The Age of Infallibility

The American Interest features a really interesting opening reflection in a current book review.

The Age of Infallibility by John Patrick Diggins

From that review:

"Kevin Phillips, American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century (Viking, 2006), 480 pp., $26.95.

Damon Linker, The Theocons: Secular America Under Siege (Doubleday, 2006), 288 pp., $26.

The history of our era seems to move in tragic circles, strangely analogous to those presented symbolically in Greek tragedy. The democratic nations of the world are involving themselves more inexorably in world catastrophe by their very efforts to avert or to avoid it. . . . Why are democratic nations so tragically committed to this dance of death?
—Reinhold Niebuhr
Christianity and Power Politics (1940)

The war in Iraq, tragic though it may be, provides an occasion for some sorely needed philosophical reflection. Such reflection would soon lead us to the realization that in situations leading up to war, action often precedes thought. Sometimes decisions have already been made before debate begins, and in such circumstances the mind does not so much determine events as respond to them; as history unfolds, philosophy invariably arrives too late to be of any use. “The Owl of Minerva takes flight after dusk”, Hegel warned, leaving us in the dark when confronting the rush of events."

Also, Francis Fukuyama's and the American Interest's editorial blog posts an excellent critique by Patricia Murphy of Democratic and Republican efforts to curb ethics violations in Congress while both parties sacrafice democratic engagement to do so.

Is Pelosi Walking a Tightrope Over Sugarcandy Mountain?

And for a cause that may fail to face the realistic likelihood that ethics violations will always be with us (and I would add that ethics violations are often more likely the more taboo and cynicism fuel temptation).

You know the one biggest reason to enjoy working with kids is that the cynicism hasn't quite taken over most people when it comes to kids. We carry it, as we carry it with others. But we haven't quite given into it with young people. We need that attitude to become more generous for all people, not just kids.

But my observation is that the more freedom people get, the more cynical we become about them and their use of that freedom.

And the irony is that it is our freedom, as evidenced by cultures and governments that embrace repression and suppress freedom throughout the world, that is completely responsible for our good will and good deeds.

The same freedom that offers us the opportunity to do bad offers us all the opportunities that we take advantage of, regularly, to do good.

But we take more advantage of that freedom to do good the more freedom we have to do it with.

I find myself growing more cynical, these days, the more my freedom is limited. Which just maintains the cycle of repression and regressive politics and policy.

Is there a way out of this cycle, I hope?

I can certainly understand a more bleak worldview if there is not. But I can't bring myself to resign myself to it.

Love,
Ben