> > [David M. previously]
> >> Do you think moral imagination plays a role?
[SA previously]
> > Yes. What are you getting at here?
[David M]
> Nothing in particular, only that if we are to help
> people improve their behaviour to realise better
> lives for themselves we need to understand why they
> undertake the destructive behaviour they are stuck
> with.
I see two actions here.
Firstly, to "...help people improve their
behaviour to realise better lives...". This is vague,
and a rabbit hole quest. Of course, we could allow
ourselves to start thinking in terms of 'what is
better?', and answer such a question in various ways.
SOM would say get past the appearances or move past
imagination and get to the 'real' reality, and
historically this has been achieved by cutting little
children's hair and putting them in a school that
teaches the universe via books inside a classroom. I
remember a university professor who held classes
outside, as students we thought this guy was so cool.
In hindsight, that thinking of ours, as students,
seems so ridiculous. The world is for the most part
played out, outside, but he was a rebel. I once
thought and discussed with a professor about how it
could be easily imaginable that the early
agriculturalists teased and looked down on hunters and
gathers, thinking how backwards they were and their
way was better. Better why? Well, it was dynamic,
modern, and new upon the earth. Does that mean it's
better? I'm not arguing modern technologies and
medicines against hunter and gather ways. I'm saying
what platform do we discuss what's better? Of course
not the dividing line platform of SOM where we start
to put us and them into categories of better/worse.
This is in the direction of Plato's search of
absolutes were we might someday find the secret moral
law of what is good. I'm going to go look under the
rock in the backyard and see if I can find it. I'm
not saying you are pushing this in that direction.
I'm making you aware of the direction I know, and I
assume you know, we don't need to go.
Secondly, why do we need to understand
destructive behavior? From my experience, I try to
understand teenagers destructive behavior, but that
only clings negativity and chaos embedded in my
perspective. It is dangerous ground to walk. It
hurts and is confusing. I also find, ME knowing why
they have destructive behavior doesn't help them
realize what I found out. It could be they are too
immature and not open to discussion, but no, no, no,
no, and eventually a 'think about it' might - I say
might - lead into a realization on their part of what
triggers their destructive behaviors. But the hardest
part is for them to cope with these destructive events
or might I say changing events. I say the latter for
they'll act out when situations are seemingly calm,
but a change is occurring. A change in the routine,
or number of residents, such as a new resident upsets
the coping skills of the other residents usually. I
find myself not trying to understand the destructive
behaviors so much, but trying to cope. Oddly though,
by trying to cope I maintain clarity and see more and
more destructive behaviors from subtle to massive
scales. If I'm confused, then I'm not noticing much,
but when I'm trying to cope and not get caught up in
thinking about destructive behaviors then my mind is
clear enough to see destructive behaviors and so I
meditate, canoe, walk, think of my son and wife.
That's all I have for now, but do you see what I
mean? It still might fit in with what your trying to
get at. I would appreciate a discussion to draw out
what's happening.
thanks.
SA
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