The Zeitgeist on a Horse

Equality and the Emperor

Its the comment Hegel made after he met Napoleon Bonaparte.  I can't help  feeling amused at that comment. It is nothing less than a full notion of the human condition … when viewed in an entire scope of creation. I marvel at Hegel for being able to do so … and his engagement of the term … Zeitgeist … is specific as to a role that Napoleon brought to the world … in that time … with regards to the conditions surrounding the post-French revolution.

 

To my mind … the French revolution is illustrative of the principle … we see everywhere … with regards to human development. First its the dismissal of the royal idea … and the founding of the equality of all man. But curiously if all things are equal … who is it who shall create the lead for initiatives? So in the clamp of such a view …  a man storms the seat of leadership … to occupy sole authority over affairs … and that's to promote the democratic ideal! Thereafter he finds himself in exile … to review the experience in the knowledge of the self. Its not very different from the practice of self-realization.

 

The events surrounding the life of Napoleon and the French people does indeed produce the most curious inquiries about how we express and communicate the freedom ideal. It would therefore appear that Napoleon was forced to take on a role of total authority … to promote an ideal … that was based on individual rights and freewill. Certainly the French must be very trusting!

 

I find that … a common condition … with all people who promote the ideas of equality. And in that zeal for the promotion of such beliefs … the individual plays the role of an instrumental puppet in the hands of democratic ideals … or as the devout would say … they are the handmaiden of God. Such a state is not uncommon … and I figure there are many who will identify with such a role in their own lives. And each of us … beyond that experience … comes to deal with how well we understand our role and identity.

 

In the phenomenon of the world spirit … a man observes two aspects of the experience. One is sourced from the anima … and another from the human specie. In retiring from the role we play in public office … a man brings himself to acknowledge that he was guided by a mix of these qualities in the world spirit. And when he disengages from identification with the work identity … he finds that the anima aspect retains an obsessive identification with it … as if it is its absolute identity.

 

The issue is referred to in Indic texts as … prakriti … or attachment. It is an obsessive compulsion with regards to an achievement in retirement or to an achievement in a previous life. The situation is compounded by the fact … all such achievements are undertaken ostentatiously by the individual … in the application of his intellect and will. It occurs to the individual later … that such achievements that we perceive … borrow on a manner of perception … that's based on the relative … to further the cause of social advancement. However its no consolation to the individual who takes it as a personal achievement.

 

' It's a funny world ' … said Dame Margaret Thatcher … the former prime minister of England. In noticing the sudden switch of alliances in her party … she came to understand that … its not the worth and value of a person in the eyes of society that matters … but simply to make room for others … for continuing with the achievements. Its this in the soup of the mind of the individual … that makes for the greatest inquiry.

 

Beyond the rule of Kings … Democracy came to suggest that every man is so capable … but a new lesson that we are learning … is that its a professional job … and the power is on the seat that we occupy. Its not a personal quality of the individual … but is greatness thrust upon the man. Its certainly been that way always … even in the subsequent lives of Kings … but in these times … our past comes back to occupy our attention … on account of the open global experience of our lives … and the popular thought in these times … that we can achieve anything we put  our minds to.

 

Every man plays a role in the way we bring these values to society. And sometimes we play the bad guy … simply to create a lesson in that for others. And sometimes we get caught in a role we play … that turns into something we cannot pull back from. We realize at these points that we need to be somewhat specialized in the game. But for all the good intentions … and the misinterpretation of our motives … we are led into the fray of the formerly-good … who in turn experience satisfaction … in drawing in other players … into their web of spite.

 

Its a sad experience to encounter someone who has gone through a convolution in their passions … and faces the prospect that they thought they were good enough to deal with the intricacies of passion. But God in his infinite wisdom … appears to have thought that we ought to try. How else would we learn? And in coming out of each experience … we are stronger … wiser … and more determined than ever … that humanity is worth the risks we take.

 

Its the Gamesman theory … put together by Maccoby … who proposed that they are those whose lives are lived … in relation to a game they play … in their relations with everyone … in accordance to a set of guides and objective they hope to achieve. In myth … that is in reference to the adonaias … which was turned into Peter Pan … or the kid who never grew up. The Bharata Natyam in the Indic practice … and the accompanying songs are considered … Jiva Kalai … or the art of the soul … and practitioners learn the code of the play. The Vasudeva and Dionysis … at their advent … had a reputation for such plays.

 

Oscar Wilde … in coming across customs … in America had announced … ' I have nothing to declare but my wit.' And no doubt it is the pre-occupation of many good men … who find themselves in such a position in life … that affirms the non-attachment … we bring to our successes. And as Rudyard Kipling said in … ' If ' … ' If you can meet with success and failure and treat both impostors the same … then you are a man.' And perhaps … the Zeitgeist.

 

Reviews

[Delmar Cooper]

A few notes: "The events ... do produce," not does produce, and as Strunk and White profess and insist there is a great difference between "its" and "it's." See the Dame Thatcher quote above for an example of correct usage.

Erudite, I think, not being all that conversant Vedas and such I must take your word (in the absence of footnotes). I wonder who inhabits your intended audience.

I really am unsure of the point (s) you are making, but they are reached for in a grand manner and if my grasp falls short of your reach (scope?) then the sin be upon my head.

[Dayran]

hi Delmar ... how are you going?

Thks for the review. Appreciate your comments.

My writes are basically my expressions of stuff I've been into ... and making sense of it for myself. In sharing it ... I sometimes think it helps my reader to think less of sin ... and more the epistemology of knowledge that we have come to accept ... and the changing nature pf norms. And that also explains why I don't use footnotes ... I see it as a coffee table chat ... plain speaking stuff ... and using footnotes ... in these times of Google everything seems redundant. In mitigation ... I'd like to refer to the Plain Writing Act 2010 ... as my defense. Thks ... and hope to hear from you again.

[Delmar Cooper]

Not being a lawyer I missed the PWA roll out. Seemed to me an elaborate and well thought out essay was being petard hoisted by a mere twelve uses of "its" for "it's". I note it in the same way a roach on a wedding cake would attract notice. Still a beautiful cake but it's hard to ignore its roach.

[Dayran]

The use of language in the human condition has always referred to bringing into expression … our passions that began in a manner of being mere feelings. In giving it expression the English language has allowed for the poetic use of the language with words such as ' tis ' or ' yon ' that enhances the flow of the expression.

Your point of insistence on correctness would certainly extend to the use of the word ' beautiful ' to describe the text. That is of course incorrect. That term is primarily reserved for women … or scenery … in the expression of the way they look. In much the same way … you've engaged the word ' roach ' which is an ' Americanized ' term for the word ' cockroach.' By implication … your roach is missing a c**k.

You've created the opportunity here for a fine look at language and expressions and I hope the interest it generates will continue to sustain your enthusiasm. We are obliged to say that the feel of diversity that arises in such discourses … is merely academic … and is expressive of the living nature of language. Certainly the living experience of English adds to its usage beyond the way it might have begun.

[Delmar Cooper]

Creative genius is a law unto itself. Use any form of English in any way that expresses your thought. I stand corrected and I apologize.

[Dayran]

Thks for dropping by. I'm sorry a little creative use of language spoilt your appreciation of the write.

[Delmar Cooper]

Creative genius is a law unto itself. Use any form of English in any way that expresses your thought. I stand corrected and I apologize. Again

[Rhinounce]

I enjoyed this very much, delving into the human psyche of roles and identity, the quoting adds validation and the use of continuing full stops gives the impression that the reading is in the present, as if you are there with the writer as he types