From the prior installment of this inquiry…
“The fundamental point being that we are faced in this time of apparent globalization with the task of finding our unity, not only as a species, but with all of our living world, without resorting to colonial constructs such as the best integrative idea for all.”
One of the most sublime experiences available within the human spectrum must be those moments when we are touched simultaneously with a perception of good, true, and beautiful all weaving together as one. Though this is a deeply personal experience (to say nothing of it’s often unique to the moment-ness), it is not surprising that we often project those distinct structures as being “fit and good for everyone.”
Nonetheless, due to the exceptional qualities of nuance that make each and every human being, dyad, family, community, or other collective, special in its own right, it is exceedingly rare to find universal structures that are truly “good for all.” A useful aphorism might be that if it takes more than a simple gesture, act, a few words, or perhaps at most a few paragraphs to meaningfully convey a structure to others, its utility is likely limited in scope to a particular individual, group, or culture.
Oxygen for humans, or carbon dioxide for plants, might be good examples of this. Atomic structures, or simple molecules seem to be the most broadly applicable to a given subset of life. Indeed, it seems all the life we know to date is united by carbon, one of the earliest elements on the periodic table.
Therefore, while the Anthropocene makes plain our need to find unitive territories for our shared human engagement, and our cognitive and relational tendencies lean towards increasing complexity, the leverage points for easing our species through this transformational threshold appear most likely to be found by seeking not so much our technological bleeding edges (though these likely play a role), but rather the tools, values, and processes which might be easily accessible and appreciable to the youngest, most modest and simplest among us.
Enormous human effort is put forth every day in search of some novel and revolutionary combination of technologies, insights, or practices, still more, in innovative exploration of some exciting and yet unseen personal growth, leadership, or social technology that promises to end the friction of our differences and unite us under the banner of one good, beautiful, and true way.
“…it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time…” — Winston Churchill
It seems to me that those lifeline, essential nutrients, that we need to effectively metabolize our current state and condition (see: meta crisis/poly crisis) might take some less effort and be more easily found in plain sight should we allow ourselves to look in such a way.
While the Millennium Development Goals initiative of the UN certainly spoke to a broad spectrum of longing and invite a diversity of approach, they do not offer any uniting capacities to allow us to bring those into being. Additionally, they represent a list of items that “modern society” has left carelessly disregarded as we ran headlong “out of paradise.”
Let me offer, perhaps a bit paradoxically, this quote from our friend Mr. Fuller:
"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."
Like carbon, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, what if we turn the broad megaphones of our collective attention towards not that which we have left behind, but that of which we have plenty in our midst, though perhaps overlooked and subjected to disregard.
What if we could seek to discover, and to proclaim and promote loudly and globally through bodies such as the UN and others, those fundamental values accessed and applicable to all cultures, and objectionable to none?
For the first time in known history, humanity has become subject to recognizing its shared identity across and in symbiotic relationship with the entirety of the biosphere. If we are to survive this profound moment of transformation, we must find a healthy, holistic, and grounding sense relationship to this new self.
Eleanor Ostrom (and collaborators) draw from extensive research to point this fundamental necessity for our vital success across the boundaries of all of our richness of diversity. Their very first point is in fact this very essence.
“Strong group identity and sense of purpose.”
What are the virtues and values put forth, expressed, and cultivated in cultures worldwide (when they are not, themselves, living in states of poverty?)
By way of example, the book The Lakota Way puts forth 12 virtues: Humility, Perseverance, Respect, Honor, Love, Sacrifice, Truth, Compassion, Bravery, Fortitude, Generosity and Wisdom.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, in his book "The Dalai Lama: A Policy of Kindness" lists, love, compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of responsibility and a sense of harmony.
Martin Seligman draws our attention to six categories of virtues which are further divided into 24 distinct character strengths, these virtues include: wisdom and knowledge, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.
What if we could identify and define a formal and globally recognized simple value set, alive but likely under-nurtured in our “modern cultures?” This set would necessarily be acceptable to and approved by not only our existing large-scale nationstates, but also by a broad unity and consensus of the otherwise marginalized and scattered indigenous cultures of the world.
What if we then might agree to test and measure our aspirations and initiatives against this shared value set as a way of honoring balance, equity, and sustainability to be built in to our evolutionary effort, inquiry, and exploration?
Imagine a universal metric set against which corporations, governments, communities, movements, initiatives, and individuals could self evaluate and report to invite a greater shared synergy of insight and capacity to grow ourselves and nurture one another along harmonic pathways with our expanding and ever-nested contexts.
Undoubtedly, we must heal our sense of being orphans in a cold and uncaring universe, and return our hearts to this beautiful biosphere, our family of origin in this majestic and evolving cosmic flower called earth.
Shall we take the next step together?
Next: Epilogue… Further reflections, a bit closer to home.