Chapter 7

For a Bright Future

An overhaul is the need of the hour, and a fresh lifestyle is the only one thenceforth. This is my recipe for a future that shall always remain bright. Overhaul life, and then adhere to a freshly designed lifestyle that is the appropriate one.

In much of what I wrote, I have been trying to do a fresh examination of some of the most basic and well understood parts of human or human society. And I have been trying to show how, each such element contributes handsomely to keep our social atmosphere perpetually in a violent state, while remaining highly treasured by all.

In fact, my primary aim was to explain, how such a part as well as its function could differ a lot from whatever is transpired by the generally accepted idea about it. How, the confusion or misunderstanding that result from it, gradually transform into certain norms that we all cherish as things that make us unique. These have become the fundamentals of our society that enthuse us with pride and a sense of togetherness. However, quite unknowing to all of us, these ignite, aflame, or spread, violence, where the original confusion or misunderstanding that would have been the spark, forgotten for good.

Those taking the route of violence will only feel that they are doing nothing else other than adhering strictly to the precepts of tradition or culture or some norm that is an essential need for all. Also, the question of personal gain shall not occur at all. Naturally, those who are trying to castigate them for the route they have taken are only being ignorant, irrational, or irresponsible, if not conspiring to destroy our culture, they will assert with all their might!

I concede, those norms are spread over far and wide, and are formed naturally over many years of human existence. Now, if those are at variance with whatever it should be, what options are there before us? I thought of examining this issue to see, whether there is a way out.

An Issue from the Past

I would like to begin with a significant question in this regard, which also is, I think, interesting to most people, the most. Why is human society stuck to a path of self-destruction? It seems, they invent things, and then they invent that what was invented can lead to their doom. Or they derive medications, and then they learn that those are doing more harm than good.

And it is true everywhere, whether it is about life, our transactions in the social plane of life, those of the material plane of life, and also regarding our affairs with things without life. Being an intelligent one, they should have been realizing this, and their reaction would have been to study and analyze this imbroglio and to come up with a remedy.

Our Answer to The Issue

Perhaps it was so, since long, and our forefathers tried a lot. Though they could not find a direct answer, they landed up with the technique of abstraction as a unique way of confronting questions. See, an answer obtained in such a way is always a subjective one, depending heavily on things like the reputation of the one answering it, the current apprehensions of the answer seeker, or on the prevailing equation between the two. See, such are the questions to ask, either when one is unaware, or when one would like to reach an answer, one is looking for. Naturally, such questions were very popular in our early days, and the surviving literature of the past show nothing else, but this.

So, our forefathers continued to play with abstract questions that can be answered by various facets of this imbroglio. Yes, such questions would have been the earliest answers also, scientific temper being something yet to be known.  And, having no wherewithal to probe further, they hoarded all of those, which, over time became, what we now term as our unfathomable part.

What did the Answer Do

So, we need to address the unfathomable part of the human quite well, to make the rest, live well. Are we doing so? I think, no. Instead, we are celebrating with abandon, whatever comes out of it. As a result, not even a random glance with a critical look, like the one from Newton that caught a falling apple, ever fell on it. No wonder, all is not well with us. Before it is too late, we need to think of doing something about it.

The Issue, Presently

Now, things are different. We engage in many fascinating activities and developments, and, at least some of which should have been making us address such questions. Somehow, instead of doing it, we just redefine all those abstract entities, till those questions make some sense, or appear relevant, in the new, altered, scenario. So, the questions happily remain as questions, just enough to rationalize a violent and self-destructive society. For example, if the current ambiance is one of political activity, those questions could be appearing as anomalies in public order, discipline, or patriotism; if it is one of income, profit, loss, or productivity, and if it is one of values, honesty, integrity, or vices. So, even when we find an error, it is not something concrete!

In this, we have been successful to a great extent, though we are only giving some abstract meanings to those unknowns. As a result, though we feel better informed and enlightened, the danger is still there. And we are overlooking it, taking pride in the commotion as nothing else but the true signature of human race. What can we do now to neutralize?

Issue was there, All Along!

Throughout history, such a danger was always in our mind, more so, for the leaders of the society. Can’t we see, a mere look at our history can show that utmost importance was always given to questions in this regard. For example, Plato mentions in his allegory of the caves that what people see is only a shadow, and the real things and persons are always in hiding.

What have we been doing about it?

Yes, there is nobody who doesn’t say that human way of life needs urgent correction. I too, am in full agreement, just as our forefathers would have been.

Have a glance at our history. There is no one who did not attain greatness, after suggesting a remedial measure for this. And, there is no one who did not propose a remedy for the same, having attained greatness. So, since the earliest of times, someone has been engaged in correcting our society. In spite of all these efforts, the issues persist.

Issue was Overshadowed

I agree, we classify and name the issues that are found, imaginatively, and with due attention paid to all factors of relevance. Perhaps it would have been helping us maintain whatever peace and harmony that existed so far. But, as a result, every persisting issue shall be appearing to one as a new one. And, since we already reached a conclusion that human race is a violent one, we feel it is normal to have a good collection of troubles at all times. So, we quietly let all those fresh issues intimidate us. As a result, persistence of such challenges do not get the attention it deserves. I think, we are also deriving pleasure and pride of belonging to a form of life that needs constant care and attention.

Issue ‘Overcomes’ the Remedy!

But, look. We are taking great efforts to identify and locate the issues that affect us. And we are leaving no-stone-unturned in formulating and applying effective remedies to all of those. We are also according the highest status to those of us who spend their time and effort in finding answers, naming them as holy men, saints, or other leaders of great worth.

Still, these persist, and our society remains as unruly as before. Why? Why should human society be so? More so, since, in all other areas, be it of lifeless objects, or living ones other than ourselves, each remedy we adopt, delivers a result. Otherwise, we institute a different method of application, or come up with a new one. Effectively, every such encounter re-validates our position as intelligent beings.

But, in this particular case, either our remedy is wrong or unsuitable, or we are applying it improperly. Also, no other form of life is facing an issue like this, and, each of those is able to find necessary solutions to problems that arise. Effectively, every encounter from the social angle undermines our position as intelligent beings. 

Wrong Style of Remedy?

Think of remedy. Each of us is constantly bombarded by a stream of remedial measures, be it from the political bosses, theological stalwarts, literary greats, or those embracing other areas like science. It looks highly unlikely that all those remedial measures will simultaneously turn incorrect.

Now, take our style of application of remedy. One thing immediately strikes me. Though each remedy may be far different from the other one, all of those are applied in the same manner. This is quite unlike it is in all other areas, including that of inanimate objects. It seems, we are applying a good remedy wrongly.

Human Style of Remedy

What emerges from the above is that we need to analyze the whole gamut of remedy, especially that of its application, with a fresh mind. Is it the same, when we deal with inanimate objects, and those with life? Is it the same for humans and non-humans? Also, is it the same, whatever be the issue?

I think, our current idea about these things is that it is the same. Also, same was our idea, so far. Which can be summarized broadly as a process having three independent steps. Namely, identification, analysis, and conclusion.

Identification occurs, whenever we acknowledge the presence of something amiss. This could happen as a result of our own search or investigation, or as an offshoot of some other activity, like a better appreciation of reality.

The next part, analysis, is an activity that strictly does not have an end. And it is amenable to any extent, one’s personal priorities being the sole determining factor. In fact, no one really likes to analyze, though everyone likes to take feed from the outcome of an analysis that aligns with one’s priorities. Such priorities, though are not very clearly understood by any, can be appreciated as a combination of one’s expected conclusion as well as the current temperament. Thus, effectively, it is the last part, conclusion, that determines the direction and flow of analysis, and not vice versa.

The last part, conclusion, though indicates to an end, is something that is alive. And available at a call, at all times. This is so because, for all, conclusion will be pointing to certain activities of living one’s life. Man being an altruistic animal, there may be many occasions that call for dissertations involving things that are not directly related to life, like the ultimate aim. At such times, each one will take as a conclusion, whatever is contextually acceptable. Thus, there is a need for a firm understanding of conclusion, and it is always the one that is acceptable to most people that finally triumphs. And, conclusion will have an influence over what one shall see, and what will happen later to it. So, conclusion is the one that have a significant say on the ideas we germinate, nurture, or maintain.

What Wrong (Good) does Remedy do?

From what is discussed above, a remedy is strongly linked to our expectations, and has no connection with the cause of the ailment. But, it does its job, at least in some cases, and works fairly well. Why? It seems, we need to revise our ideas about problem-solving in general, and about the human scenario in particular.

Some kind of automation is an essential necessity for all kind of correction or control systems. In all those case, an automatic control system helps to maintain the current or desired state of affairs by compensating for the error or the difference between the expected value and the actual value of the signals of interest. Whereas, human nature modulates itself to accommodate the possible changes or errors caused by every idea that hampers one’s journey to the chosen destination or conclusion. This is all the more important, in cases where an external agency or force introduce a planned impediment to alter our aims or ambitions.

Because of this reason, we do not notice any error anywhere, whether of identification, analysis, or conclusion. But, since we were forced to alter or accommodate something, we sense something amiss. Our sense falls on the obvious or the most relevant one contextually, like a cartoon, which, at best, can be termed a virtual cause. See, we have been going strong with this kind of social control for long, where, some of us celebrate, and some denounce, virtual causes.

Or, wherever we find a difficulty to accommodate, we have been finding a virtual cause. And, after we get over the difficulty, since we do nothing particularly to remove the cause, it gets into a collection of human-specific abstractions. Thus, unknowing to us, every virtual cause gets metamorphosed into a highly valued abstraction. Now, quite a lot of such abstractions are doing rounds, making it impossible to locate an actual issue, respond, and live peacefully. And, it is bound to become even more difficult, as time goes by.

In short, instead of following blindly, things and animals, we need to devise a new way to administer remedy and its application, as far as human is concerned.

This is a strong reason for an immediate correction, like overhauling our life.

What Next?

Suppose we overhaul our life and make a pristine beginning. Will it be enough?

I think, no. Look, the beginnings of human race after the big bang also would have been something comparable. But, from there, we managed to reach the present condition, on our own. Therefore, it stands to reason to think that in a matter of time we will be back to where we are now. Do we overhaul again, then?

It is time to answer another question. What necessitated this overhaul? Obviously, our lifestyle. Or, more accurately, the cascading effect of the significant components of whatever style of living, each of us follow. Like, certain behavioral quirks, diet, or other particularities that creep in to our lifestyle that we routinely find inappropriate some time later. Why does it happen so?

The Real Culprit

Obviously, because of our adherence to an utterly inappropriate lifestyle. Why? We are yet to devise a unique lifestyle for ourselves. So far, we have been resorting to an age-old technique, beg, borrow, or steal, and arriving at a via-media. Perhaps, since every new one, we managed to obtain, was considerably better than the existing, we gleefully overlooked its disadvantages. Which, of course we learn after many a generation, and then we resort the same technique once again.

If human life does not flow smoothly, it is only a result of such a lackadaisical approach to the most significant feature of life, the lifestyle.

What Can we Do?

To begin with, let us see, what should be the lifestyle, as far as human is concerned? As one can see, unlike other forms of life who follows a lifestyle that support its life, each human adopts a lifestyle and, structures one’s life to support the same. And, whenever there is a change in circumstances, as much as possible, life gets altered to continue with the same lifestyle. The altered life must be taking a great hit, in many of those instances. So, if we are looking for a smooth life, our lifestyle should be amenable easily to changes. Or, our lifestyle should be shaping itself to facilitate a good flow of life for us, for all the other forms of life, and also good for the planet that houses all of those. (Note, at least currently, our style of living does not gel with that of the rest of life. No wonder, it is a tumultuous one.)

This is where, science should come in. I had mentioned elsewhere, we are following a geocentric lifestyle in a heliocentric world. We need to make a break. Unlike the geocentric lifestyle we copied from others, we need to derive an optimum lifestyle for the heliocentric world. And, this lifestyle should be, at any juncture, shaping itself to become a way of life that is most conducive to a happy existence, not only for us, but also for every other species as well as for the planet that houses them all. And now, we can call ourselves the sole leader of the living world.

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