Intellectual and professional isolation in modern society

We can see a lot of intellectual and societal divides when we read the posts on LinkedIn. Sometimes, these posts get quite radical. They react against a reality stripped of spirituality and meaning. They struggle against the blind forces of nature and power, and see the will to power as inherently sinful and devoid of conscience.

Radicalism stems from the desire to isolate and purify components of reality, transforming them into creative principles. This perspective contributes to societal fragmentation and alienation from nature.

A revision of political ethics and a better integration of spiritual and material aspects of life is needed, Plessner writes, because of the split between internal values and external realities. The education system must support decisiveness and adaptability, bases on a balanced and expansive understanding of human nature and society. Plessner challenges the notion that humans, as spiritual beings, can exist in a purely nonviolent communal form, and suggests that societal forms inevitably involve force and indirectness.

Balancing Community and Society

Plessner challenges the idea that humans, as spiritual beings, can exist in a purely nonviolent communal form. He proposes that societal forms inevitably involve force and indirectness. Modern ideologies often idolize community as an idealized reaction to the harshness and impersonality of contemporary life. This idealization leads to a rejection of societal structures and a push towards an all-encompassing, organic connection, which, according to Plessner, is impractical and even detrimental. Genuine societal culture should balance spiritual and physical aspects; it integrates force in a refined and spiritualized manner.

Morality of the Master vs. Community

The morality of the master, valuing individuality and strength, contrasts with the morality of the community, which often emerges from the disenfranchised and seeks communal dissolution. Extreme individualism and radical communal ideologies lead to unintended consequences, such as loss of personal dignity or societal fragmentation. Plessner points out that both Nietzsche’s individualism and Marx’s communal ideals fail to provide a balanced societal ethos. Modern youth, naturally inclined towards radicalism, interpret generational conflicts through social and communal divides. This complicates the quest for a balanced societal structure. Plessner critiques the youth movement’s synthesis of Nietzschean anti-democracy and Marxist opposition to society, which overlooks the complexities of societal structures and the necessity of indirectness and force in human interactions.

The Role of Ceremony and Prestige

Ceremony is crucial in maintaining social harmony and protecting individuals from humiliation. While ceremony offers structure and dignity, it often lacks the flexibility required for continuous social dynamics and individual self-assertion. Prestige, in contrast, provides a dynamic form of recognition and influence, maintained through consistent and visible actions. Individuals must deal with the rigid forms of ceremony and the dynamic demands of prestige. While ceremonies provide structure, prestige allows for personal expression and societal progress. Both are necessary for a balanced society, ensuring that individuals can express themselves and achieve recognition while maintaining social order.

Diplomacy and Social Order

Diplomacy is important for maintaining social harmony; it prevents conflicts from escalating into physical force. Ethical diplomacy respects the principle of reciprocity. It ensures that all parties have equal opportunities to negotiate and achieve a fair outcome. This approach preserves human dignity by resolving conflicts through negotiated agreements rather than brute force.

The Public Sphere as a System of Hygiene for the Soul

The public sphere imposes a specific demeanor on individuals, which balances inner tensions with external roles across various value spheres (law, ethics, state, economy) to accommodate life's fluctuations while maintaining order. Individuals often feel betrayed by the law due to the need for artificial agreements that balance legality with practicality and manageability. These transactions maintain social order and are judged by objective results rather than personal intentions.

Negotiation and compromise, requiring diplomacy, are crucial in forming fair agreements and preventing conflicts from escalating into force. Prestige, maintained through consistent actions, ensures respect and authority in the public sphere. Ethical diplomacy respects reciprocity, providing equal opportunities for maneuver and negotiation, thus maintaining social balance. While the public sphere equalizes interactions and enriches life through ceremony and prestige, ethical and moral approaches often fail to address the nuances of public interactions, rooted in respect for human dignity and individual uniqueness. Politics and diplomacy, as ongoing processes, balance conflicting interests and avoid brute force, maintaining dignity and stability.

The Christian perspective highlights the tension between spiritual ideals and pragmatic societal demands, emphasizing the need for force, distance, and restraint to protect dignity and foster creativity.

A balanced societal order recognizes the necessity and limits of power, maintaining human dignity and harmony. The public sphere, with its rules and structures, acts as a system of hygiene for the soul, providing a framework for managing interactions.