For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
I recently began reading Joseph Campbell's brilliant 1949 book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, and the following passage struck me as particularly relevant to current calls for renewal, in light of the general rejection of our ideas and values by Americans on November 6th.
As Professor Arnold J. Toynbee indicates in his six-volume study of the laws of the rise and disintegration of civilizations, schism in the soul, schism in the body social, will not be resolved by any scheme of return to the good old days (archaism), or by programs guaranteed to render an ideal projected future (futurism), or even by the most realistic, hardheaded work to weld together again the deteriorating elements. Only birth can conquer death—the birth, not of the old thing again, but of something new. Within the soul, within the body social, there must be—if we are to experience long survival —a continuous "recurrence of birth"(palingenesia) to nullify the unremitting recurrences of death. For it is by means of our own victories, if we are not regenerated, that the work of Nemesis is wrought: doom breaks from the shell of our very virtue. Peace then is a snare; war is a snare; change is a snare; permanence a snare. When our day is come for the victory of death, death closes in; there is nothing we can do, except be crucified—and resurrected; dismembered totally, and then reborn.
I am also put in mind of I, Claudius, the constant invocation of and mourning for the Old Republic, and how Octavian wrapped himself in the cloak of restoration while cementing his power as the tyrant Caesar Augustus. The Republic was gone; it had vanished from the hearts of the elites and the masses both. It had no natural existence anymore beyond a kind of bitter nostalgia for something long unlived.
I think Campbell, invoking Toynbee, is right: what is gone is always gone, and we can only hope for something new. In Hayekian terms, social order is always emergent and unplanned, and what follows the progressive destruction of the old constitutional order will happen of its own accord and in ways we could never imagine, through the aggregation of millions of individual actions. All deliberate plans for renewal will come to naught, will be a snare, as Campbell says.
I have long feared that Ronald Reagan was Marcus Aurelius, a good leader in a bad state, able to cultivate a moment of serenity, but not ultimately change the course of the vast Empire he led. Events seem to have proved me correct.
Discuss among yourselves.
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Feb '11
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
Your post reminds me of some of the closing lines of Arthur Koestler's uncheerful novel of ideas, The Age of Longing (published in 1950), which is basically about the West's loss of civilizational self-confidence.
For the place of God had become vacant and there was a draught blowing through the world as in an empty flat before the new tenants have arrived.
I reviewed the book here.
Dec '11
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
So, would a renewal of conservatism come from living by our principles and, through example as well as conversation with others who might be inclined to live by (some or all of) the same principles, gain ground? I suggest that it would, though it's a long, long road - and many or most of us wouldn't live to see the fruits of the effort.
Mar '11
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
I would argue that Toynbee is usually right here, but not absolutely right. Civilizations almost always fall after decay. But if a people have sufficient spirit and committment to their ideas, they can return: see Switzerland's return after a period as vassal state to Napoleon, and especially, the long march of the return of the people of Israel to their land.
I would agree, however, that I don't see such spirit or ideas in big parts of America. To the liberals, America isn't great because of our founding ideals and refusal to be like the rest of the world. To them, America is not yet great, but could be great, if only we'd adopt more ideas antithetical to the founding. And our kids think America is great because of iPads, Lady GaGa, and Hollywood. Not much hope there. In the future... I don't know how far off... I think there's a pretty good chance the United States eventually breaks up into several entities. The likely alternative is worse: a domineering government decrees we're going to be united, period, and we start building walls to keep people in.
Jun '12
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
Entirely plausible.
May '10
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
I think Campbell's point is that renewal is neither possible nor ultimately desirable. We should still live by our principles -- what else can we live by? -- but the project of restoration is ultimately futile.
The context of this passage is a discussion of King Minos' sin of failing to sacrifice the great white bull promised to Poseidon. In the case of Minoan Crete, that sin is the genesis of the "schism in the soul, schism in the body social" that Campbell sees as fatal and irreversible. Does it not feel as though we live in a time of such schism?
It also bears mentioning that none of us has lived under anything like the constitutional system of our founders. To return to such a thing at this point would be experienced by Americans as the most radical of revolutions. We can only go forward to the collapse of the order that replaced it, and its replacement by something newly imagined.
Aug '10
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
The continual birth of something new is a terrific metaphor for conservatives to consider. It is probably the most proper and feasible response to the state of the nation.
Then again, we already did that three times. Historians and law wonks divide the American republic into three phases so far: the Founding through the Civil War, Reconstruction through the Great Depression, and post-New Deal. (The Constitution itself counts as a rebirth from the failed Articles of Confederation.)
Arguably, the previous two rebirths brought on more problems than they solved.
Coincidentally, I am in the middle of re-reading History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Gibbon spends time explicitly listing every individual power which Augustus took to himself, and how that centralization usurped power from ancient civil institutions.
It was a masterful work of politicking, disassembling a republic while carefully preserving its form... and that form was most important when its institutions were rendered least effective.
Apr '12
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
Switzerland is a federated nation, not a civilization in Toynbee's terms. Western Civilization is one civilization. Part of what Toynbee discusses is how civilizations coalesce and ultimately are ruled by one government. The Roman Civilization kept expanding for a few hundred years after it had met its crisis and failed to respond. It kept on for a few hundred more years after it stopped expanding. Toynbee discusses the attempts under Napoleon and Hitler to coalesce Western Civilization under one government, and were he alive today would be pointing at Brussels.
He also speaks of interrupted civilizations, that sometimes flourish under foreign occupation and come back to their own when the occupation ends. Toynbee's ideas are fascinating.
Apr '12
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
I've often thought that American Civilization is an offshoot of Western Civilization, just as Western Civ. was a child of Roman Civ. It is descended from it, but it is not at all the same thing.
Oct '10
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
The only real future for any of us is transcendence. To believe that my being is summed up in participating in the building of a nation which I will never see fully realized is futility to the soul. It is hope which cannot be realized, and the small steps towards that hope cannot satisfy.
Our only hope is to transcend this earthly ambition by entering into a march toward the realizable future. That is to accept that we are Created and thus we are accountable to our Creator. By doing this I have found that my efforts are not at all futile if they are efforts to live in that state of accountability to our Creator.
My understanding of the Creator is that the first step in that relationship is to accept His Son, Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. To me this is clear. Others can disagree, but they will nevertheless be held accountable. God declares that He is the God of Grace, Justice and Mercy. In the end, can we get it wrong, and still live in God's Presence?
That is the question all serious men must answer.
And then we transcend this political world.
Jul '11
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
I tend to agree. Personally, I am not one for the doom and gloom predictions, nor for clinging to the "good old days"; and welcome change.
I believe that along with the correct political environment, technical advances are the reason for advancements of civilizations. This has been historically true in both rise and falls of civilizations.
And I believe that the modern west is not done with it's innovations and technical advances as of yet; and the political environment is not so corrupt that innovation is bound to be stifled. We have ways to go.
Consider the advancements in computers. Consider Space-X. Consider advances in communication, decentralization of news delivery. Consider the availability of information.
The decentralization of education has been brought about not by political means but by advances in technology.
The same might happen to the decentralization of power of the federal government. There are big "disrupt" movements in industry. The examples include disruption of distribution of media; disruption of the payment industry (PayPal), disruption of the yard sale (eBay), disruption of knowledge (Wikipedia), and many more.
We need to "disrupt" government - "disrupt" conservatism. The right wing machine has failed. We need millions of conservative nanobots.
May '11
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
It has the feel of truth. What's more, it vindicates the 2008 Republican candidate for VP:
"Only birth can conquer death—the birth, not of the old thing again, but of something new. Within the soul, within the body social, there must be—if we are to experience long survival —a continuous "recurrence of birth"(palingenesia) to nullify the unremitting recurrences of death"
Jan '12
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
It's interesting that on Richochet there is a reference to Toynbee. Here is an article his great-granddaughter wrote recently in the Guardian (lefty newspaper).
Oct '10
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
Earlier, at comment #9, I explained that transcendence is the key to participation in the process of 'politics'. It occurs to me that some might read that as encouragement to drop out of the process of making our civilization. I meant quite the opposite.
Using sports as a metaphor; games are played so that the players can know the outcome of their abilities. The progleft calls the keeping of score 'unfair' because they fear the disappointment of knowing the outcome of the contest.
To transcend the political process is not to live outside of it but to live beyond it. I can give my entire effort to the process because I am assured that, in the end, I will know the score. Better, I will get to review the game tapes and know the role I actually played. And, I am certain that even if we lose some battles, God will be the Victor. And, since I am on His team, I am also a victor.
So, seek to transcend the process by committing yourself to God, and you will love what the game tapes show!
May '10
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
Daniel: beautifully written and argued.
Is there an example of a Republic rebrithing from within? I can't think of one. Republics tend to start in backwaters; they need time to germinate.
Worse, I'm afraid that the modern bureaucratic state, with its unprecedented technological control, prevents by design such rebirth within its area of its control.
Aug '10
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
Barkha Herman:
I believe that along with the correct political environment, technical advances are the reason for advancements of civilizations. This has been historically true in both rise and falls of civilizations.
Perhaps, but every time I hear this argument, it calls to mind Karl Marx's mistaken belief that technology would ultimately be the driver to topple capitalism and improve mankind. Technology never conforms to an ideological plan, it makes changes and disrupts in ways serious thinkers can neither predict nor guide.
Except for SpaceX, those are all communications advancements. There must be a message worth communicating at such breakneck speeds, or else all that will be transmitted globally are the petty complaints and vices embedded in human nature.
Furthermore, the advances in computational technology heighten the technocrat's ability to measure, which is the chief source of his power. The same technology that democratizes news dissemination also centralizes control over the economy, bureaucratic regulations, police state monitoring, public surveillance, etc.
Civilization needs technology to advance, but that advancement often leaves wrecked societies in its wake.
Jul '11
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
BlueAnt
Perhaps, but every time I hear this argument, it calls to mind Karl Marx's mistaken belief that technology would ultimately be the driver to topple capitalism and improve mankind.
Not a good enough reason to reject the argument, IMHO.
BlueAnt
Except for SpaceX, those are allcommunicationsadvancements.
Ok, then, borrowing from Niall Fergusen's "apps", besides communication and space travel, the advances in medicine is one reason for our current advancement. Dean Kamen's new water purification project promises to revolutionize the water industry and make water scarcity a thing of the past. The new x-prize for tricorder technology promises to do similar things to the medical industry.
There are other entrepreneurs looking to disrupt other sectors such as Banking (http://sivers.org/nextbank)
And disrupting communication is non-trivial. But the lynch pin to it all is property rights. The rights of the individual to keep what they build, what they own. There is always the possibility that goes away for a bit.
The worlds first trillionairs are around the corner. But of course, they may not be Americans.
Aug '12
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
In Rome, the senators were all descended from the blueblood families. They became extremely wealthy and got to be either distracted by their amusements or too quarrelsome to be able to accomplish much. The affairs of far-flung provinces bored them. Finally they became so ineffectual that they voted to give their power to a dictator. They voted more than once to give their power to a dictator. The Republic was not taken by force; they voted to let a dictator take over in order to get things done.
Getting things done was what brought Hitler and Mussolini to power. Fifteen years ago the Venezuelans voted to give power to Hugo Chavez; they have voted to increase his power twice since.
I could foresee a scenario in which Congress votes to cede even more power to the President. I could also see a day when the President takes powers that the Constitution specifically assigns elsewhere. There are already a number of ways in which our actual practice is unconstitutional, so no amendments will be needed as we slouch our way into a de-facto dictatorship.
May '10
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
I think this is an important insight, Mr. Ant. Perhaps part of Conservatives' despair has its origins in the mistaken belief that the nation was reborn in the so-called Reagan Revolution, and that thereafter we were living under a new, more economically liberal system. From that point of view, Obama has staged a sort of coup, a counterrevolution to reinstall an old, defeated regime.
On the other hand, perhaps we should see both the Reagan presidency and the Gingrich Congress as reactions against the maladministration of a system whose underlying assumptions remained valid for the majority of our citizens. That the system itself is deeply corrupting and ultimately unsustainable is an outré view, even among those who voted for Mitt Romney.
In scary times, people retreat to the familiar and the comforting. They turn to what they know to be true, even when it is objectively false. This is still FDR's America, and it is still 1937. The wheel is yet unturned, the rough beast still unborn.
Feb '12
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
So, we wait...
Aug '10
Re: For Those Awaiting the American Renewal, a Thought
Barkha Herman
Not a good enough reason to reject the argument, IMHO.
Not a rejection, merely a warning.
Technology's trajectory and effects are the least predictable aspects of civilization; human nature is the most predictable. Building a society around our expectations for mankind's behavior is a safer bet than building it around our expectations for future technological advancements.
Indeed not. Among other things, it has destroyed traditional competitive advantage, and removed the need for certain physical commerce arrangements.
I wasn't trying to trivialize technological change, I was trying to say that the latest big changes merely affected communications. We roughly know how that affects civilization, from the Roman roads, the royal postal services, the telegraph, etc. And better communication doesn't generally lead to the kind of virtuous "rebirth" we are looking for.
All the other non-communications advancements make a huge difference. (Fun fact: the biggest liberating advancement for women wasn't accomplished through suffrage or feminism, it came from running water and indoor plumbing.)
I'm all for disruption, but it must be free to develop Hayekian emergent orders... a difficult thing in our increasingly centralized society.