Geometrically speaking, living in the civilized world comprises a domain of personally-motivated activity confined within a boundary of lawful restraints for the common good. Down through the ages, the sages of "living geometry" have pondered how best to balance the tendency of collective desires to push the envelope of prudent restraint, with the need to preserve the latter's integrity.
The early focus of sociology was how to establish a proper domain for civilized living. Clearly, it is necessary to define a boundary before one can think about a domain. Whereupon we received the Decalogue via one of the great prophets, along with its elaboration in biblical text. From the latter comprehensive treatise was distilled a kind of "pocket user's guide", namely the Golden Rule: "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow".
Once a working boundary was established (and, as a consequence, the domain within defined) the bounded domain of civilized living became the focus of elaboration, debate, and warfare. This is a natural consequence of the great diversity of opinions about humanity's interests and concerns, the two great social forces of opposing give and take. Arguably, the greatest distillation of the collective principles of civilized living derives from what has been called the American Testament: the inalienable right of man to his pursuit of happiness, within the legal bounds of our Constitution.
So much for my preface. Now, what must an individual do to benefit from the inalienable rights that generations of men and women conferred on us at enormous cost? It's not simple; but it is straightforward. First and foremost, learn what the world has to offer. In the civilized world, this means get the best formal education you can afford, heavily supplemented by self-directed reading of books. Next, and possibly during your education, decide what appeals to you and how best to proceed. In the civilized world, this means decide what you want to be when you grow up. Then, grow up and aim to be the best "you" that you can be.
As has frequently been the case, Big Bill the Bard said it best: "To thine own self be true". To which I would humbly add a reasonable constraint on uninhibited narcissism: try not to be a schmuck.
Post #681 The Geometry of Civilized Living
The early focus of sociology was how to establish a proper domain for civilized living. Clearly, it is necessary to define a boundary before one can think about a domain. Whereupon we received the Decalogue via one of the great prophets, along with its elaboration in biblical text. From the latter comprehensive treatise was distilled a kind of "pocket user's guide", namely the Golden Rule: "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow".
Once a working boundary was established (and, as a consequence, the domain within defined) the bounded domain of civilized living became the focus of elaboration, debate, and warfare. This is a natural consequence of the great diversity of opinions about humanity's interests and concerns, the two great social forces of opposing give and take. Arguably, the greatest distillation of the collective principles of civilized living derives from what has been called the American Testament: the inalienable right of man to his pursuit of happiness, within the legal bounds of our Constitution.
So much for my preface. Now, what must an individual do to benefit from the inalienable rights that generations of men and women conferred on us at enormous cost? It's not simple; but it is straightforward. First and foremost, learn what the world has to offer. In the civilized world, this means get the best formal education you can afford, heavily supplemented by self-directed reading of books. Next, and possibly during your education, decide what appeals to you and how best to proceed. In the civilized world, this means decide what you want to be when you grow up. Then, grow up and aim to be the best "you" that you can be.
As has frequently been the case, Big Bill the Bard said it best: "To thine own self be true". To which I would humbly add a reasonable constraint on uninhibited narcissism: try not to be a schmuck.
Post #681 The Geometry of Civilized Living
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