This week we once again had the two discussions, one on zoom and one in-person.
There was a major dualistic theme that ran through the two discussions. Two different meanings associated with the word ‘AUTONOMY’. One meaning suggested an isolation, selfishness and stubborn individuality, the other suggested an omnipresent knowing that the individual ultimately has the choice and responsibility for all of the decisions and lack of decisions being made.
The question of autonomy stirred a polarising view as to the actuality of harnessing autonomy and living autonomously.
Living in a relatively structured and controlled society with no spiritual meta-narrative facilitating our navigation of this existence we are left to the information giants, social influence and our context to determine our morality and values.
Australia throughout the pandemic has exhibited its tendency to comply and the extent in which it will unquestionably agree. Up to a certain point and pushed back by only a certain few.
Am I autonomous in my reaction to authority? Whether I comply or react blindly I am driven by an unconscious story that may or may not have anything to do with the context at hand. From this example autonomy is to be the author of your own story, create the meaning you wish to carry forward no matter what decision is being made. I am responsible for my own decisions and experience of life.
Autonomous - has its origins in Greek for ‘having one’s own laws.’
This excited some within the group and triggered others. Why?
It leads me to reflect upon Nietzsche’s take on morality. Master morality being one that values power, creativity and self-actualisation and slave morality being one in reaction to master morality, creating an opposite moral framework valuing meekness, compassion, empathy and equality (Nietzsche).
Masters create their own rules and slaves create moral codes in contrast to those of the masters.
This back and forth as to what morality is of the highest good is superfluous as they are one side of the same coin. And both are meaning making.
The masters and the slaves can push their morality into the realms of extremity. Masters stepping on one another, lacking compassion, empathy, mercy and becoming tyrants disconnected from all living beings. We can see this in the form of past dictators, unruly artists, writers, philosophers, CEO’s, Politicians and creatives. On the other hand, humans on the extreme pole of slave morality, become so feeble and lacking conviction that they slump into a pit of self-disgust, misery and resentment. We are unlikely to know any famous ones but know them from our own community and possibly experience. Both of these extremes are damaging for the community, the individual, but are inherent to our human experience and the greater ecosystem.
The slave revolt, Nietzsche continues, is when the slaves view their own qualities of being as morally pure, bringing them power to meet the masters.
Slave morality rising is not autonomous but driven by a cellular movement organically shifting the many. Maybe it was even started by an autonomous individual who lived a morality that held both the master’s values and the slave’s in unison. Growing a tall poppy that encouraged all the poppies to grow with them. An individual such as Jesus or even Gandhi could be a great example of a prophet who looked beyond the duality of morality to pull everyone into self-actualisation. They balanced the tightrope of responsibility, power and creativity with compassion, empathy and relationship.
Autonomy is neutral, neither right or wrong in its essence, however it can be abused either with negation or with over evaluation. As we can see throughout history the humanitarians and gentle prophets somehow walked the middle way in which they had a voice of their own to which they used to lead, support and elevate the people.
Yet it is not quite enough as we still hide behind Jesus without walking our own path and becoming a master ourselves. How do we become the Gandhi’s, Jesus’ and Martin Luther King’s? How can we each become a master and prophet of gentleness?
It all comes back to story. How can we create a story that inspires personal power as well as compassionate integrity and love?
This is up to you!
Love,
Hadley
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