great essay, it has been a long time since I read it...many points could be commented on, but this one struck me as I reflect on my own kids:
"Observe these young people's dread of independence and their frantic desire to "belong," to attach themselves to some group, clique or gang. Most of them have never heard of philosophy, but they sense that they need some fundamental answers to questions they dare not ask— and they hope that the tribe will tell them how to live. They are ready to be taken over by any witch doctor, guru, or dictator. One of the most dangerous things a man can do is to surrender his moral autonomy to others: like the astronaut in my story, he does not know whether they are human, even though they walk on two feet."
I have had a number of conversations with my daughter on this topic, but she seems incapable of focussing on long term issues....she told me one time, 'Dad, I know you are probably right, but I just cant tell the whole world to f*ck off, I need to be with people that can give me warmth and comfort, even if it is not a life that is really true...'. ie, from her experience, she feels like it is more important to be part of a group than to take control of her life, very sad as her behavior is substantially self-destructive, but for now at least, that is the path she has chosen.
In our current culture, unfortunately, the pressure is intense on young people, on all people, to conform to the dominant view of supernatural, emotional group think....
rp |
