| Subject: | Re: [socialcredit] A New Look -- Wally comments | | Date: | Thursday, June 2, 2005 12:04:26 (+1200) | | From: | W. McGunnigle <wmcgunn @.........nz>
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| In reply to: | Message 1616 (written by Timothy Carpenter) |
Hi Tim
We seem to be in general agreement on this topic even though we
may have differences about detail. A question that concerns me is precisely
that relationship between Puritanism and the "Work Ethic". Puritanism is
derived from the Calvinistic doctrines epitomised by the Presbyterian
Church. It is a very rigid, inflexible, and, in many cases, bigoted way of
living, but does provide a clear division between "good" and "evil". This is
an excellent method of providing people with a convenient mind set by which
to structure their lives. It does however lead to an intolerance of other
attitudes. Its effect has been to classify "workers"(in Industry) as a
beneficial asset to society i.e. "Good", and Non-workers ( those not
employed in Industry) as a drain on society i.e. "Evil". Poeple are
stigmatised by their position in society. It appears to me that this is a
long term mind-set problem that has to be sorted out. Modern Society is so
efficient that all our material needs can be met by the involvement of <25%
of the population. However our society, particularly the rulers, is
incapable of utilising the spare capacity of ability in the remaining 75%,
because it does not recognise this capacity as"useful" or "beneficial".
Chinese society, in contrast, appears to view the "Work Ethic"
differently. People "work", but there is no stigma attached to how this is
achieved. I suppose their approach is more like they expect people to be
"busy" a some task that is of some concern to the community. This allows the
philosopher the freedom to be "unemployed" from essential tasks to provide
material needs to provide thought power to other aspects of human endeavour.
It is a different thought pattern to Western ideas. Do you see the contrast?
My other concern is that the Eastern philosophy on this could be
undermined by the somewhat sterile materialism of the west.
My ideas on this aspect of human society are undergoing a fundamental
reassessment especially the "Work Ethic" criteria for judging human value. I
am becoming more and more convinced that it is a false and inherently flawed
value assessment.
William McGunnigle
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