Remembering Enlightenment Thinking In This Twisted Time

Applying old thought to new concepts

Photo by dlxmedia.hu on Unsplash

Our hopes for the future state of the human species may be summed up in three important points:

1.The elimination of the inequality between nations.

2. Progress in equality within the same peoples.

3. And finally the real perfection of mankind. All peoples should one day approach the state of civilization attained by the most enlightened, the most free. And the most free from prejudices.

-Condorcet, Enlightenment philosopher, written in 1794

To be honest, until I read this just the other day, I had never heard of Condorcet.

I was struck by the accuracy by which the philosopher above summed up exactly what our society has been going for.

We have been striving for this sort of outcome for hundreds of years, dare I say ever since civilized society came into being, for that matter.

Consider those red words in the Bible. They seem strangely familiar.

Yet still we are reaching. We have those that are striving for an ideal society where equality, liberty, and justice are the goal.

We have shown signs of improvement over the years. We have had a number of powerful figures willing to stand up and resist the authoritarian creep. (Both the individual and the ideology)

The most powerful people in the world, in a monetarily driven society, fight against this ideal. They try to stifle freedoms for people.

They use their influence to make sure people don't see behind the curtain, where their greed hides.

In many cases nowadays we can identify those that are “pulling the strings.” However, if you don't pay attention, you may miss what is motivating some of the public figures.

Right now, here in the United States, we have already moved beyond the tipping point. Authoritarians are nakedly grabbing for power.

The monstrous cuts by DOGE. The passage of the “big beautiful bill.” Further suppression of voting rights, and the list goes on and on.

They are trying to defund possibly major breakthrough medicines for fighting cancer, HIV, and even a possible permanent flu vaccine.

The authoritarians are attempting to control population size and growth, like we are a commodity on the stock market.

We need to adhere to these ideas from Condorcet. “All peoples should one day approach the state of civilization attained by the most enlightened, the most free. And the most free from prejudices.”

“Civilization free from prejudices,”—what a concept. Where have I heard that before?

We twist ourselves into all these deep-thinking philosophical tropes when really all we need to do is treat each other in a kind, respectful way.

I hold no illusions, and I am no Pollyanna. But the simplicity is striking. Don't own other people. Don't murder, steal or physically or mentally hurt others or yourself.

We don't need flowcharts and pie graphs that lay out how happy people are. We need to ignore the people on television. We need some introspection.

Ask yourself if what you are doing is right. If you choose to ignore what is right or wrong, you may want to go talk to someone. If you are ignoring your empathetic instincts, maybe it’s time to explore why you hate someone so much.

We are all flawed, and it is not a failure to ask for help. It's courage. Instead of letting that hate fester and grow, think back ten years ago and ask that person if you would cheer on the abuse of our brothers and sisters who came from other countries.

My feeling is that people who have found themselves in this “Cult of Personality” need to really take a hard look at their previous selves.

Did we hate each other so much a decade ago?

Did we feel disdain for our neighbors?

What happened? What can you do to contribute to the healing of this broken nation?

We will have to wrestle with these questions after we break out of fascism again. We need a different approach and a much different angle on capitalism.

Safeguards against the current situation we are in need to be examined. Starting with the end of Citizens United. Corporations are not people, and they have no right to be so influential in elections.

As we continue to fight fascism, please keep in mind, dictatorships always fail. It is just a matter of time. There are a lot of cracks in the foundation of this regime, and it is my belief that it is already starting to crumble.

I don't hold any illusions; there are many painful moments still to come. But for me, I see it clearly: will I be a victim during this painful moment? I hope not, but I will choose to stand up for what is right because I know my actions will not be done in vain.

I think many of us feel this way. Our sacrifice, regardless of the outcome for us, will be enough to help get us through this difficult path that we are on.

If we have any hope to make this an equal and fair society, just know that authors and great religious leaders have been preaching these ideas for millennia. Just as I have learned from the above quote.

Thanks for reading guys, I want nothing but good things for you all. Do your best not to fall into despair. We need you now more than ever. One small voice could be enough to spark this whole nation to finally reject what is happening by overwhelming the elected who think this country is for sale.

I love you all.

Erik

(Liberaldad)