I don’t usually do this kind of philosophical-type big society kind of writing here on this blog, but I figured today’s as good as any to start.
I’ve been thinking about how I agree with the idea that working towards goals that you want to achieve will provide a better and more fulfilled life one where you don’t. But at the same time I realize that this is exactly what the society I grew up in wants each of its members to do. To work hard. It’s impossible to know if my enjoyment of the fruits of my labor are something a priori to my society, or if it’s just a chemical response intrinsic to all humans. But there’s no way to tell if my enjoyment is something factual, a given road to enjoyment for everyone, or if I’m simply incapable of comprehending a structure of existence beyond my own society’s. I grew up with the idea to work hard. That will always be an intrinsic part of me.
If there was a society that praised getting a good night’s sleep just as much as our own praises those that work hard, would we still have the same drive to do our daily actions? Arguable a society where everyone has a good sleep has the potential to create an even better society than our own. Imagine hordes of youtubers all reviewing the best pillow. Our governments would pour gargantuan amounts of money researching sleep behaviors in the same fashion that they do the economy of today.
But silly comparisons aside I really do want to leave you with the thought that our actions are largely determined by our society. And in the coming decades accepting the fact that there are fallacies within each of our selves and others is probably going to be one of the most difficult hurdles to comprehend and improve upon. Growing up the son of the world’s largest grocer or oil tycoon is probably going to leave you with the idea that what they made was mostly good. And in all likelihood it was, mostly good. But if we have faith that these children are going to want to alter their parents business in a more socially equitable and environmentally friendly way then there isn’t any reason to get mad at anyone. Those that made our society in the past made some mistakes, but we’re all here together now and can move forward.
Thanks for your time.
-Jeremy Brake