Yesterday’s blog on complacency gave an explanation for Monday’s blog: why are people so stupid? A more fundamental explanation is the ongoing transformation in societies towards monism. Monism is a (philosophical) belief in Power. As Lord Acton once stated: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, including our human mind.
Societies find their balance by a choice from three belief domains: Love, Knowledge & Power. A society governed by all three domains is called trialism, two opposing domains is dualism, and only one domain is called monism.
My 2020 diagram in The Art of War shows the natural flow of trialism, dualism and monism.
More and more, countries are moving to monism, which is defined by a belief in – and quest for – Power.
The centuries old balance and belief, often referred to as Knowledge = Power, is losing its relevance.
The above applies to societies (macro) as well as individuals (micro).
Individuals believe more in money (= Power) than in knowledge.
In my view, this also explains the demise of left-wing parties in (European) multi-party systems. The current Dutch prognosis is only some 23% for the main 3 left-wing parties (ie, GL, PvdA, SP).
The belief in (super) Power is also visible in the (economic, political, scientific, technological) decoupling between China and USA. Both are forcing other countries to make a choice: you’re either with us, or against us. The exit of Trump and the emerging dangers of China’s debt-trap diplomacy will enable countries to reconsider their options (eg, NRC, translation NRC).
China’s war rhetoric over Taiwan (eg, US News) is an example of stupidity in monism.
Sunday Bloody Sunday (1983) by U2
band, lyrics, video, Wiki-band, Wiki-album, Wiki-song
And it’s true, we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality
And today, the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow, they die
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise
0 Comments