CIVILIZATION
Understanding and embellishing life...
Civilization is social order promoting cultural creation. Four elements constitute it: economic provision, political organization, moral traditions, and the pursuit of knowledge and the arts. It begins where chaos and insecurity end. For when fear is overcome, curiosity and constructiveness are free, and man passes by natural impulse towards the understanding and embellishment of life.
— WILL DURANT, The Story of Civilization
Reflecting on Durant’s words…
How do we promote economic provision under the control of oligarchs?
How will our cultural creation and creativity navigate the dogma of a religious and reactionary regime?
What are the key moral traditions that make our civilization possible?
What defines morality in our age of plunder and oppression by a ruling party?
How are we enabling the pursuit of knowledge and the arts at a time of suppression of freedom of speech, censoring of academic freedom, shunning of scientific research, and defunding the arts and humanities?
In fact, why are the documents of the Epstein Child Trafficking case not yet released?
Durant proposes that civilization begins “where chaos and insecurity end”. Are the actions of the POTUS and his regime promoting civilization or chaos? How secure do Americans feel with militarization of the police force underway, with masked federal agents invading homes and workplaces without legal search warrants and arresting people without justification?
How is fear being overcome so that curiosity and constructiveness are free?
How much are we falling short in promoting Durant’s four elements?
How would our society benefit from fostering love of neighbor; showing compassion for the suffering; and delivering justice for all, including those in government who plunder our treasury and ignore the Constitution?
Understanding and embellishing life! What a joyful thought! We can do this! Resist joyfully every day!
Absolutely correct, Manuel. They would take us back to cave man days if they could.
" Civilization is social order promoting cultural creation. Four elements constitute it: economic provision, political organization, moral traditions, and the pursuit of knowledge and the arts. It begins where chaos and insecurity end. For when fear is overcome, curiosity and constructiveness are free, and man passes by natural impulse towards the understanding and embellishment of life.
— WILL DURANT, The Story of Civilization"
Enjoyed reference to Durant and as always your reminder of joy