Toxic ultraconservatism, stubbornly clinging to abuses, causes great harm. Let’s consider the Ancien Régime, Roman games with forced gladiators, clitoral mutilation (and vaginal sewing), and other outrages that have been perpetuated for centuries largely due to the desire to preserve what one has witnessed in their childhood and youth.
For example, defenders of bullfighting and cruel animal festivals use tradition as their main argument. But then, by the same token, should we maintain all kinds of barbaric customs and practices, such as those mentioned above?
Some staunch traditionalists defend the existing status quo by appealing to the wisdom of the group. But what wisdom was there in the Holy Inquisition, in the right of conquest that allows invading and stealing whatever one desires in occupied territories, or in considering women as men’s property?
In fact, most of society has average to low levels of intelligence, knowledge, and sense of justice, so it does not seem that the established order, simply by emanating from the group, is synonymous with wisdom and mental enlightenment.
There are some guardians of tradition whose zeal for preservation is such that they can reach levels of imprisoning, killing, and even torturing those who deviate from their traditionalist orthodoxy.
What is the point of preserving for the sake of preserving? What logic is there in maintaining both the good and the bad?
Moreover, traditionalism is correlated with unhappiness, as can be seen on this map, which shows that countries with lower life satisfaction indices are the most conservative, and vice versa:
The orientation towards excellence and a better world consists of preserving what already works well and changing what can be improved.
Read LET’S BUILD A BETTER WORLD!: Let’s aim for excellence to achieve it
It is important to distinguish between 2 types of conservatism:
The latter can be deceptive, appearing progressive because it favors advances made so far, even the most recent ones. However, in reality, it is not, since this attitude consists of thinking that things are already fine as they are and no further changes are needed.
This is the case, for example, with people who support progress made in women’s and LGTBI rights, but not major changes in animal rights—always the great forgotten ones because they cannot vote—given that the established order is considered fine as it is.
These individuals may believe they are progressive, but in reality, they exhibit a herd-like conservatism, meaning they always cling to the rules established by their group at any given moment. They are very much products of their place and time.
LIVING WITHOUT HARMING: Do not follow the herd in order to harm
And when someone suggests new social reforms, their initial attitude is one of rejection, the same as many pro-slavery advocates had towards abolitionist proposals. In fact, they used the same arguments, such as ‘that’s just how things are,’ ‘they’ve always been this way,’ ‘that’s life,’ or ‘you don’t have the truth, no matter how much you think you do.’
LET US BUILD A BETTER WORLD!: Let us reform society
These are the same types of people who, in Aztec times, resisted abolishing the massive human sacrifices of slaves from other tribes, whom they forced to climb to the top of pyramids to have their ribs cut with a sharp stone and their hearts ripped out by hand while they were alive, then thrown down the side of the pyramid. And they are also the same ones who opposed eliminating the right to rape women as spoils of war.
A major problem is that a considerable percentage of humans have these types of conservatism in varying degrees in their genes, especially when the status quo selfishly benefits them, their loved ones, or their group.
HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT CAUSING HARM? Let’s enjoy positive selfishness and avoid negative selfishness
Therefore, this instinct to preserve one’s own culture and way of doing things is an enormous obstacle to abolishing injustices, to the point that many of them have continued for millennia.
The greater a person’s conservative DNA and the more closed and limited the environment in which they were raised, the longer it will take for them to realize the convenience of certain changes and implement them. Since this is their nature, it is appropriate to give them a reasonable amount of time for this, but it is also not good to take more time than strictly necessary.
Let us not cling to past and present abuses, evils, and cruelties, but rather open ourselves to a better future. Let us be rational and question dogmas, uses, and customs. And above all, let us be just and good people.
FOR A WORLD WITHOUT HARM: Let us be rational
Thank you for sharing if you believe these ideas contribute to a more just and happier world,
Xavier Paya
Living Without Harm initiative
LET US NOT HARM ANYONE, except in legitimate self-defense against the aggressor.
With the Living Without Harm initiative, we strive to prevent any kind of suffering or harm from being caused to you, your loved ones, and others.
1 Mission: A happier world
3 Goals:
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2. Encourage people not to cause harm.
3. Promote scientific research on quality of life.
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