Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times
'Morality' by Jonathan Sacks is a thought-provoking book that explores the values and principles that underpin our society, and how these have been eroded over time. The book argues that we need to rediscover the importance of moral principles in our lives if we are to build a better future for ourselves and our communities.
Beethoven, Bach, Brahms. All of these men devoted their entire lives to composing symphonies. With their intense dedication and powerful talents, they penned some of the most beautiful orchestral music in history. Yet without the orchestra, we would never have heard it.
The fact is, even a genius can’t bring a symphony to life on his own. It takes the teamwork and coordination of dozens of musicians all working together. Without this community effort, all grand symphonies would be reduced to rather lonely solos.
The key message here is: Society’s emphasis on individuality leaves us isolated and vulnerable.
For the past few decades, society has become increasingly focused on the individual. This shift is reflected all over our culture, even in our pop music. A study from the University of Kentucky found that since 1980, hit songs have included fewer lyrics about “we” and “us” and more about “me” and “I.”
But that’s just a small example. Our lifestyles have changed, too. These days, people live more solitary lives. They marry later, have fewer children, and join fewer social groups than in the past. In the United States, the percentage of people living alone has doubled in just 50 years. In large cities, nearly half of all people live on their own.
This shift toward individuality has left us lonelier, which can have dire consequences. For one, chronic loneliness has serious health implications. Research has linked feeling alone to higher stress levels and reduced immune system response. One study even found that long-term loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Our obsession with individualism has also boosted the self-help industry. Each year, thousands of books are published that claim we can fix our problems by focusing on ourselves. But this narcissistic impulse only leaves us more lonely and disconnected.
A better way for us to improve our lives is to act in service to others. You can do this by stepping outside yourself and evaluating your behavior from an outsider's perspective. Rather than basing your actions and decisions around your immediate needs and desires, reflect on how others may experience your actions.
Such an approach to life values the collective “us” over the individual “I.” This process is sometimes called “unselfing” and is the basis of morality. In the next blinks, we’ll delve deeper into why this process can be so difficult.
Morality (2020) is a detailed deconstruction of our current social climate and a lucid account of how we got here. Part intellectual history and part manifesto of moral truths, this thoughtful work uncovers the roots of the rifts in contemporary society and points out a path toward a more just future.
Morality is precisely un-self-help. It is about strengthening our relationships with others.
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Blink 3 von 12 - Eine kurze Geschichte der Menschheit
von Yuval Noah Harari
