"If there is one indisputable fact about the human condition it is that no community will survive if it is persuaded --or even suspects-- that its members are leading meaningless lives in a meaningless universe."
I agree with Kristol's conclusion if people were to believe or suspect there is no greater purpose than just being here, a community would not prosper. If members of a community had no reason to hope, wonder, question and they lived only for the moment eventually this community will be overwhelmed by greed, desire, instant gratification, and ultimately this community will be dominated by people without virtue and eventually deteriorate.
I believe Kristol's premise relates both to the position of Russell and Socrates. Both Russell and Socrates saw great value in asking questions, in the desire to aquire information by continiously seeking out answers. Philosophy would have no value in a community that in essence did not believe in a tommorrow. Why ask questions if the answers won't change anything? Russell believed that only by having an open mind could a community truly prosper; Socrates made the same point on the Apology. He defended himself against the accusers by essentially accusing them of being the type of person Kristol describes and pointing out that a person who has an open mind about the things we don't know for sure are persons of virtue.
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You definitely had a good understanding for Kristol's thoughts here, and I totally agree with what you've written. You really hit this on the head. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteThis was really nice. I completely agree with what you have stated about how if we ask questions then nothing will change the fact that another question will come up. Nice job.
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