Peacelovinman
19th February 2011, 16:59
Hi all
Just wanted to share with you all something I found of interest in Richard Wilhelm's translation of the i Ching (book of changes). Having always had an interest in the culture and philosophy of the far-east, I am just getting round to studying this work.
During a commentary on the i Ching hexagram "Lu" (meaning treading or conduct), Wilhelm says this:
"Among mankind also there are necessarily differences of elevation; it is impossible to bring about universal equality. But it is important that differences in social rank should not be arbitary or unjust, for if this occurs, envy and class struggle are the inevitable consequences. If, on the other hand, external differences in rank correspond with differences in inner worth, people acquiesce and order reigns in society"
Further on under hexagram "P'i" (standstilll/stagnation), he says:
"When, owing to the influence of inferior men, mutual mistrust prevails in public life, fruitful activity is rendered impossible, because the fundamentals are wrong"
In reading this explanation of ancient Chinese writings, I was struck by the similarity to a point made by psychologist Andrew M Lobaczewski in his "Political Ponerology: A Science on the Nature of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes", a book published in 1998.
Lobaczewski also has something to say in the natural inequality of people and says:
"Highly gifted people constitute a tiny percentage of each popluation, and those with the highest quotient of inteligence constitute only a few per thousand. In spite of this, however, the latter play such a significant role in collective life that any society attempting to to prevent them from fulfilling their duty does so at its own peril.
It seems to me that two books, hundreds of years apart, indicate one of the challenges we have in today's world. Clearly, as a generalisation, those holding the power are not qualified to excercise it with any moral authority.
Thanks for listening!
Just wanted to share with you all something I found of interest in Richard Wilhelm's translation of the i Ching (book of changes). Having always had an interest in the culture and philosophy of the far-east, I am just getting round to studying this work.
During a commentary on the i Ching hexagram "Lu" (meaning treading or conduct), Wilhelm says this:
"Among mankind also there are necessarily differences of elevation; it is impossible to bring about universal equality. But it is important that differences in social rank should not be arbitary or unjust, for if this occurs, envy and class struggle are the inevitable consequences. If, on the other hand, external differences in rank correspond with differences in inner worth, people acquiesce and order reigns in society"
Further on under hexagram "P'i" (standstilll/stagnation), he says:
"When, owing to the influence of inferior men, mutual mistrust prevails in public life, fruitful activity is rendered impossible, because the fundamentals are wrong"
In reading this explanation of ancient Chinese writings, I was struck by the similarity to a point made by psychologist Andrew M Lobaczewski in his "Political Ponerology: A Science on the Nature of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes", a book published in 1998.
Lobaczewski also has something to say in the natural inequality of people and says:
"Highly gifted people constitute a tiny percentage of each popluation, and those with the highest quotient of inteligence constitute only a few per thousand. In spite of this, however, the latter play such a significant role in collective life that any society attempting to to prevent them from fulfilling their duty does so at its own peril.
It seems to me that two books, hundreds of years apart, indicate one of the challenges we have in today's world. Clearly, as a generalisation, those holding the power are not qualified to excercise it with any moral authority.
Thanks for listening!