It should come as no surprise to learn that the key to finding a solution to the vexing problems that humans face lies in the issue of identity. Major problems cannot be solved without an accurate understanding of the identity of any organisms involved. The irony of our present condition is that even though we understand this when dealing with everything we deal with we totally overlook it when dealing with the problems of the human race.
Our major failure, and the reason why the global search for peace does not bear fruit, is our insistence on treating the human race as if it is an organization rather than an organism. In addition we are hobbled by the expertise we have gained over the millenia in problem solving. As a result we treat the problems the human race faces as a problem to be solved, where a problem is defined as being introduced from the outside.
Identity can be defined as a combination of what a thing is and what it does. This means that whatever a thing does is part of its identity, regardless of whether we approve of it or not.
This means that we can never solve the fundamental problems we face as long as we continue to act as if they are not part of what it means to be human. A good example is the way we speak of inhumanity in humanity. For some reason we miss the fact that every behavior we have identified as being part of this inhumanity is not practiced by any other species but humans.
A systems level discussion on Organizational Leadership and World Peace written by:
© Darius A. Lecointe, Ph.D., J.D., M.A. Join in the discussion here or through dalecointe@gmail.com
1 comment:
Your position on organism v. organization makes sense and identifies the inherent problem when we attempt to structure humankind into a system that it is not.
To your concept that the negative behaviors that have been subsumed into "inhumanity" are unique to the human system, I would raise an eyebrow and ask for further clarification. How do these behaviors relate to identity? Do you see them as a necessary part of human identity if one has a selection of these characteristics or as characteristics that need adjustment or repair?
I personally believe that each culture and family within the culture evolves as it is effected by regional events. For example, the Germans put infants out in the snow to attract wolves to capture and sustain the rest of their family members during the most recent ice age, effecting the manner in which German parents have related to infants for generations. Human identity varies and responds to historical events.
Would you consider it a positive exercise if a culture connects the historical dots, gains understanding of where some of their traditions have come from and then attempts to change or do away with the ones that make no sense for present conditions?
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