(note: this entry is part 5 of ongoing series starting with the post “Plato’s Seven Caves” )
Having escaped the cave of impulsive power seeking and exploitation, moral man prospered. World-shaping values of ’sacrifice’ and ‘duty’ took root in his mind, forming a life-affirming paradigm of discipline and humility in the service of a higher, transcendent purpose. Through hard work and moral righteousness man sought to tame his animal nature and attain righteous immortality at the end of his earthly days.
As the old ‘might makes right ’ ethic gave way to the more pious ‘right vs. wrong’ on a massive scale, dictatorial empires transformed into vast moralistic regimes based upon universal principles such as ‘justice’ and ’salvation’ for god’s ‘chosen’ people. The obedient masses worked dutifully, spurring developments in agriculture and housing that raised the standard of living for everyone. It was an era of hard work, discipline, and frugality.
But for this fickle species, this collective prosperity and purpose still wasn’t enough. In fact, it all started to feel kinda’ dogmatic, boring and suffocating…And so, just a few thousand years after escaping the cave of impulsive exploitation, man was starting to see that he had arrived in yet another smothering cave.
“Why must I wait until death to enjoy my life?” “What if this heaven thing isn’t true? Where’s my proof?” “Why should I have to obey that preacher?! After all, we all know he’s secretly a perverted hypocrite!”
Curiosity and antipathy towards authority undermined hisfaith. The very safety and security that his saintly existence created, led humans to seek something beyond safety. Out of an ethic of self-sacrifice sprouted a new thinking style–bold, assertive and curious.
He became convinced that he could figure out how to understand and control the universe on his own. Like a bull in a china shop of outdated dogmas, his agile mind generated endless questions. Old school religionists and moralists found these questions heretical. Struggles ensued and people were burned, but life continued and knowledge grew. Science was born. Philosophy prospered. Higher education proliferated. Soon the Renaissance had awakened, demonstrating man’s divine ability to enact God’s will on earth, as it is in heaven.
No need to wait around for some pesky afterlife! Success on earth is a symbol of man’s righteousness. Be aggressive, seek your fortune, and–most of all–don’t get caught!
Finally, man was captain of his own ship.
Finally he was rational, sane, and free of superstition
No more caves for this human. Nosireee-Bob.
Free at last (thank god almighty) mankind was free at last…
right?
(stay tuned)
