| Studies in Anthropology can give us the humility to understand that simpler, apparently less sophisticated, cultures (past and present) can more effectively overcome and face problems that we in the West now find very challenging. We tend to assume, because we have developed very successful modern technology, democratic politics and sophisticated ideas & practices, that modern styles of social organisation and attitudes are superior to those of the past, or of other cultures. There are a number of false assumptions here: Firstly, these ideas and practices were developed by a relatively few number of people, a few others then successfully specialise in these new developments and advanced them, the rest just follow, or have copied, in some way. Secondly, most of these ideas and psycho-social 'advances' are transformations of existing knowledge and practices, that were often equally sophisticated and revolutionary (in their time and the social and technological context) as the latest inventions. Unfortunately (for our societies), being born into a particular time, or social & and technological context, doesn't mean that we are all immediately adapted (not blindly adhere) to the established system and structure appropriately. This is particularly true in the sense of 'social' adaptation. In many ways, our cultures present the same kinds of problems that arise when you give machine guns to a warring, or hunting culture, used to using blow pipes, or bows and arrows (or otherwise getting along with each other). Another comparison would be; where western cultures attempt to enforce a democratic process into a culture that is used to (and largely satisfied with) an hereditary, or meritocratic leadership process. The new style of social organisation is not 'owned' by all individuals (never mind the 'collective' group). Just as a footnote; Any political, or social system, structure and philosophy, can be orientated towards its continued collective advancement, or its self destruction (Its not what you have got but what you do with it). In more enforced situations there may be a pretence of following the democratic rules but the effective result will be a form of manipulated autocracy, or dictatorship. This can even happen to some degree in established democracies. Modern Democracy is still young and the concepts and principles have some way to develop before there is true social justice and proper adherence to the fundamental principles and all that these require. It is a 'Psycho-social' Law that; any attempt to impose, or intellectually apply, any alternative 'social order', or collective way of 'thinking', will (at best) just produce a holographic 'copy' of the more 'superficial' features. This means that it will lack the more fundamental emotional intellectual & spiritual (enlightened) principles and practices that could make it truly beneficial. This Rule is true for any type, or level, of Psycho-social order. Such artificial 'transformations' remain more open to generating conflict. In order to become a more significant and effective part of any culture (including our own), the more fundamental practice and concepts have to be transformed 'for them', and this must somehow be done for each generation. Cultures are no different to individuals, in terms of the nature and quality of psychological, social (Psycho-social), Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual (Holistic) development. They 'evolve', learn and adapt, if allowed to do so. Being 'born' into a particular time and culture is not enough for individuals to assimilate the essence of its social practices, insights and wisdoms. Membership card, rules, information and knowledge are not enough. Anthropology teaches us that these have to be worked at and earned in some way. Each generation has to 're-invent', or recreate its social sense of self, incorporation the best of the past experiences (good and bad) and introducing adaptations that reflect the changes in circumstances since the last reformation. The quaint traditions and rituals of cultures that we are entertained by, (on our sophisticated holidays, on study excursions, or read in books) may seem to be redundant, or may appear to have become corrupt, or may actually be distorted versions of the original transformed and effective social structure. The original (often forgotten) transformational process and structures (that these rituals and other traditions, more-or-less effectively represented) original served a much more critical and useful purpose. Even when the original 'intellectual' and Psycho-social' purpose has become forgotten, the established practices often still have some validity for that culture and may also provide useful lessons for them and for other cultures. Sometimes, apparent regression to an earlier system and structure can be appropriate to changing circumstances. People resist giving up traditions for good reasons as well as bad. Psycho-social understanding tells us that cultures, (like people - when they are being sensible), prefer to keep the stepping stones in place until the new (psychosocial) ground, on the far side of the river (of experience) has been explored and a new, secure (psychosocial) base established. We prefer to know the territory that we are entering before we give up our rights to the old, assuming we we even want to do so). Sometimes we can even contemplate and engage more that one, parallel psycho-social / cultural system (although such arrangements can eventually become an 'integrated', higher order system and structures in their own right. The most successful social systems will be capable of integrating all the understood and intuitive lessons and experiences of its past with the ever evolving, open-ended advancement of itself, in response to current and future challenges and the varying contexts of widely diverse experiences. If a society, or culture, were capable of psychosocial adaptation, in this way, appropriately (for as long as to circumstances dictate) and creatively adapting to each circumstance in turn, must promise to be the most successful social system. Burning Boats and Bridges comes to mind - a Psycho-social construct, if I ever met one. By the same token, as the illustration above; If the stepping stones are unstable, stolen for some other purpose, or otherwise removed, then we are put at some risk. It is necessary to 'build' a new, more stable structure for the progressing transformation, or else to review whether the transformation is worth the risks and effort. In doing this we may usefully utilise the existing materials in this building process. Intellectual understanding is helpful, but in such circumstances, individual and collective 'intuitive' insight have a valid role. Whatever is the case, choosing our psychosocial options, will depend on many things, including how 'redundant' the 'old order' is in meeting any new demands placed upon it (and collectively accepted). If we do hold onto some of the old traditions and rituals, as I said, they may still serve some valid but forgotten purpose. Sometimes it is valuable to 'back-engineer' such social systems and identify the psychosocial, adaptive benefits that these practices once (and may currently) serve. Many years ago I began to realise that the 'enforced' knowledge and thinking that I was being 'fed' did not adequately explain my own perceptions, experiences and conceptualisations of some of the subjects I was studying. This struggle / conflict was even worse when I started vocational studies. Once I stated University studies (a little later in life) I became unbearable. I was being lead and started to believe, that earlier learning difficulties were having an impact on my understanding of more sophisticated studies. There was still a bit of me, who reflected upon my extensive childhood experiences (and what I was told by close family friend, was quite sophisticated thinking), and concluded that I was correct in my and criticisms of existing social 'knowledge' and teaching approaches. By the age of 33, I left University, disappointed and disillusioned but with some unexpected interest in statistics and computers. I contracted with myself not to read any further 'vocational', political, or social science. I allowed myself to engage in conversations and debates with people that I met and who showed and enthusiasm and insight into their subjects and their own developing ideas )like myself). we shared these openly. | Hi there Reader, I appreciate your visit. On this page you will find my account of the lessons that can be gleaned form the studies of individual and collective human development and social and cultural evolution, diversity and 'adaptation'. This interest includes attention to social systems, structures, organisations, institutions, belief systems and intuitive processes (often incorporated into spiritual understanding), which underly all establish social systems. I also argue how and why it is that these social systems naturally evolve, blossom, stagnate and collapse. I discuss this evolving, adaptive process as a 'natural' cycle of growth and advancement, adjusting to new circumstances, while incorporating the valuable lessons of the past. Like all natural systems, processes and beliefs, these can become 'corrupted' by individual and collective aberrations and overwhelming circumstances outside of human control. The wider context of human interaction with other species and the interactive engagement with physical environment, are also valid but are mainly dealt with else where. NOTE: This Document is still at some stage of development. You are invited to respond and comment on its content and its logic. If you return to the document at a future date, you will be able to see its continued development, hopefully reflecting your own and others commentary. I thank you, in advance, for any contribution that you make. Please also feel free to visit and contribute, in any valid way, to these and other social issues, through our Forums. There is also a Chat Room and protected Chat Space for more serious group discussions and individual counselling. Please feel free o use this space for your legitimate activities. Copyright: Although you will see very few reference to other formal writings in this document, I acknowledge general recognition to the discussions and debates that I have had with students, practitioners and clients over the years. Most of the ideas and theory has evolved through this rather pragmatic process (operational research), rather than any formal reading. If any content of this document describes concepts, theory, or ideas that have been established else where, (prior to my writing, either here or else where - in part or in full), I acknowledge their entitlement to claim them as their intellectual property for financial purposes, if they can evidence this. I also reserve the right to retain them as my intellectual property, with due recognition to those who have made direct contributions, including other writers, should I identify such a past influences. Other than this, I invite you to share and copy any content, to the benefit of intellectual debate and the benefit of individuals and groups, without restriction, other than it be used for constructive purpose, in the wider context of my writing. Should you wish to use any material presented here 'as is', I ask that you then make reference to myself and the web site. The 'Reading Date' would be a useful 'publishing date' for the Current Edition. 1980 is the core publishing date for most of the basic ideas and theory (unless stated otherwise). This 'Reading Date' may be an important part of this 'reference', as the document (by its 'internet fluid' nature) will be constantly changing and this may affect meaning and interpretation, for those following up on such a reference at a later date. Thank you for your cooperation. TRC. |
