Chaos Theory
Hundreds, if not thousands, of analyses, news programs, magazine articles, op-ed pieces, and talking head self-proclaimed experts have weighed in on how our species came to this precarious moment in time, an inflection point where we may very well be headed towards a self-induced Armageddon. Each one of these prognosticators has their own unique perspective on the underlying reasons for our current predicament. So now here I am, offering my own point of view about the events that have led us to this brink.
I am borrowing the term “Chaos Theory” from academic mathematics where it refers to aspects of how the universe was formed (way overly simplified). In my own scenario, the intended definition has to do with what I view as a push by members of many disparate cultures to reinvent the human experience by tearing down the societal structures we have built over the last several millennia. By doing this, these people believe that we can emerge from the subsequent chaos to reform our societies in a manner more in line with their own personal belief systems.
Changes to our physical and mental environments have been accelerating for centuries, but this has been especially true over the past few decades in terms of advancing technology and adjustments to cultural attitudes. And because we humans are tribal in nature, having evolved over millions of years in small groups within relatively unchanging communities, our human minds begin to rebel against these constant updates. We have always preferred stability, knowing that we have a daily routine where we could hunt and gather or more recently, go to the office and find a sense of place.
Of course there has always been conflict of a certain nature. Our ancestors had to survive hostile environments, be they predators looking for their own meal, or a neighboring tribe wanting to expand their territory. At times threats were from within the confines of the individual community. Two Alpha personalities would vie for dominance within the tribe and momentary chaos would ensue. We can view this pattern of behavior firsthand when we study our nearest relatives on the evolutionary tree. Bonobos and chimpanzees both have these types of internal conflicts, eventually coming to a head where a single victor vanquishes the challenger.
We “superior” humans tend to believe we have evolved beyond this type of behavior, but we are direct descendants of early Homo sapiens going back nearly 750,000 years when those tribal characteristics became ingrained in the central portion of our brains (the amygdala). We continue to carry those behavioral traits with us today regardless of what we might like to believe, and they control much of our subconscious interaction with our fellow humans
Resistance to industrialization and global integration are not new, but over the past few centuries, and in particular over the past twenty years, it’s difficult not to see this change manifest itself in an irrational fear that alters the fabric of world culture in ways that are difficult to understand.
At the same time there is a move by many cultures to embrace authoritarianism, to find fault in democratically elected governing bodies, and to move towards unintended chaos. Although this predilection usually is relegated to the far right and the far left, it has been inching towards the center. There remains a desire by this growing number of extremists to tear down the established structures and to recreate a realm of nostalgic fantasy that harkens to a time that really only exists in people’s imaginations.
Those who support the destruction of the status quo don’t necessarily consciously want anarchy and chaos (though a few probably do). My sense is they want very defined order, but order within the context of their own specific belief system whether that is religious, ideological, or political. They tend to believe they can create a utopian ideal of a Christian nation (whatever that might mean), or Marxist realm, or a country of ethnic purity, where “we” will all be happy and content and heaven on earth will exist.
Historians who have examined our collective past know this longing for a homogenous society filled with safety and stability is pure nonsense and impossible to achieve, but that doesn’t stop many from working towards that goal. It is apparent that to even closely approximate an ideal society we must first stop believing in the fantasies we create in our heads and embrace an understanding of human fallibility and diversity, then work within that context for a pragmatic solution. Easier said than done but worth considering.
Tobin your main point as I understand is that sizable number of our fellow countrymen/women have come to believe that chaos is to be preferred to the quality of life they now experience, because, wait for it,– a re-creation of America will be born from the debris of institutions which they perceive as corrupt and irredeemable. The felon which was elected for a second term has made no attempt to disguise his intention to reduce many federal agencies to a bare skeleton of staffing needed to function as congress once intended.
You speculate that one of the causes for this knee jerk-option for destruction, a repudiation of reform by democratic means is due to the inability to tolerate accelerating change. In other words a stampede back to the “good ole days” which never really existed. Perhaps you are right about this and I might add there are multiple motivations that are relevant to the virulent engine that drives the former republican party.
So, as you suggest we are watching a Ragnarok locomotive coming toward us liberal minded, seeming to gain momentum by the day. One lesson that we ought to consider is that democracy, and democratic institutions are no guaranteed defense against chaos. We humans have the seeds of chaos with us, that a certain set of socio-economic conditions are fertile ground, affording opportunity for these seeds to germinate.
Authoritarianism seems a better bet, or perhaps, the only play that’s left when long over due reform of policy (immigration is a big one) is long overdue, and compromise is less and less possible. A strong-man-daddy presents as a savior even if almost his every utterance is factually untrue. Ragnarok, doom of the gods, battle at the end of the world – coming right up! It would be easy to substitute the Christian notion of apocalypse. For a real fright-fest check out the book of Revelation chapter 20. Norse or Christian myth, it all amounts to the same deal.
What can I do? I am not sure that anything ought, or can be done. What is the point of placing oneself in front of a juggernaut to be surely crushed? As has occurred time and time again, these outbreaks of the id, run their course, lessons are partially learned, and for a while a new “normal” is sustained.
And then the cycle repeats.
Spot on. This evening I found out that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is being cancelled right on the heals of Colbert’s evisceration of a Trump loyalist on his show. Another nail in the coffin of free speech.
As to what to do. I wish I had an answer. The die is apparently cast and we are mere observers shaking our collective fists at someone who could care less because he knows he’s winning and consolidation of his empire is waiting in the wings.