** Earlier, I wrote something as one of my Anthropological Desalination speeches, however it wasn't really what I wanted to say, when I read it, I found myself wondering, so I am changing it...this speech that you see is the alternative one that I just wrote.
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There is an old saying which goes like this "Every man for himself". This statement has lasted through many many centuries of wars, development and advancement, yet now more than ever we feel it all around us. As human societies have evolved, a sense of individualism has grown among us, suddenly we have become more self centered, and thus our own existence and our own lives have become "The Greater Good" and not the greater good that concerns the whole society, we are subjective utilitarians now, while before we used to be objective utilitarians, we have reached the conclusion that "What is a society, if it is not serving me?" (I must admit that personally, I am an Egalitarian)
In contrast to what I said, there is another concept at extreme end of which there is the term "heroism". Heroism is designated to self-less actions performed by individuals, who put the good of the society before their own, this is being praised as a virtue in our societies, while it should be a norm; a social duty. A soldier who is killed in battle is not a martyr; he is a person who does what he has to do. While such an action must be praised, it is not because someone did something extraordinary, it is not simply because he has left the principle of "Every man for himself" but mostly because he has fulfilled his social obligation.
An individual in our context and time can not maintain his individuality without other individuals or rather without the society, we are not only defined by our connections in the society (I am someone's son...or someone's brother...or someone's enemy) but also our very own existence depends on the functions of the society. We are not the simple foraging societies of early human time, in order to eat, have something to wear, have some place to stay and so on; we are dependant on the society. Yes, we are still individuals, but individuals within a context. The motto "Every man for himself" still applies, but this "for himself" should be in accordance with the overall direction of the society, such a synchronicity will benefit every person in the society. This means that we have "Social Responsibilities", which every (or most) individuals should adhere to, if they want to protect their individuality.
However, still when faced with the choice between "Self Obligations" and "Social Obligations"--ethics aside--One might choose the "Self", as the whole purpose of the "Social Obligations" is to serve the self, so one must follow social norms, laws and obligations up to a point that they don't contradict the obligations toward one's self except when we can morally justify it; I mean when there is a "Greater Good" that supersedes the Good of our own, if we find that greater good, then it is not a big act of heroism or something extraordinary if we do something in line with that greater good. It is the logical and rational decision to make.
Whenever a person is faced with a choice between him/herself and the greater good of others, he must not make the decision based on his emotions or the false senses of obligations that society has built in him, but rather he should face it logically and ask him/herself whether "Greater Good" applies to him or to the society. Duty towards self or towards the society?
I think what I am saying is that don't rush into some heroic action without thinking it through, don't act based on your instincts, think of the greater good involved and if it is rationally and morally justifiable then go ahead, Save the World!!! and ask for nothing in return, because you did what you had to do.
Rather than acts of great heroism what I think is necessary, is to fulfill our very little social responsibilities, we do not need huge sacrifices on behalf of a very few brave souls to save this world, what we need are little concessions given by everyone of us; concessions that are big enough to satisfy our "Social Conscience" yet small enough that they don't jeopardize our sense of "Individualism"
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** I know all of these sound like a bunch of crap, but compared to what I had written here earlier, it is much better.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
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