21 levels of Self-Deception: THIRD EDITION by Tom Wallace - HTML preview

T W E N T Y - O N E L E V E L S

paramount in liberal democracy, and with that comes the protection of private property, protection from the threat of violence inflicted by other citizens or violence and war occurring from outside the particular nation. These may seem like worthy aims, but they are all premised on the idea that there are restraints, threats and danger at every turn. The kind of freedom on offer is a freedom external to the self and bought with the threat of violence. Such a system is in the end life-denying rather than life-affirming.

The image of the body is likewise prevalent in Western culture. The body is ‘objectified’ — given extrinsic value. The image of the perfect body then becomes an abstract ideal towards which men and women strive. We strive perhaps towards an ideal for our own bodies. Perhaps we also strive to find a relationship and sexual fulfilment via an image of the body in others. Of course, the owners of bodies are also persons! Hence, when confronted by the personhood of others then the response may be ambiguous. Perhaps we will see beyond the image and find a more satisfying whole person, but perhaps we will feel disillusioned. Real desire is tied up intimately with the body and the idea of body image comes close to recognising this, but still ends up as a substitute desire. We are first and foremost embodied persons. Fulfilment of desire is more to do with relating to other embodied persons rather than some kind of endless aspiration toward good looks. The body image aspiration treats bodies essentially as commodities — as another material possession. So, whilst obsessed with the body in one sense, our culture is also at the

85