Survival Society, Self-Fulfilment Society and Quixotic Society

Well, I have just returned from a Linguistics Colloquium in Spain, where I gave a paper on Description Logic, at the University of Alcalà de Henares, the place of birth of Miguel Cervantes, author of Don Quixote. So why not talk about Quixotism or Quixoticism or perhaps Quixotry for this week’s Issue? Not least when I have only just come back, so having little time to prepare this paper.

Well, in my articles on Liberalism, I was working up to the issue of the freedom to do as one wishes, so long as nobody else suffers. This differs from economic liberalism, which in its extreme form justifies suffering at the altar of the market. In fact a society has to balance the interests of survival and self-fulfilment in an environment where one doesn’t necessarily know how much activities freely pursued causes suffering for others.

We might capture this uncertainty by a risk pyramid: here we show safe risks at the bottom and the more speculative at the top. Some people say that men are expected to take risks while women provide a more secure environment, perhaps a source of role differentiation, for better or worse:

Here we can see that survival will relate to a lower level of risk than self-fulfilment. A right-winger may look at this and say “doesn’t this prove that survival is more important than self-fulfilment?” Well, we might also say that we need security for the weak and vulnerable, not just for major investors.

But along with Tony Blair, we know that there can be a Third Way: and that is of course The Quixotic Society. This is the immediate reaction to events as you choose to see them. And of course this is what the market economy is all about: you are focused on the immediate equation of supply and demand, and for each of these you are free to act according to your whim, whether this is sound or not.

And by satisfying the immediate need to equate supply and demand, one can ignore how much one exhaust resources to extinction. In this regard, windmills need not be at all risky, since they use a renewable source.

Well, to balance all these factors, I shall post here a flow chart which I designed recently, which sort of marries all three considerations. At least, sticking to the flow-chart balances survival and self-fulfilment. And the Third Way tends to break the rule: represented mainly by the amber, it is not a happy medium: it is OUT!

The third choice also leads to the amber light: perhaps it is for those who tilt at windmills knowing they are windmills. They may or may not be Sancho Panzas.

But it is the essence of modern conservatism (and others) to create scapegoats. Tilting at windmills! As the great man himself said to Sancho Panza:

“Fortune is guiding our affairs better than we ourselves could have wished. Do you see over yonder, friend Sancho, thirty or forty hulking giants? I intend to do battle with them and slay them. With their spoils we shall begin to be rich for this is a righteous war and the removal of so foul a brood from off the face of the earth is a service God will bless.”

My bold: in effect, Quixotic Society claims to be opposed to its enemies and what they stand for, but perhaps it is the contrary - it nevertheless needs them.

Martin Prior


From Philosophy Takeaway Newsletter - 57

What is the Philosophy Takeaway?

For me the Philosophy Takeaway is a little utopian space...

It is a humble market stall, the decorative colours faded with age, the 'Talk to a Philosopher' sign tattered and bent, supported by masking tape and a box. Sometimes we have stock of second-hand philosophy books, sometimes not.  Sometimes our lights are working, other times the extension cable has been foolishly left at home. But the Philosophy Takeaway doesn't need to enchant market visitors with any pristine presentation to succeed, because it is all about conversation, thought and eager human beings.

To put it simply, what we do at the Philosophy Takeaway is ask anyone passing by a philosophical question from our hat. It is as simple as that! Three recent example questions have been: What is order? What is more important: consequences or intentions? and Is universal justice possible?  We then engage in a discussion, varying between a few minutes to an hour. We actually get more answers than you would think from such open-ended philosophy questions.

If people dig our groove, and want to receive regular philosophy literature and links, they can then sign up to our e-newsletter. We send out articles written by our team and guest contributors to continue the never-ending philosophical journey. Some people also donate money to help us cover our stall costs, and they get a printed Journal in return.

How we fit into society -

Trade can actually be quite 'humanizing', bringing people together, creating a sense of community and giving us a reason to communicate on a regular basis. When speaking of trade I refer to actual market places, the polar opposite of generic consumer malls, cookie-cutter big brands and plastic chain stores. I found Greenwich market to confirm this. Markets are a swirl of activity and conversation, where anyone can set up a stall and try a good idea, and anyone can afford to buy what is on offer. They tend to have more locally sourced and recyclable goods, which make them more environmentally aware, and the lesser emphasis on hierarchy means more cooperatives and mutuals are likely to pop up. Markets are face-to-face, they all have their own unique character, and above all they are places of independence and respect, the traders pitch being something of a sacred space. It is an experience no corporation can come close to replicating, and one which they would actively destroy if their growth and power is not checked. The Philosophy Takeaway, and any humanities stall like it, will fit into most markets perfectly. Greenwich, Camden Lock and the Merton Abbey Mills have already been visited by us!

It might be tempting to lump the Philosophy Takeaway in with instant-gratification or consumer culture: people come along to fill the gaps in their lives with monetary transactions, quick and easy answers packaged and devoured, just another fleeting experience. It might even sound like the latest trend among people whose lives of desire fulfilment aren't quite producing the goods! But nothing could be further from the truth. We are totally free of charge, and always will be. We may introduce people to the world of philosophy, but we are not the be all and end all of this mighty discipline. We do not guarantee answers, and we are not happiness vendors. In fact, a lot of the talking at the stall comes from the real philosophers, the people!

A place like the Philosophy Takeaway fits perfectly into any democratic, free-thinking society. It is a place of self-discovery, the equivalent of talking to a friend about the big questions, but with the advantage of having someone very interested in philosophy to guide it. As for answers, I have given them at times, and believe that having strong convictions is positive - provided they rest upon solid foundations and are willing to change and face criticism. Whilst we do not spread any one philosophy, this does not mean that our output is 'content free'. I have seen my friends vigorously defending their positions in the spontaneous debates which sometimes arise.

We have a massive range of political-philosophies in our group; from socialists to classical liberals, secularists and religious moderates, the typical 'realist' and 'idealist' divide, feminists, centrists and an anarchist or two. It does create some interesting, if not arduous, ethical debates! Where we do all agree, and what we all advocate, is that Philosophy must survive in universities and should be introduced into schools. Through projects like the Philosophy Takeaway, we can convince the public that this is also in their interests. Not only that - it is also massively fun!

How was Phil Tak born and where is it going??

The Philosophy Takeaway was ultimately born out of protest. We occupied our university in response to their cutting single-honours philosophy, an act which not only went against logic, but also threatened the jobs of our tutors. Although we were unable to prevent management from reducing the scope of their university by axing one of their best courses, we were bonded as a team and keen to popularize philosophy as much as possible. The consequence of those protests seems to have been the Philosophy Takeaway, although there is no way to know for sure.

In many ways it was also an accident. Two years ago I could never have imagined, dragging the one-wheeled 'Philosopher's Mule' through south-east London at 6am in the morning, that it would still be going and thriving more than ever! No one predicted that the Philosophy Takeaway would achieve what it has done. I think we have all surprised ourselves - especially our philoso-artist Eliza whose artwork not only made the actual, physical stall possible but also decorates publications. At the moment we are working on a bigger Journal to help us become self-sufficient with funding. We also have a website and forum (which will be tied in to a real life meet-up group) on the way, and regularly attend arts festivals whenever possible.

Most importantly the Philosophy Takeaway confirmed for me a very valuable lesson - that there is more to life than profitability alone, and that only a fool weighs success in gold coins.

Selim 'Selim' Talat, Coordinator of the Philosophy Takeaway stall
 email: thephilosophytakeaway@gmail.com for enquiries, or just to philosophize about, well, anything!