1 Comment

Related:

"The British medical journal The Lancet recently published a new report from its commission on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That response, the commission concludes, 'has been nothing less than a massive global failure - a failure of rationality, transparency, norms of public health practice, operational co-ordination and international solidarity.'"

(https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2022/09/22/Why-We-Need-Prosocial-Revolution/)

It's not just the USA. In view of its wealth, the failures of the USA are particularly egregious. However, the same kinds of systemic viciousness and stupidity are going on in many other countries too (e.g., Canada, where I live).

The Lancet calls for a strengthening of prosociality, which is darkly amusing in the context of societies that are constitutionally committed to antisociality. After all, as "everyone" knows, the unrestrained pursuit by every individual of their own immediate interest, regardless of anyone else's, is the root of all prosperity. Sages since time immemorial (or at least the 18th century), including luminaries such as Saint Margaret of Hayekshire and Saint Ronald of Friedmanburgh, have assured us this is so. Only a few - no more than several billion - pitiful losers would dispute it.

Not that The Lancet's doctors have misdiagnosed the disease. The roots of practically every problem with human societies are indeed myopic selfishness, particularly on the part of their most wealthy and powerful members, and committed meanness*. What's amazing is that these doctors seem to imagine a strengthening of prosociality sufficient to stave off another "massive global failure" like the response to COVID-19 might be attainable any time soon. I'm all for trying, but they should realize they're talking about a revolution without precedent in history.

*Especially in the USA, a sizable and growing subpopulation consists of Misfits, meaning people like the criminal known as The Misfit in Flannery O'Connor's story "A good man is hard to find", who says, "No pleasure but meanness."

Expand full comment