Egalite! - Let's Change the World!

  Egalite! - Why Not Utopia?

Collective image psychology

   The World Trade Center bombing plumbed new depths of human depravity and makes utopian speculations seem foolish, but perhaps the tragedy will turn out to be a hitting bottom, like an alcoholic who awakens in a strange place with no memory of how he got there. If the experience was sufficiently sobering, he begins the road back by asking himself "Can I change?" If his answer is "No", he's a goner.

             Can human nature change? Centuries of inhumanity incline us to see ourselves as incorrigible, but if we walk the path alcoholics walk, there's hope. A widely accepted theory called "self image psychology" holds that an individual's sense of self creates individual behavior. It says negative self imagery, feelings of unworthiness, cause self destructive behavior. It lifts us by bootstraps, but there's a kind of logic. When you see yourself without talent, you don't attempt the great American novel. If you think yourself talented, you try.

             This site suggests "human nature", the collective image, motivates national behaviors the way self image motivates individual behavior. We need no opinion poll to conclude we take a dim view of ourselves. Human nature so offends some, they do anything to distinguish themselves from a mass they despise. Their efforts "to better themselves" create hierarchies of greater and lesser. Nationalism, the collective reaction to collective inferiority, distinguishes the group from the rest of humanity. We prefer to say, "I am American, English, French, German or whatever" rather than admit we are human, the same, essentially, as everyone.

             Critics insist utopia is impossible because we are not equal, but they confuse identity with equality. We are NOT identical. Not only do we come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and abilities, a growing consensus believes the alteration of brain protein is the mechanism of memory. Different experiences make us unique. We are equal in the sense that we live and die; Citizens of "first world" countries will not welcome the perception they are the same as wretched inhabitants of Somalia, but when eternity is the yardstick, marketplace games lose significance.

             If eternity doesn't do it for you, it is clear free market capitalism cannot regulate rapidly evolving technological societies. We make technological mistakes. As technology gets more powerful, errors become more dangerous. The problem isn't that we make mistakes, that's inevitable. The problem is we can't stop making the mistake because capitalism ties us to the status quo. When we need jobs, it doesn't matter that we build internal combustion engines. We need the work although the evidence is unmistakable that what we do endangers our health. Utopia is no pipe dream. We may not survive without it.

             Collective image psychology takes us far from present practice. In a world where we perceive everyone as decent, we cooperate rather than compete because there is no reason to distinguish oneself from a humanity one admires. This is not to say humanity is "good". A history of inhumanity proves otherwise. 
Collective image psychology says only that our perception of human nature turns us into the species we think we are. It will not be easy to see ourselves differently, but the perception we are alike and not so bad is more than wishful thinking. Whatever we accomplish in brief lifetimes turns to dust just like us.

             These concepts require more exposition than can be contained on a web page. I may have already challenged your attention span. We start down the road to different collective behavior by using the Internet to interact on more meaningful levels. In the process we trust each other sight unseen. To that end, I post my user ID and password so you can access this site to improve it. The FTP address is 207.150.192.12 The userID is egalite. The password is bluebird.

             If you think collective image psychology a promising idea, add resources. Maybe you prefer animation or audio. Give it a shot. One offshoot of seeing ourselves as equal, means we share responsibility. What happens if you do something I don't like? Nothing. As equals, you have as much say as I do. The downside is someone trashes the place. Am I naked before enemies? I hope not. I see myself fully clothed amongst friends. Those gratified by bursting bubbles should ask why they destroy rather than build. Where does the anger come from? Maybe we can help.

            A few favors. If you find anything of interest, tell your friends. I don't spam and do nothing to get listed on search engines. If this site is to be visited, it will be by word of your mouth. Don't hesitate to link your site with this one. Since you know the password, do it yourself. If you'd rather I do it, send me your URL. The site is a work in progress. I'd like to create a virtual community of people foolish enough to believe a global classless society is not beyond us. I'm technologically challenged, which is why the site is all text and no action. To discuss anything, drop me a line.

            To see where utopian philosophy takes you, try MORE