Advanced stupidity
I am thrilled to have lived long enough to move from growing up without indoor plumbing, electricity and other luxuries to the age of the internet and instant access to most people who use various forms of modern technology to share thoughts and ideas. On the other hand, it seems that we humans, in all our stupidity, have created societies with more mental illness, increased alienation and a greater economic, emotional, and some might say, spiritual distance or disparity.
The increasing number of veterans who are homeless and/or diagnosed with PTSD, the increase in those diagnosed with mental illness of one form or another, the increasing disparity in wealth, and the increasing sense of alienation are discussed by Sebastian Junger in his most recent book Tribe – On Homecoming and Belonging (2016, Hachette Book Group) and in a very recent Ted Talk by Alexander Betts entitled Why Brexit happened –and what to do next.
Both Mr. Betts and Mr. Junger come to very similar conclusions and make very similar recommendations although one is exploring what happens when individuals return from being in a combat zone or situation and one is exploring the increasing movement against globalization amid a growing sense of alienation.
Mr. Junger states:
“Anthropologists like Kurt, Hoffman and Abramowitz have identified three factors that seem to crucially affect a combatant’s transition back into civilian life…. First, cohesive and egalitarian tribal societies…. Secondly combatants shouldn’t be seen—or be encouraged to see themselves – as victims… Perhaps most important veterans need to feel that they’re just as necessary and productive back in society as they were on the battlefield…. Recent studies of something called “social resilience” have identified resource sharing and egalitarian wealth distribution as major components of a society’s ability to recover from hardship.” (pp 111-113)
Mr. Betts states:
“That idea of inclusive globalization was briefly revived in 2008 in a conference on progressive governance involving many of the leaders of European countries. But amid austerity and the financial crisis of 2008, the concept disappeared almost with a trace. Globalization has been taken to support a neoliberal agenda. It's perceived to be part of an elite agenda rather than something that benefits all. And it needs to be reclaimed on a far more inclusive basis than it is today.”
Betts makes the following recommendations:
“The first relates to the idea of civic education. What stands out from Brexit is the gap between public perception and empirical reality. It's been suggested that we've moved to a post factual society, where evidence and truth no longer matter, and lies have equal status to the clarity of evidence. How can we rebuild respect for truth and evidence into our liberal democracies? It has to begin with education, but it has to start with the recognition that there are huge gaps.
The second thing that I think is an opportunity is the idea to encourage more interaction across diverse communities.
The third thing that I think is crucial, though, and this is really fundamental, is we have to ensure that everybody shares in the benefits of globalization.
The fourth and final idea I want to put forward is an idea that we need more responsible politics. There's very little social science evidence that compares attitudes on globalization. But from the surveys that do exist, what we can see is there's huge variation across different countries and time periods in those countries for attitudes and tolerance of questions like migration and mobility on the one hand and free trade on the other. But one hypothesis that I think emerges from a cursory look at that data is the idea that polarized societies are far less tolerant of globalization.”
Basically both authors are suggesting in many respects the more advanced we have become in food and material production as well as with technology the more we have created conditions for mental illness, alienation and a reduction in the sense of meaningful purpose.
We have more effective means of communication and less communication if communication entails “hearing, trusting and understanding” what we have to say to each other. Many of us have more luxurious and spacious living accommodations and a reduction in connection. We have more sophisticated health care systems and less mental health; more combatants alive only to be tossed away once they arrive home; more means of sharing recourses and les ability to insure that individuals have equal access; more ways to say “Thank you for your service.” and fewer ways to welcome people home.
The bottom line is that the more advanced we appear to be the unhealthier and more miserable we are. The current revolt which led to the vote to leave the EU by Britain, the undecided election in Australia, the election of a President in the Philippines who has advocated the use of vigilante groups, and the rise in the popularity of Donald Trump could be the very red flags we need to rethink how we want to organize economies, social institutions, and education. Instead of creating more detailed mental illness categories which may include nearly all of us we might want to question how it is that we are creating a society which seems to foster mental illness instead of mental health.
I strongly think I and others have a lot of learn from individuals such as Mr. Betts, Mr. Junger, and those who feel disenfranchised and patronized as “poor victims.” Those who feel alienated and as if they are seen as throw-a-ways need to quit reacting and start acting in a way which models solutions.
This could be a rich time of spiritual growth on this planet earth or it can continue to be a time when we continue to push against each other and increase collective misery.
Written July 7, 2016
I am thrilled to have lived long enough to move from growing up without indoor plumbing, electricity and other luxuries to the age of the internet and instant access to most people who use various forms of modern technology to share thoughts and ideas. On the other hand, it seems that we humans, in all our stupidity, have created societies with more mental illness, increased alienation and a greater economic, emotional, and some might say, spiritual distance or disparity.
The increasing number of veterans who are homeless and/or diagnosed with PTSD, the increase in those diagnosed with mental illness of one form or another, the increasing disparity in wealth, and the increasing sense of alienation are discussed by Sebastian Junger in his most recent book Tribe – On Homecoming and Belonging (2016, Hachette Book Group) and in a very recent Ted Talk by Alexander Betts entitled Why Brexit happened –and what to do next.
Both Mr. Betts and Mr. Junger come to very similar conclusions and make very similar recommendations although one is exploring what happens when individuals return from being in a combat zone or situation and one is exploring the increasing movement against globalization amid a growing sense of alienation.
Mr. Junger states:
“Anthropologists like Kurt, Hoffman and Abramowitz have identified three factors that seem to crucially affect a combatant’s transition back into civilian life…. First, cohesive and egalitarian tribal societies…. Secondly combatants shouldn’t be seen—or be encouraged to see themselves – as victims… Perhaps most important veterans need to feel that they’re just as necessary and productive back in society as they were on the battlefield…. Recent studies of something called “social resilience” have identified resource sharing and egalitarian wealth distribution as major components of a society’s ability to recover from hardship.” (pp 111-113)
Mr. Betts states:
“That idea of inclusive globalization was briefly revived in 2008 in a conference on progressive governance involving many of the leaders of European countries. But amid austerity and the financial crisis of 2008, the concept disappeared almost with a trace. Globalization has been taken to support a neoliberal agenda. It's perceived to be part of an elite agenda rather than something that benefits all. And it needs to be reclaimed on a far more inclusive basis than it is today.”
Betts makes the following recommendations:
“The first relates to the idea of civic education. What stands out from Brexit is the gap between public perception and empirical reality. It's been suggested that we've moved to a post factual society, where evidence and truth no longer matter, and lies have equal status to the clarity of evidence. How can we rebuild respect for truth and evidence into our liberal democracies? It has to begin with education, but it has to start with the recognition that there are huge gaps.
The second thing that I think is an opportunity is the idea to encourage more interaction across diverse communities.
The third thing that I think is crucial, though, and this is really fundamental, is we have to ensure that everybody shares in the benefits of globalization.
The fourth and final idea I want to put forward is an idea that we need more responsible politics. There's very little social science evidence that compares attitudes on globalization. But from the surveys that do exist, what we can see is there's huge variation across different countries and time periods in those countries for attitudes and tolerance of questions like migration and mobility on the one hand and free trade on the other. But one hypothesis that I think emerges from a cursory look at that data is the idea that polarized societies are far less tolerant of globalization.”
Basically both authors are suggesting in many respects the more advanced we have become in food and material production as well as with technology the more we have created conditions for mental illness, alienation and a reduction in the sense of meaningful purpose.
We have more effective means of communication and less communication if communication entails “hearing, trusting and understanding” what we have to say to each other. Many of us have more luxurious and spacious living accommodations and a reduction in connection. We have more sophisticated health care systems and less mental health; more combatants alive only to be tossed away once they arrive home; more means of sharing recourses and les ability to insure that individuals have equal access; more ways to say “Thank you for your service.” and fewer ways to welcome people home.
The bottom line is that the more advanced we appear to be the unhealthier and more miserable we are. The current revolt which led to the vote to leave the EU by Britain, the undecided election in Australia, the election of a President in the Philippines who has advocated the use of vigilante groups, and the rise in the popularity of Donald Trump could be the very red flags we need to rethink how we want to organize economies, social institutions, and education. Instead of creating more detailed mental illness categories which may include nearly all of us we might want to question how it is that we are creating a society which seems to foster mental illness instead of mental health.
I strongly think I and others have a lot of learn from individuals such as Mr. Betts, Mr. Junger, and those who feel disenfranchised and patronized as “poor victims.” Those who feel alienated and as if they are seen as throw-a-ways need to quit reacting and start acting in a way which models solutions.
This could be a rich time of spiritual growth on this planet earth or it can continue to be a time when we continue to push against each other and increase collective misery.
Written July 7, 2016
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