Thank you, Joel and Eric, for this thoughtful and inspiring discussion
and thanks to Gay for starting it.
On Jul 18, 2009, at 11:34 AM, Joel and Sarah Gagnon wrote:
I found Eric's comments both helpful and thought-provoking. Below
are his comments; my additional comments are interspersed.
At 11:57 AM 7/16/09 -0400, Eric wrote:
This all seems a bit one-sided in the last few postings.
Christian community and the filial piety of Confucianism are both
strong
anti-dotes to individualism. That's good, so far as it goes. But
anyone
who has lived in such settings knows that they can be as
oppressive and
wasteful of resources and human life as individualistic, market and
money driven
societies. Community and individualism are both to be valued and
not
taken to excess.
The issue of sustainability would seem to be better served by
learning the
spiritual skills within each tradition that try to limit excesses of
individualism and groupthink, while expanding room for individual
and collective
action.
Well, if both community and individuals can be and often are
oppressive and wasteful of resources -- and I agree that that is
often the case -- then what is the basis for getting them to "do the
right thing"? In making the case for resource conservation and wise
management of our environmental assets, what argument can we bring
to bear? Lately I have been reading that some are opposing both a
carbon tax and cap and trade because they would place the US at a
competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace, costing us jobs.
Michael Arcuri is arguing that way. In effect he is saying that jobs
in his district are more important than long-term climate impacts.
Others are arguing for developing coal and tar sands because we will
need all sources to deal with declining oil production from
traditional sources. Implicit is a belief that maintaining the
energy status quo is more important than curbing CO2 production. In
each of these cases there is a very real possibility that a majority
in Congress will vote in support of this kind of short-term
thinking. What is our argument that it is wrong?
I am basically a consequentialist when it comes to ethics. I look at
the impacts of the choices available to me and try to minimize the
bad and maximize the good. My judgement of what is bad and good,
though, rest squarely on my Christian faith. I look to Christ as my
moral compass. That works for me, but it is not a platform from
which to argue for collective action outside of those who share my
beliefs. That is why some sort of universal ethical framework is
important. Maybe it really is "self-evident", but I doubt it.
While Joel would like to see some universal values brought to the
fore, I
think that sort of search is often a distraction from taking
immediate
sensible actions that are spiritually well-grounded.
People rarely know the spiritual disciplines of one tradition well or
deeply, let alone know the disciplines of many religions. So just
living more
deeply within the possibilities and paradoxes of what one knows
may be a
sufficient first step.
A very good first step, and a very worthwhile perspective to offer
to the debate about what we all should be doing individually and
collectively. In a pluralistic world, though, it may not suffice as
a justification for joint action.
If we are people of good faith, we will then listen to and learn
from
others, from the paradoxes and possibilities of other people and
traditions.
But the process unfolds slowly.
An attitude of humility is a strong asset here, but it is
unfortunately all to uncommon. Recognizing that our tradition and
beliefs do not fully encompass all that is good and true should open
us to learning the possibilities of other ways of viewing reality.
We all like to think that our way is the only right way. The end
result of that kind of thinking is a power struggle with winners and
losers. In the end, we all lose.
EARLIER POSTS DELETED by MM
_______________________________________________
For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please
visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for:
[email protected]
http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins
Questions about the list? ask [email protected]
free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
