Northgate High School
Walnut Creek, California
Myriad Ideals
Vishal Lugani
10th Grade
“Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress," Mahatma Gandhi once wisely observed. Furthermore, one could easily modify Gandhi’s intention to say that any disagreement may be a good sign of progress. Where there is disagreement, there is certain to be a solution, however eventual it may be, that is well contended and thought out by all parties. In the reading of the views of Peter Gabel, Roger Scruton, and Ayn Rand regarding the ideal society, one is better able to form an opinion of the ideal society.
While all three philosophers preach of the same thing, an ideal society, their views are miles apart. Peter Gabel is radical, Roger Scruton, more the moderate, and Ayn Rand, a radical on the opposing side from Gabel.
Mr. Gabel believes in a society where we, as humans, work together to lift ourselves beyond an American capitalistic society, of which he is abrasively critical. According to Gabel, who focuses mainly on the flaws of the American society and ways to improve it, America has lost its sense of community by being too involved in “the unrelenting glorification of individualism.” It is important to note that Peter Gabel views capitalism as a “giant machine” and broadens the concept to a societal way of life. From what can be gathered from information about Peter Gabel, it seems evident that his leaning is towards a Socialistic stance almost bordering on Communism in some aspects. Gabel’s criticism of Former President Bill Clinton is outlined in a review, “…Gabel laments, Clinton ‘crossed over’ after the defeat of his health care plan in 1994 and embraced world trade and ruthlessly competitive global Capitalism.” In addition, Gabel calls for the abolishment of the SAT, which he metaphorically saw as part of the “dehumanizing and pointless nature of American society in our times.” Mr.Gabel advocates a new social contract in which humans will reach out to help each other’s health and spend money on such programs as opposed to a new television. Also, to Gabel, it is important that communal cooperation supplant competition, money, and status as a “prime motivation.” Plato also believed in a society where the individual is put behind the whole. These writings are detailed in The Republic.
Roger Scruton has a slightly more moderate view on the ideal society, though still closer to a Socialist view. Basically, he defends the Western societies model and explains why he thinks the Islamic model cannot effectively work. One of the main highlights of his beliefs is the separation of church and state. The philosophy of secular law dates back to writings of early Greek tragedians like Sophocles. Scruton, paraphrased by resources, believes, “Ultimately, the Church is treated as a universal and corporate political entity: governing it’s own internal affairs…while subject to the law in whatever land it is present.” In addition, Scruton discusses prerequisites of citizenship in Western societies. In his opinion, patriotic public spirit as well as a binding to the fulfillment of the “social contract” are important. In other words, Scruton explains that a good citizen, thus, not necessarily a good person, acknowledges the state as an entity which exists beyond the scope of a mere individual. Further implications of Scruton’s theory lead one to find that it would be the duty of an individual to sacrifice their life, if required, for the betterment of society.
Lastly, Ayn Rand swings to the other side of the gamut. Her philosophy is well summed up in her quote from Atlas Shrugged, which states, “I support my life by my own effort so I do not seek or derive my happiness from the injury or the favor of others but earn it by my own achievement.” In addition, Rand insists that humans should be like traders, earning and not looting. Rand takes a completely contrasting view to Gabel. While Gabel says that together, we should work communally and lift even the incapable, Rand contends that by each individual being free, the society is free to fulfill its capacities. Rand, in sorts, is pro societal Capitalism, while Gabel is pro Socialism.
After drawing from several divergent philosophies, I feel well prepared to construct my ideal society, a weighted meld of many philosophies, though mainly siding with Ayn Rand. While I strongly believe that the profit motive of the individual is by far the strongest driving force, it is obvious to me that government is necessary to regulate many aspects of life and help out the less fortunate. The self-interest motive should be curbed with laws and regulation by a strong central government, with the laws set by a general affirmation by the masses. It is an interesting paradox that we help others for our own internal satisfaction, which conforms to the philosophy that there is no such thing as pure altruism. The World must have several nations because being part of a smaller whole maintains a tangible sense of belonging. Actually, America is probably the closest thing to an overall ideal society at this point in time. There will always be elements that can be improved upon, but if one steps back and looks at the United States of America in the aggregate, one cannot help but feel awe-inspired. Imagine the genius that building this superpower must have taken. Truly, I’m proud to be an American, living in my (almost) ideal society.
Answers To Questions Re: The Required Reading
Q1- Number the “fault lines” mentioned in paragraph one, #1 to #7 according to your personal priorities.
A1-My priorities are as listed:
1. The role of government
2. Environmentalism
3. Taxes
4. Welfare reform
5. Health care
6. Abortion
7.
Gun Control
Q2- In paragraph three, what is meant by “defeat of community”?
A2- Gabel means
that in his opinion, a feeling of connection with one another is lost and
defeated. He lists several ways that a community can be defeated, one being,
“the unrelenting glorification of individualism.”
Q3- Do you sense “the pain of isolation” in the adults in your community? Explain.
A3- I don’t feel that there is really too much of a pain of isolation. As there are so many people in the country, there are many people in situations where you might find yourself isolated, especially financial. Our American society is set up in so many ways that there are enough connections even with heritage and finances different. If anything, we’re all Americans.
Q4- Discuss your feelings about the SAT in light of paragraph six.
A4- The SAT is an
imperfect test which is an imperfect system, a system of college admissions. As
there are so many students graduating every year, and thus applying to American
colleges and Universities, standardized tests have become extremely popular.
Though the SAT puts a lot of pressure on the youth of today while also carrying
too much weight, it is one of the few ways to effectively uniformly measure
across a spectrum of different situations.
Q5- In considering a future career, what are your “prime motivations”?
A5- My prime
motivation is to fulfill my ambitions. Whatever ambitions I might have in a
career will be the focus of my energies. An example might be advancing while
keeping well involved in a family of my own.
Q6- What do you think about a less “objectified” legal system?
A6- Again, as
America is so large, there have to be many things that are objectified. If one
was to make the legal system subjective, there would be obvious disparities
across the board. If anything, these disparities would leave America less
connected.
Q7- Would you describe yourself as an idealist? Why or why not?
A7- I think I am an
idealist to a greater degree than realist. It is in my nature to make leaps
towards perfection which, sometimes, are not realistic. One of my fortes is
most definitely dreaming big. Who knows, some day my idealistic passion might
yield a realistic situation.
Q8- Share an anecdote about a local idealist over age 40.
A8- For sure, an
idealist above the age of 40 is the priest at my local Hindu temple. Many times
I have listened to his lectures about discipline and not giving into
temptation. Also, he lectures about love and respect. Many of his visions for
the world are, at least at this point, highly idealized. Maybe Universal peace
is on the horizon!
Q9- How does Scruton describe the differences in political culture of Islam and the west?
A9- A
major difference that Scruton identifies is separation of church and state. In
the West, there is more or less a separation, thus, leaving the nation as his
vision of the ultimate. In Islam, nations lose their importance to God and are
always secondary – it seems the borders disappear.
Q10- What does Scruton suggest are the prerequisites in Western societies for citizenship?
A10- Scruton says the prerequisites for citizenship are a sense of patriotic public spirit and a commitment to the preservation of the social contract.
Q11- What is the danger to the Western social contract that Scruton identifies in the last paragraph? Do you think the Western social contract involves “patriotic self-sacrifice”? Should it do so, in your opinion? Why or why not?
A11- The
danger to the Western social contract is when people cease to see themselves as
a unified body. As a consequence, people will be less willing to
self-sacrifice. Patriotic self-sacrifice is not good, in my opinion. In my
opinion the self should come first because that would follow what I see as basic
human nature. Of course, a society can be managed such that the self is
pleasured by helping others, thus while helping the self, others will be helped
as well.
Q12- Comment on the quote taken from Ayn Rand’s book, Atlas Shrugged. Do you agree with it? Why or why not? Have you read Atlas Shrugged?
A12- I agree with Ayn Rand to some extent. I do believe that there should be a good deal of individualism in society, but I also believe that the weak and the minorities must be protected by a governing body. It is impossible, in my opinion, to live in a world where we live twenty feet away from people but feel not obligation to help those people. Sometimes, the “undeserving” must still be given what they don’t deserve. I have not read Atlas Shrugged.