Philosophy on Culture

Today’s modern civilization is crumbling. There are many reasons for this and they are not difficult to identify. To pin point the exact cause of these problems will require a careful study of human history.

It’s not in my best interest right now to be a history teacher. You will have to do your own research to know the roots of the problems. There are however some high level ideas that I can point out as examples of problems that have caused these difficult days.

Basically there are two cultures in today’s world. Modern humans primarily have two belief systems. One school of thought is today’s western teachings of the modern world. The other is the age old teachings of eastern philosophy and thought.

Not to say that one is better than the other. Both have some very good points and valid in their own right. My goal is to make some notes about each and to understand the problems it’s possible to identify positive points in both types of culture.

Western thought is focused on success, individuality, and expression. It seems this is accomplished while using as much energy as possible with the least amount of work or thought.

Eastern thought is focused on life as a collective, as groups, and strength through conformity. The use of rigid adherence to cast social behavior. The belief that society will never change and that one must simply accept that the current situation is unchangeably set in stone.

Problems

There are some problems with both sets of thinking. When a person becomes too individualized they risk loosing touch with the common person and become outcast and miss the connection of being part of a group.

Some individuality is good. Within groups being an individual is a positive thing. The danger is when one rejects the whole society, the whole world, and everything human.

The other danger is to be found in eastern thought of conformity that society is set in stone and impossible to change. Rocks have their own special beauty, while there is beauty in its perfection. If you look at the picture as a whole and understand that it is perfect the way it is.

However, the picture over the ages has become distorted and warped with behavior that is not becoming. This has been reflected in the results we are seeing in today’s modern world.

Problems only occur when you focus with laser precision on one aspect. When you learn to accept that life is made to be good for everyone in some way and you just have to look for the beauty in life that comes your way. If nothing comes your way, go out and find it.

The problem my view point notices is that individuality is being beaten out of people and they are being mass hypnotized into believing they should be mindless zombies that neither think nor feel anything.

Living Better

Sometimes you have to get out of your head, but being out of your head all the time isn’t working out too well for human kind. We still need creative people that can do technical things like science, mathematics, art, music, poetry, and infrastructure for civilization.

So we have to find a happy balance between being individuals and being grouped in ways that promote health within society that we can all be kind. If you had to choose a form of conformity that everyone had to live by, then being compassionate and kind would be a wise choice.

There is still room to voice your thoughts, your mind, and your heart without oppression of what is right.

And peace can be achieved through dedication, continuing to work diligently and striving to make everyone’s conditions better in the long run for a life that we can all live with.

Some of the benefits of eastern teachings are that they promote thinking, use of a rational mind, working together as a whole, and remaining peaceful. There is a place for creative arts of all kinds, and that they are useful.

Some of the problems western thinking has been influenced to believe through eastern philosophy is that society can never grow or adapt to change when needed.

Modern Fusion

Somehow there has to be a fusion of modern thinking and philosophy. While life seems absurd, there is deeper meaning in life than the surface will reflect. While seeming absurd, there is much to be said that we will benefit from wholesome teachings and growth.

Society needs to be reset to a default value where pain is not being passed on to future generations. People are going to have to forget their hurts and start with fresh new ways of thinking.

This can be achieved through meditation on peaceful and kind remedies that are practiced as a whole.

Societies rise and fall. You can however mark the fall of a civilization by the conditions. There are always precursors to their failure and falling. Too many divisions, too many distractions, and failure to advance.

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