Aristotle's Wisdom

 

 

 Aristotle believed that being a slave was in man’s nature. That idea got me thinking more about man’s nature. Of course, Aristotle is also credited with ideas pertaining to virtue, happiness and reason which are unique only to man. He believed in the importance of pursuing happiness and that could be reached through wisdom. As a result, he suggested  that philosophers more than likely were the happiest people. Let’s return to our discussion of man’s nature with the definition of a slave “person held in servitude as the chattel of another; one that is completely subservient to a dominating influence.” This disquisition addresses slavery in man’s nature.

It is clear that slavery “submission to a dominating influence” has been exhibited throughout sapiens history. As recently as 6,000 years ago, the Hebrew, as the story goes, were slaves under King Ramses 11 and built the pyramids. Finally, Moses emancipated the Hebrews with the Exodus from Egypt. Unfortunately for Moses, he didn’t reach the Promised Land. Both the Pharaoh and Moses were leaders and had followers. With slavery, is a person or persons in charge and in control? Aggression and domination are one side of the equation and passivity and submission on the other side.

We have had Kings like David and Solomon. They were male, they ruled, and they inherited their position by right of birth. We have had rulers or monarchs like Alexander, Caesar and Cicero that exhibited supreme power over a nation, country, populace etc. We have had other characters like Napoleon, Hitler etc.; we’ve had Popes like Pope Stephen VI who had his predecessor’s  fingers removed, briefly reburied and thrown in the Tiber and John XII  who give land to his  mistress, murdered several people and was killed by the husband  who caught him in bed with his wife. Furthermore, God was established as the most dominant father figure and his followers were told that he could bring happiness in the afterlife. Moreover, an authoritarian had his white followers, as recently as on January 6, engaging in war, fighting and killing protectors of another power group while even dying and being charged for crimes committed.

Sapiens, at birth, are dependent and powerless and require a dominating, controlling or loving caretaker for survival. The dominating or master of survival determines when the infant sapient is held, fed, rocked and kept warm. One can argue that being dependent and submissive is in man’s nature. Psychological research suggests that dependency continues to be developed very early in the child’s life. Dependency arises of course because adults especially the mother perform various nurturing tasks toward the child like feeding, warming, drying and snuggling. The child learns to secure the help of his mother when experiencing pain, hunger and other stressful factors.  Research has shown that ineffective feeding practices, by the caretaker, produce anxiety and dependency behaviors in preschool children. Thus, anxiety and ineffective feeding is likely related for a strong tendency toward dependent and submission conditions. It’s obvious that the poor are likely to exhibit severe anxiety driven feeding conditions for their young.

According to research, aggression can be classified as follows: 1. its being is of instinctive origin 2. It’s reactive to frustration 3. It’s an acquired drive that is attached to previously neutral cues and then the cues initiate the anger response 4. It is learned because it is reinforced.

 As man develops, he creates different need structures. Henry A. Murray identified certain needs related to behaviors of dominance, aggression, passivity and submission. The related dominance and aggression needs: 1. Achievement is the need to master, manipulate or organize human beings or ideas. 2. Dominance is a need to control one’s human environment; to influence or direct the behavior of others by suggestion, seduction, persuasion or command. Murray also identified passive and submissive needs: 1. Succorance is a need to be nursed, protected, advised, guided, and to remain close to a devoted protector. 2. Affiliation is a need to cooperate, to adhere, to please and win affection of a cathected object. 3. Abasement is the need to submit passively to external force and to seek and enjoy pain, punishment and misfortune.

Clinically, sapient interactions that are destructive and unhealthy, are referred to as sadomasochism. Sadism is the domination, exploitation, hurtful, cruel and aggressive actions toward another while masochism relates to being manipulated, wrongfully treated, taking verbal and physical punishment while being dependent. Sadomasochism can have a sexual as well as a nonsexual motivation dynamic. Specifically, sadomasochism is a good example of any slave-master or one that is under the cruel domination of another.

Football Coach Bo Schembechler illustrated dominance, aggression along with a passive and -submission relationship with his players. Coach Schembechler became the football coach at the University of Michigan in 1968. He was authoritarian and dominant in his initial interaction with his young football players. It was his Way or the Highway and do not allow the door to hit you on the ass when you’re leaving were two of his pertinent expressions. His first winter conditioning practices was sadistic. He had his players running, fighting each other and on one occasion he jumped into the ring and challenged one of his players to a fight. Many of the players quit and Bo had to put up a sign praising the University of Michigan players. However, one player secretly added to the sign something to the effect that those that quit become doctors, lawyers and captains of industry. Bo was sadomasochistic and was the principal ruler and the players were his subjects. Yes, he was dependent on his players to perform, or be fired.

We know that the founders of our nation turned to the wisdom of the Greek and Roman empires, in large part, for their ideas of government. The Greeks and Romans were “white nationalist” male slave owners. For them, democracy was for the white male ruling class. They didn’t trust the masses because they thought the masses would take away their power, wealth and land. Not surprisingly, Adams, Madison, Hamilton and Jefferson were well read in the classics slave owners. So, our Republic exemplified just that fact. They didn’t want to subject themselves to a King so they created three forms of a ruling government in its place. However, being a slave owner was common not only for our early history but for the times.

Being a slave owner and a “slave” exists in many forms. Being a homeowner, I  at one time  had fire insurance by a company that was authorized by the state; the state authorized the fire insurance company  then withdrew its coverage; I then received fire insurance from a non-authorized state insurance company; they also withdrew coverage and now I have a state plan that covers fire insurance only. I’ve had no control or input regarding the process let alone the premium fee. My choices are to submit or to go without fire insurance.

There is a national political party; state political party with many local selection choices on the ballot. The agenda or national platform was determined. I can submit, or I can choose another political party. I received a notice from the county tax collector regarding my taxes; when I go to the checkout counter to pay for groceries, I am charged. In other words, our economic and political system are decided by anonymous sources that affect us daily. Once again dominance and submission rules with our attachments.

Politically, we hear about the $15 minimum wage controversy. Supposedly working a full week for $15 an hour places one above the poverty level. If working for $15 an hour is not slavery, what is? Paying someone less than $15 an hour benefits others, but not the employee. The Republican congressional party of millionaires, said paying $15 will result in loss of jobs. The same lying political party said tax cuts for the wealthy would trickle down. Economically, both points are erroneous and simply propaganda. Can you name the top 4 creating jobs presidential administrations with the largest GDP economic growth since 1933? If you named FDR, Kennedy, Johnson and Clinton you are correct. Incidentally, the president that comes in last place on all measures is the authoritarian.

Our Christian country in addition to promoting poverty also makes sure that the poor have difficulty voting, receiving Covid-19 vaccine and easily die. Moreover according to an article titled “What the Pandemic Has Cost Women” in the New York Times, February 2, 2021, a few statistics: 1. 700% was the increase in calls to the crisis hotline for working parents at the center for Worklife Law 2. 77% of parents of children ages 8 to 12 say the uncertainty around the 2020-2021 school year is causing them stress 3. 4,637,000 is a total payroll jobs lost by women in the United States since March 2020 compared with 3,829,000 total payroll jobs lost for men 4. 48% of black mothers say the pandemic has had a major negative impact on their ability to pay for basic necessities like housing, utilities and food 5. 1 in 4 are children who experienced food insecurity in 2020 has increased almost 5% since 2018.

Having a pet is an example of master that determines and controls the well-being of the animal. Linda’s new dog is fed a certain dog food according to the directions on the package; is put in a dog crate  at night; is taken for walks; and cared for as determined by her. She also asks our dog whisperer Paul for certain information. Teddy is lucky he has such a caring authoritarian master.

Aristotle makes a solid point when he indicated that slavery being part of human nature. It can be argued that there’s a psychological tendency to dominate and be aggressive as well as to be submissive and passive that starts at birth and continues while developing ones character. Every football team has a coach. Every baseball team has a manager. They run the team but are subjected to the owner or owners. The owners are subjected to the league of compatriots and the league of compatriots are subjected to TV revenue. The TV stations are subjected to the advertisers and the advertisers are subjected to the anonymous demand. Everyone it seems, has elements of being in control as well as being controlled at one time or another. The American Dream is acquiring a pet, having children, getting an advanced degree, working up the corporate ladder, being a boss, acquiring money and power in order to have more exploitive control. Too many are slaves to the “American Dream” of attachments. As my father said “Be your own boss; get an education as they can’t take that away from you.” I listened to my father.

It can be argued that institutions of religion, capitalism and politics are controlled, dominated by the wealthy few and therefore slave like. Some have power and can exploit others. However, Sapiens can be slaves and engage in self-defeating behaviors of their own. Sapiens are often driven by emotionally driven needs at the expense of limited cognitive and rational choice with the extensive use of rationalization to justify attachment decision-making. Sapiens also attach themselves to authoritarian ideas or policies, groups or individuals for safety in an attempt to find security and comfort. Sapiens also engage in self-defeating behaviors that negatively affect their mental physical health that results in being dependent and attached to drugs, alcohol, food etc. Sapiens also engage in self-defeating behaviors that result in incarceration which once again places them in dependent, restrictive environments without much control or autonomy.

On the other hand, I will now provide an example of non-slavery followed by slavery. A prophet from India provided these words “Utter no falsehood, invent no lies, and cause no hurt to anyone.” These humanistic words provide and suggest respect between people if followed. Certainly, the prophet’s words are beneficial and if followed would provide betterment and less suffering in the world. On the same page however, from the New York Times, February 21, 2021 where the words “There is no God but Allah. Mohammed is the messenger of Allah.”

With the second quote, suggests one has to choose between idols of God. Religion is better off, in my opinion, when we don’t argue about Cod or the symbols of God, but when we follow the teachings of the prophets. When you’re attached to a symbol or an institution, the probability of exploitation and conflict between people are created. Devotion to slogans, or symbols have a negative effect on religious development. Let’s not conform to idols or images of God but create a religious and moral tolerance between individuals with an emphasis on faith, love, brotherhood, truth and respect.

A few years ago, at a professional football game, a player during the ritual and it’s only a ritual, kneeled to protest police brutality during the playing of the national anthem. The authoritarian criticized and wrongly suggested that kneeling was simply a disrespect for the flag another symbol of our country. His followers Incorporated what he said and, with herd mentality, disrespected the player and boycotted the NFL.  That’s an example of subservience, an attachment, to a dominating influence missing the actual point of the protest. Our attachments do not set us free, but to the contrary, they enslave us.

Our Christian society’s institutions with attachments have been created by the nobby and powerful Authoritarian minded. Can man rise above and confront his own dynamics of conformity, attachments and adjustment to group or idol worship? Can man significantly change and separate from the discriminatory institutions of religion, capitalism and Government? Can you free yourself from your submissions?