Evaluating Progressive Ideals

“…many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.” -Obi-Wan Kenobi

Those of us who understand and embrace the need for the abolition of slavery and a stateless society typically hang our hat on a few core concepts: Self-ownership, non-aggression/self-defense, and some version of free-market capitalism or non-coercive communism. Though these ideas are critically important to transition humanity into the next phase of its social evolution, does that imply that they represent the optimal perspective for a sentient being living on this planet?

Let’s look at a notable example of progressive thought – the overall philosophy of the American “founding fathers”. A divisive lot of alternative thinkers for their time, these men are heralded as champions of freedom by some, and condemned as hypocrites by others – so how shall we evaluate their role in history and the value of their perspective?

The revolutionaries performed a feat of immense significance, against all odds – they overthrew the very concept of monarchy. Others had offered the ideas set forth by the founding fathers throughout history, but it was in their lifetime that these became ideas whose time had truly come.

The liberation of America from the grips of the king sent tremors across the globe, and today modern societies have all but abandoned the idea of rulership based upon mere heritage, or the notion of divine right - a concept that had held humanity in its grip for thousands of years.

The writings of men like Jefferson, Franklin, Paine, et al., represent some of the greatest words of wisdom ever to spring forth from the mouths of men. However, in one breath this generation noted how man has self-evident, God-given, unalienable rights, and in the next established a new nation under governmental rule with the words “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States…”

How are we to judge these men and their actions? Were they true freedom-fighters, or mere opportunistic wolves in sheep's clothing?

We must realize that progress cannot be judged in the absolute. It must be evaluated relative to what comes before and what comes after. Relative to the historical monarchies of unchecked personal authority, this was a great leap forward, and we owe the relative comfort of our slavery in modern times to this progress. That being said, the work of the revolutionaries in no way represents the height of human achievement – it was a stepping stone to the work that we are faced with in the present, and pales in comparison to what’s possible in the future.

We are among the few who understand that humanity in the very early stages of a shift toward the dissolution of external authority in favor of self-governance, supported by rudimentary moral concepts like non-aggression. But we must not make the mistake of believing that this is the end of the road. Imagination must remain unfettered, and progress must be seen as moving through such phases, not to them.

Concepts like non-aggression and property rights that delineate obligatory boundaries for human behavior are crutches that can bear the user through the tumultuous transition to come; but they are the mere tip of a larger iceberg upon which coercion and domination will ultimately crash asunder. Beyond lie fields of heretofore unimagined peace and prosperity, born of a true understanding of man’s oneness with his species, his planet, the full breadth of the universe, and collective consciousness itself.

Of course, it behooves us to place the majority of our focus on the steps immediately before us – to keep horse before cart and fulfill our present duty – but this commentary is being offered as a simple reminder to keep our progressive ideas in context. Remember that the future is wide open, and that the next generation will benefit most by being encouraged to an awareness of the infinite possibilities of expanding consciousness, rather than being limited by an absolute presentation of the current leading edge. Even our lofty notions of a free society – as luminary and necessary as they are now - will be rightfully deemed archaic and backward when viewed in retrospect by the future generations to come.

Thanks for checking in!
Brian Blackwell

• Adventures in Consciousness: The Hero’s Path

• Adventures in Consciousness: The Path of the Dead