I am always interested in articles that evoke Francis Fukuyama. I still believe in his theory that liberal democracy is the final form of human governance and it's here to stay. If this is true, some ask, why haven’t China and Russia adopted it?
The reason liberal democracy hasn't become everybody's cup of tea yet is another matter, a matter of it being too high octane or sophisticated for some people and nations to handle. Russian and China have not yet become sufficiently sophisticated enough to fully deal with and appreciate liberal democracy or its consequences, because it is an extremely sophisticated, esoteric enterprise. Why, it took the West centuries to achieve it and here we expect novices like Russia and China to pick it up just like that. However, both Russian and China are dabbling in it, inching towards participating more in it. I thing those countries have little choice but to embrace it sooner or later.
The one thing that Fukuyama said that convinces me that liberal democracy is it is that if the modern world and its scientific advances are to continue liberal democracy is the only way to go. He believes, like I do, that, in the long run, it is the only system the can sustain the modern world and its technological demands. He also sees it as the only system that can truly fulfill people's needs and aspiration. Liberal democracy is the only alternative for giving people and developed nations the open and flexible society they need in order to deliver on the demands of the modern world. Liberal democracy and its open society is the only alternative that can generate the financial and human capital, initiatives and innovations, needed to sustain the modern world. Governing systems to remain legitimate and relevant must have the ability to renew themselves and liberal democracy is the only one that has proven it can, because it remains flexible and open.
In both Russia and China we see more and more of the fundamentals of an open society emerging, the right to consume and the freedom of mobility. These fundamentals are essential if these countries are going to continue to relate to and do business with the West. They have to accept and comply with rules and regulations that were developed in the liberal democratic world, where their biggest customers reside. China, for instance, has recently adopted product safety standards and copy right laws that liberal democracies live by. China has also recently changed its constitution and laws to allow for the ownership of private property, the beginnings and bedrock of liberal democracies.
At the beginning, after the Cold War ended, Russia was pushed and rushed, too quickly, into adopting liberal democracy. It wasn't ready. (In comparison China has taken a slower approach.) It was like the Wild West in Russia because it wasn't prepared or sophisticated enough to handle it. And economists who pushed liberal democracy on Russia weren't understanding or prepared for its 'backwardness' or lack of skills. Russia's initial attempt at liberal democracy was a disaster and its people were disillusioned by it. So it's quite understandable that there was a backlash to it and a return to some of the old ways. Nevertheless, Russia got a taste for it and hung on to some of its ways, like consumerism and freedom of mobility. Moreover, I believe that if Russia and China want to continue developing and profit from the West they will have to become more and more like the West and adopt more of its governing practices.
In addition, if these countries ever want to deal with their growing pollution problems they will have to rely and engage their populations. This can only be done in an open society, where people can discuss and debate openly. And for that to happen a more liberal social policy will have to be adopted.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Monday, December 03, 2007
"Philosophy saves the world?"
That question was posed in light of UNECO's World Philosophy Day Event that just occurred last month. UNESCO is the intellectual organization of the United Nations.
UNESCO made the following statement about the reason for this event, which first occurred in November 2002 (I think this event was prompted by the repercussions of 9/11, to help ameliorate things around the world): "The objective of this Day is to encourage the peoples of the world to share between them their philosophical heritage and to open their daily reflections to new ideas, as well as to inspire a public debate between intellectuals and civil society on the challenges to which our societies are confronted today". Philosophical discussions have include “the role women philosophers could play in shaping the future of humanity” and “what can philosophy contribute to a more human governance of the world?” This year the event occurred in Istanbul.
Since Plato one of philosophy's biggest questions has been about best way humans should govern themselves, individually and collectively. This question reached a high point during the Enlightenment, a period of great philosophical contemplation and discussion, when Democracy, the most influential form of governance in the world, began to emerge. One of Democracy's greatest exponents and supporters was Kant, even though it was still a fledging idea in the realm of human governance. Kant’s idea of Democracy was more expansive and a more sophisticated concept of governance than existed during the Greeks, its supposed inventors. Kant correctly speculated that democratic nations would not go to war with each other. In creating Democracy, the most tolerant and accommodating form of governance the world has ever seen - of the people, for the people and by the people, philosophy has certainly helped to save the world.
Philosophy has also saved the world by perpetuating expanding its role of discussion and debate. One of the biggest philosophical forums, which was set up to save the world after two devastating world wars, is the United Nations. Its philosophy is to prevent war between nations and to keep the peace through its many agencies. Philosophy, the exchange of ideas, opinions and differences, is the activity that happens between its members to preserve peace and expand it. The philosophizing that occurs within this forum has transcended and tempered the hostilities of the world. Essential to saving the world is cooperation among nation and the U.N. has greatly enhanced this cooperation and the necessary dialogue between nations.
The U.N. has worked to promote democracy and human rights throughout the world. One could say that the U.N. is an extension of Kant's speculative philosophy that democratic nations don't go to war with each other. The philosophy of the U.N. is to help nurture and facilitate peace. The U.N.'s philosophy is also a secular philosophy, of tolerance and accommodation, one espoused by Spinoza, another philosopher during the same Enlightenment that gave birth to Democracy.
Again, one of philosophies most profound question has been ' how ought we to govern ourselves'. This is a persistent question that is opined and philosophized over and over, a question that the philosophy of democracy is constantly asking. Philosophy has developed the laws and constructs that govern and organize us.
The world is always changing and so are its circumstances. The world is always a work in progress. New circumstances, which are always arising, like 9/11 and other moral issues, require new operational techniques and philosophies. New management skills and ways of thinking are constantly needed to facilitate and mediate changing circumstances and acclimatize people to them so they can cope. Philosophizing amongst each other, trading ideas, like asking ‘what if’ or ‘why don’t we try it this way’, has given us those new skills.
Philosophy saves the world by making people more understanding and accommodating. It’s also therapeutic and gives counsel. It takes people outside of themselves so they can have a better view of reality and the rest of world around them.
Philosophy has also given us the ability to nuance, an ability that has given us diplomacy. Without nuance you don’t have diplomacy or compromise. Diplomacy has saved the world many times from possible conflicts. In contrast, one person who said with pride that he doesn’t nuance is George Bush. Thus he has never philosophizes in a meaningful and progressive way. In many respects he has made the world a more dangers places because he has not engaged in diplomacy so as to defuse dangerous situations, so as to help saved the world.
UNESCO made the following statement about the reason for this event, which first occurred in November 2002 (I think this event was prompted by the repercussions of 9/11, to help ameliorate things around the world): "The objective of this Day is to encourage the peoples of the world to share between them their philosophical heritage and to open their daily reflections to new ideas, as well as to inspire a public debate between intellectuals and civil society on the challenges to which our societies are confronted today". Philosophical discussions have include “the role women philosophers could play in shaping the future of humanity” and “what can philosophy contribute to a more human governance of the world?” This year the event occurred in Istanbul.
Since Plato one of philosophy's biggest questions has been about best way humans should govern themselves, individually and collectively. This question reached a high point during the Enlightenment, a period of great philosophical contemplation and discussion, when Democracy, the most influential form of governance in the world, began to emerge. One of Democracy's greatest exponents and supporters was Kant, even though it was still a fledging idea in the realm of human governance. Kant’s idea of Democracy was more expansive and a more sophisticated concept of governance than existed during the Greeks, its supposed inventors. Kant correctly speculated that democratic nations would not go to war with each other. In creating Democracy, the most tolerant and accommodating form of governance the world has ever seen - of the people, for the people and by the people, philosophy has certainly helped to save the world.
Philosophy has also saved the world by perpetuating expanding its role of discussion and debate. One of the biggest philosophical forums, which was set up to save the world after two devastating world wars, is the United Nations. Its philosophy is to prevent war between nations and to keep the peace through its many agencies. Philosophy, the exchange of ideas, opinions and differences, is the activity that happens between its members to preserve peace and expand it. The philosophizing that occurs within this forum has transcended and tempered the hostilities of the world. Essential to saving the world is cooperation among nation and the U.N. has greatly enhanced this cooperation and the necessary dialogue between nations.
The U.N. has worked to promote democracy and human rights throughout the world. One could say that the U.N. is an extension of Kant's speculative philosophy that democratic nations don't go to war with each other. The philosophy of the U.N. is to help nurture and facilitate peace. The U.N.'s philosophy is also a secular philosophy, of tolerance and accommodation, one espoused by Spinoza, another philosopher during the same Enlightenment that gave birth to Democracy.
Again, one of philosophies most profound question has been ' how ought we to govern ourselves'. This is a persistent question that is opined and philosophized over and over, a question that the philosophy of democracy is constantly asking. Philosophy has developed the laws and constructs that govern and organize us.
The world is always changing and so are its circumstances. The world is always a work in progress. New circumstances, which are always arising, like 9/11 and other moral issues, require new operational techniques and philosophies. New management skills and ways of thinking are constantly needed to facilitate and mediate changing circumstances and acclimatize people to them so they can cope. Philosophizing amongst each other, trading ideas, like asking ‘what if’ or ‘why don’t we try it this way’, has given us those new skills.
Philosophy saves the world by making people more understanding and accommodating. It’s also therapeutic and gives counsel. It takes people outside of themselves so they can have a better view of reality and the rest of world around them.
Philosophy has also given us the ability to nuance, an ability that has given us diplomacy. Without nuance you don’t have diplomacy or compromise. Diplomacy has saved the world many times from possible conflicts. In contrast, one person who said with pride that he doesn’t nuance is George Bush. Thus he has never philosophizes in a meaningful and progressive way. In many respects he has made the world a more dangers places because he has not engaged in diplomacy so as to defuse dangerous situations, so as to help saved the world.
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