Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Where the Graphs Finally Cross

Human technology is becoming generally “smarter” (more complex and potent), while genetic drag is making the human genome generally dumber. The effect is that more power to destroy is being put under control of persons less likely to be smart enough to keep such power under controlled management. Evidently, present civilizations are locked in a competitive state such that they exhibit willingness to reduce human intelligence, but incapacity intelligently to decelerate the unfolding rush of technological prowess. This state of affairs is not a sustainable balance!
.
Each of us will certainly and soon be required to help effect choices from among three general alternatives: (1) Determined by Random and Predetermined Nature --- Leave things to random chance and continue as we are, thus allowing humanity to tip into chaos (trust entirely and cow-like to shibboleths, superstitions, and Nature’s God). (2) Determined by Participatory Choicemaking --- Establish a (least intrusive?) way to further the generally competitive intelligence and cooperative empathy of assimilable populations of human beings (establish defensible exemplars of Cities on Hills). (3) Determined by Predatory Elites --- Facilitate divisions of labor that are correlated with divisions in species and classes of genetically-assigned function and intelligence (establish a Brave New World Order of Big Mahdi Rulers and the ruled).
.
The path we choose will make all the difference, such that, of necessity, our notions of moral hazard will be repackaged. According to class chosen (or assigned), we will re-categorize, re-color, and re-communicate our notions regarding that which is meritorious, earned, beautiful, and true. For those who consider the second alternative to be akin to the promised land, such land will not be earned without much sweat and devotion in the service of vision.
.
Insofar as cronyism voraciously feeds on every ism, including capitalism and socialism, neither capitalism nor socialism, by itself, may be considered a sustainable philosophy. For either notion to point a way to fulfillment of self and culture, something must be added that is presently missing. What might it be? The constricted selfishness and cynicism by which many would replace god fuels the crony corruption that has always consumed capitalism, communism, and catholicism.
.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't see how one can claim to be a moral or responsible adult while simultaneously subjugating oneself to the dictatorial or oligarchical rule of a class of social elitists merely because they claim they will look out for the collective. How is that different from agreeing to allow others to treat oneself as a mere pet or thing? Don't get me wrong. I'm not troubled by louts and illiterates (like a lot of Libs) submitting to be ruled by those they hope will look out for them. But that's a sad state for anyone with the least gumption. Still, the elephant in the room is neither capitalism nor socialism. It's a philosophy of cronyism. In moral terms (to my taste), the elitist philosophy of cronyism amounts to little; yet, in historical terms, it has enjoyed long and profound influence. Insofar as cronyism voraciously feeds on every ism, including capitalism and socialism, neither capitalism nor socialism, by itself, may be considered a sustainable philosophy. For either notion to point a way to fulfillment of self and culture, something must be added that is still missing. Something that can reduce cornyism. What might it be?

Anonymous said...

The salient point regarding many liberal judges has little to do with who appointed them. It is the argument that tradition cannot be a sufficient justification that is the mark of a liberal. It presumes a moral code (which guides juries as they assess responsibility, which establishes precedents, which is how the common law develops) can be based in some fashion superior to tradition, perhaps in respect of some kind of liberal-objective-science or elite prognosis of historical determinism. If that kind of reasoning continues to prevail, I don't expect it will bode well for preserving the glue of society. Even another statist, Oliver Wendell Holmes, recognized that a page of history is worth a pound of logic.