Contrariness upholds power through stagnation
Addendum to yesterday: The image of a leader (or a concept), standing like a statue at the center of controversy, employs a multi-sided tug-of-war. With …
society
Contrary individuation counterbalances into stagnation
Our contrariness is our path to sovereign individuation: “You can’t tell me what to do.” Soon no one is in charge, and nothing gets done. …
Contrary individuation counterbalances into stagnation Continue »
Uselessness is worse than death
The idea of being useless is somehow worse than the idea of death: to be useless scuttles social standing and personal ambition. Being useless is …
“Act Natural”
Of course, “acting” is not being. To be “natural” is to behave as though unburdened: an artificial state for any human. Further, we assume “natural” …
everything is emotional, everything is personal
We live in a society, not alone in space. We think of and desire the other; even when alone, we shape ourselves for others. Every …
negative utilitarianism
The promise of utopia is based on more happiness. But, the master planner’s conception of happiness is an abstract wish in the distant future. Instead …
The morality play of democracy
We often use abstractions (models) as a normative leveling device, yet also we use them to inflate: we replace and conflate a singular achievement with …