where they are right, the hierarchical and the holistic express and
give life to and empower and challenge and vitalize the totality of
human beingness - leading toward most of human existence and most of
humankind. Through its own efforts, humanity becomes its best and makes
the most of human experience, bringing together both the holistic love
and the hierarchical excellence to make life the most it can be. Love
is served; so is improvement. And the result is the best of all worlds.
In holistic and hierarchical working together in synthesis, or synergy
within the framework of checks and balances, is achieved the optimal
state of humanity and the optimal state of life.
Part 6. Multiple Paths
There is a presumption among many, pursuant classical economics, that
people are driven what is called rational self-interest, which is
equated with interest in accumulation of property.
That is an article of faith that falls apart under examination.
>From the position of each person, in reference to the world, there is
perspective toward self and perspective toward others. In relation to
which, each person can be said to possess self-interest and
other-interest. There are some people - including Ayn Rand - who
believe that man is only himself and that all interest is a form of
self-interest. There are others who believe that man is evolved as part
of humanity and that therefore that all interest is a form of
species-interest. Of course there are both, and it functions
differently in different people. If humanity has evolved, then it has
done so both as individuals and as species; which means that interest
in one's own good and interest in the good of the species are part of
human makeup. And any creationist worldview likewise recognizes the
same: That there is man; that there is mankind; and that man is both
man and part of mankind.
Furthermore, for each person, self-interest is different. There are
unquestionably some who are driven by property; but there are many
others who are driven by interest in knowledge and wisdom, or by
interest in legacy, or by interest in service, or by interest in
beautiful life, or by interest in improving their lives or the lives of
others in ways that matter to them. The scientist who is driven by
interest in knowledge is just as rational, if not more so, than the
person who is interested in accumulation of wealth. The teacher who is
driven by interest in raising the future generation is just as
rational, if not more so, than either of the preceding. The policeman
or military officer or diplomat who is driven by interest in securing
peace for his community or serving his country is likewise driven by a
perfectly rational interest. And the same is the case for the people
interested in making life more just, or in guiding people who are
disenfranchised to better places, or in developing new ideas that can
improve lives for many other people, or in helping people have better
relationships, or in creating beautiful work that celebrates the
civilization and enriches the lives of the members and gives it
legitimate sense of accomplishment and inspires the future generations
to similar and greater heights.
A new useful theory in psychology is a theory of multiple
intelligences. This theory states that there are many different forms
of intellect of which people are capable, and that different people
have different intelligences to different extents. Thus, there is no
single function for intelligence; there are many functions for
intelligence. The same is true for the natures that are present within
humanity; and pursuant them the interest they have most need of
fulfilling, the interest they are most interested in pursuing, and the
liberty that is to them most dear.
There are people who are fulfilled by property; there are others who
are fulfilled by achievement, legacy, service, meaning, beautiful
relationships, wholesome family life, and wisdom and intellect that
cater to and make possible the preceding. The good of the existing and
yet to exist is enhanced by there being talented and dedicated people
in education and police work and diplomacy; it is enhanced by there
being wisdom that helps people to be empowered for personal happiness
and people dedicated to helping people to actualize that wisdom. It is
enhanced by there being great works of architecture and technology and
science and medicine and space program and music and film and graphic
arts. It is enhanced by all forms of intelligence having a path to
impart of their riches, in the act of fulfilling the form of interest
that they are most competent to fulfill. Indeed all these are
legitimate aspects of human existence, and they are enhanced by people
taking the path to which they are most suited - applying the form of
intellect they have the most - to fulfilling the nature and interest of
the people that they have most aptitude to fulfill and whose
fulfillment they find most meaningful - and being likewise
compensated for their efforts in a way that matters to them.
The concept behind economics is that happiness is actualized through
people fulfilling their monetary self-interest. Given the multiple
levels of human nature, it can be said better that happiness is
actualized through people fulfilling their interest, whether it be
monetarily denominated or not, as a function of the natures that live
within them and the interests that are present as a result. Which means
the following: There are many rational forms of interest, both
self-interest and other-interest, and to reduce the totality of human
existence to one out of many forms of interest is to do humanity a
grave disservice. Quite simply, it is wrong to believe that everyone
has single form of interest, whether self-interest or not and whether
rational or not. This is the same error that was made by Marx in
assuming that there is a single value function of collective benefit,
and that people would pursue it if properly educated or coerced by
force.
The diverseness of people and the multiple levels of human nature mean
that there are many legitimate, informed and rational forms of
interest, both self-directed and other-directed, as function of those
levels of nature; and that happiness means different things for
different people, as function of both having those levels of nature
fulfilled by other people's agency - and imparting of gifts that
their natures are most competent to impart.
Given these multiple levels of human nature and human interest, it
further follows that people have different basic values and derive
meaningful existence from participation different pursuits. And thus
people find life that is worth living, on individual basis, by finding
a way to path that is suited for them according to their nature.
Given these multiple levels of human nature and human interest,
furthermore, it follows that freedom means different things to
different people. This is likewise is inevitable from the fact that
there are multiple forms of human nature, which are present in
different people to different extents. The government is prevented from
becoming tyrannical through different branches of government working
within framework of checks-and-balances. And liberty, as it matters to
people on individual basis, is served through mindsets and interests
doing the same thing among each other.
Therefore, a civilization that truly allows meaningful life, inclusive
liberty and pursuit of happiness for its citizens as it matters to them
on the individual basis is one that recognizes multiple levels of human
nature and allows for all of them a functional and legitimate path that
allows people to apply their talents to fulfilling the forms of
interest that they are most equipped to fulfill - and from which
other people can have accomplished the form of utility that matters to
their own natures.
Given the multiplicity of human natures and talents and intelligences
and interests within humanity, it therefore is incorrect to believe
that the entire human nature can be reduced to a single form of
interest or single definition of freedom or single definition of
meaningful existence. There are many forms of rational and legitimate
interest, both self-interest and other-interest, and they are natural
to different people to different extents. In making a single approach -
a result of addressing a single form of interest - universal, what is
accomplished is bludgeoning people into the same mentality and the same
supposed nature and supposed interest, even if it is to them completely
ill-fitting. Which does not serve any liberty or happiness or even life
worthy of having, and is only done through extreme disfigurement, which
requires in many cases coercive and malicious tactics. What is created,
is a single mindset that is bullied into the heads of everyone, and a
single path controlling everyone's minds and efforts and ultimately, by
becoming the substance of their minds, controlling their lives that are
a function of their minds in pursuit of these indoctrinated beliefs.
And what is accomplished is, in effect, de facto tyranny; a tyranny of
a single mindset, bludgeoned into everyone's heads, and in that
manner controlling the reality of everyone's lives.
I believe that life and liberty and happiness deserve better.
Ilya Shambat.
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