Industrial Society & Its Enemies or The Open Society & Its Future: An Analysis of Fulfillment
A defining characteristic of the human being is a deep desire to be satisfied. Philosophical, scientific, and spiritual writings are only ever concerned with describing systems, tools, or attitudes necessary to achieve this quest for peace through fulfillment. This seems to be a unique quality of consciousness, perhaps even an epiphenomenal product of that self-awareness; for the perfection of nature is that it doesn’t seem to contemplate its satisfaction, it simply is. Regardless, each of us either knowingly or naturally strives for some understanding of wholeness. Tension arises between two competing systems to achieve such wholeness: individuation and collectivism. The great irony is that it is the harmonization between these two opposing worldviews for which consciousness was an evolutionary adaptation.
Fulfillment as it will be referenced throughout this small piece will be defined as follows:
1a: to put into effect: EXECUTE
He fulfilled his pledge to cut taxes.
b: to meet the requirements of (a business order)
Their order for more TVs was promptly fulfilled.
c: to measure up to: SATISFY
She hasn't yet fulfilled the requirements needed to graduate.
d: to bring to an end
2a: to develop the full potentialities of
He has a lot of talent, but he hasn't fulfilled his potential.
b: to convert into reality
3 archaic: to make full: FILL
It is taken as axiomatic that it is the spirit of gaining a sense of fulfillment for which consciousness strives.
Singularity is interpreted most often as an extremely bleak often nihilistic concept. Solipsism, the philosophical concept that asserts the idea that only one's mind is sure to exist is the deepest form of suffering that any conscious being can experience. The absolute assurance of aloneness. It suggests that one cannot be certain of the existence of anything outside of their own mind. In essence, solipsism posits that the self is the only thing that can be known to exist with certainty, and everything else, including other people and the external world, maybe the product of one's own consciousness or imagination. This viewpoint often leads to skepticism about the external world and challenges traditional notions of reality and knowledge. There is a reason why solitary confinement is considered the most horrific punishment that can be imposed upon an individual. For without an opportunity to express one's own ideas, to be heard, seen, felt, and understood by something greater than oneself consciousness itself would serve no purpose.
The phrase "no man is an island" expresses the idea that human beings are inherently interconnected and reliant on one another for various aspects of life. It emphasizes the interdependence and interconnectedness of individuals within society. This concept, often attributed to the English poet John Donne, suggests that people cannot thrive or exist in isolation but rather depend on social connections, relationships, and cooperation for their well-being and survival. It underscores the importance of community, support networks, and collaboration in navigating life's challenges and achieving personal growth and fulfillment.
Therefore, to ensure that each individual can be understood concessions on personal freedoms are sacrificed. The social contract by which individuals agree to abide by certain rules and accept authority in exchange for the benefits of living within a society is the cornerstone of collectivist thought. Proponents of the social contract theory, such as Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, individuals enter into this contract either implicitly or explicitly to ensure mutual protection, security, and the preservation of their natural rights. The terms of the social contract may vary depending on the philosopher and the context, but the underlying principle remains that individuals consent to be governed in exchange for the benefits of the potential to be understood and protections provided by society.
So we’ve established the tradeoff: to subdue the threat of solipsism we as individuals sacrifice autonomy despite the recognition of autonomy as a necessary pre-condition for fulfillment. This tradeoff and the extent to which an individual is capable of actively choosing the degree to which they’re able to tolerate either extreme is where we as a species find every one of our discontentments, struggles, and potential self-annihilation. The difficulty arises in harmonizing the degree to which each member of the collective is willing to sacrifice autonomy. The calculus becomes ever more complex the larger the society becomes.
This concern over freedom to choose is called out in the modern era by countless thinkers, luminaries, and local dive bar patrons alike. For better or worse Theodore Kaczynski, the Unabomber of the late 20th century was one.
Within his manifesto, Kaczynski believes that the mechanism by which modernity and “Industrial Society” has overextended the social contract of the individual is the root cause of all modern suffering. In his section on what he describes as the natural “power process” the mechanisms by which in his estimation conscious beings achieve fulfillment have been completely abolished by the collectivist modality. He asserts that by no longer a clear-cut goal, material survival, applying autonomous creative effort towards and ultimately achieving that goal humanity has been stripped of purpose and now seeks desperately to provide surrogate activities to avoid becoming “bored and demoralized.”
“We attribute the social and psychological problems of modern society to the fact that society doesn’t allow its citizens the opportunity to properly experience the power process.” -Kaczynski, 46.
“Modern man is strapped down by a network of rules and regulations, and his fate depends on the actions of persons remote from him whose decisions he cannot influence. This is not accidental or a result of the arbitrariness of arrogant bureaucrats. It is necessary and inevitable in any technologically advanced society. The system HAS TO regulate human behavior closely in order to function. At work people have to do what they are told to do, otherwise production would be thrown into chaos. Bureaucracies HAVE TO be run according to rigid rules. To allow any substantial personal discretion to lower-level bureaucrats would disrupt the system and lead to charges of unfairness due to differences in the way individual bureaucrats exercised their discretion. It is true that some restrictions on our freedom could be eliminated, but GENERALLY SPEAKING the regulation of our lives by large organizations is necessary for the functioning of industrial-technological society. The result is a sense of powerlessness on the part of the average person. It may be, however, that formal regulations will tend increasingly to be replaced by psychological tools that make us want to do what the system requires of us.” -Kaczynski, 114.
But my dear Uncle Ted, how can you make such a claim that the very mechanism by which you are able to voice such discontentment and dissatisfaction is wholistically evil and must be destroyed? Is it not the separateness that the individual feels from the system itself that is the cause of his dissatisfaction and unfulfilment? Enter the enlightenment thinking of the Open Society.
The underpinning of Western Philosophical and therefore socioeconomic and political thought is predicated on the belief that advancements in an individual life circumstance; often materially in the form of resource collection allow for a greater sense of individuation, personal expression, and ultimately fulfillment. We hold firmly that freedom of individual choice and autonomy are vehicles by which our salvation will be arrived.
The systems necessary to facilitate such a society are spelled out by many traditional liberal ideologies but for our purposes will be summarized by the word of one Karl Popper. Popper advocates for an open society characterized by tolerance, freedom of speech, and democratic governance. Embracing the ‘openness’ of these principles can create an environment conducive to personal growth and therefore fulfillment. The growth in this case is the ability to harmonize one’s worldview with that of another individual. Popper also emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and skepticism. Engage actively in questioning ideas, challenging assumptions, and seeking evidence to form informed opinions. This intellectual pursuit can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and the world. These two activities provide the framework for active participation in democratic processes and civil society. Assuming that these rails are not co-opted or corrupted, by contributing to discussions, voting, and advocating for causes you believe in, the understanding that you can have a sense of agency and impact on societal issues leads to the feeling of being understood and therefore fulfilled.
The issue arises when the system itself becomes interested in growth and self-preservation. It then recognizes its citizenship not as its master but as a means by which the system itself can become more predominant - and now we’ve arrived at the concerns of Kaczynski once more. A totalitarian dystopia where in the name of self-preservation, safety, and a concern to be as inclusive and understanding to all smothers individuation and autonomy to the point of servitude to the system itself.
“Today, as always, men fall into two groups: slaves and free men. Whoever does not have two-thirds of his day for himself is a slave, whatever he may be: a statesman, a businessman, an official, or a scholar.” Friedrich Nietzsche
