Competing Visions Of The Human Person
Two days ago, I attended the launch of ‘Mindless How the Education System is Indoctrinating Children and Destroying Our Civilisation,’ the most recent book by Dr @belladabrera. The event was held by @TheIPA (Institute of Public Affairs), at which d’Abrera is Director, Foundations of Western Civilisation Program.
In her speech, d’Abrera opened by stating that things have gone ‘very badly wrong’ in the educational institutions across the West, from early child care through to universities.
Many important points were made by d’Abrera, including in the panel conversation that followed. However, there was one theme that d’Abrera returned to several times, which, in my view, elevated and put in perspective the seriousness of the issue: the vision of the human person.
d’Abrera asked us to confront the outcomes of the education system as it now exists and asked, "Who are the adults we are forming?" What is that system’s vision of the human person? And for example, is it producing morally serious humans? D’Abrera stated that a defining trait of Western civilisation has been emphasis on the human being. She elaborated, describing how Western civilisation has hitherto championed the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and making sense of the world. It has valued and sought to help humans flourish by cultivating truth, faith, and by recognising the human soul and our humanity. Later, d’Abrera returned to our vision of the human, and its expression and elevation through beauty, art, music, and a sense of wonder. She framed the purpose of education as ‘opening the eyes of the student to the possibilities’ to ‘do great things.’ We were asked to consider (and lament) how many potentially extraordinary people, such as modern Shakespeares, who would have enriched our lives, have likely been foregone due to educational decline.
In contrast with the West’s emphasis on a vision of the human being, D’Abrera said the institutions have a vision of ‘the State’. Educational institutions have been repurposed to produce ‘political activists,’ ‘soldiers of activism,’ and ‘cogs of State machinery.’ All institutions are deemed as ‘not neutral bodies’, nothing is objectively true, and all knowledge is ‘morally tainted’. In fact, ‘to know’ is to be part of the oppressive and victimising orthodoxy, and must be replaced with ‘other ways of knowing.’ A long-standing collective literary reservoir, the basis for a shared human, character- and morals-focused outlook, has devolved into a power struggle, identity politics, ideological infractions, and other ‘deranged theories.’ Children are dehumanised through identity politics and are not primed with the knowledge and tools to fulfil their potential. Ideology has supplanted civilisation.
Importantly, D’Abrera emphasised that we should not despair and that there is a push back from young people who are ‘hungry for truth and knowledge.’ In conclusion, D’Abrera observed that ‘truth vindicates’ and urged us to ‘fight, fight, fight.’
Retiring Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Australian Way of Life, John Roskam, chaired the panel conversation with D’Abrera and IPA Schools Program and Research Fellow, Colleen Harkin, Director. There was a wide-ranging, 30-minute discussion that was well received by the 200-plus guests, including a notable number of younger Australians.
I’m about 100 pages into ‘Mindless.’ It is a compelling, comprehensive and incisive ‘catalogue of the madness’ that will no doubt help ‘truth out.’
@MmarianneJoseph “Everyday” hero & 'Rest in peace Tori and thank you'.
Well said indeed Margaret. I still remember exactly where I was as this horror unfolded.
@FredPawle@TPointUK@belladabrera I started reading my copy last night. I'm only through the Introduction, and the pen has been busy underlining in agreement. The jarring insight and honesty have the makings of a thoroughly enlightening (and entertaining) ride.
Putting others before self.
The Royal Australian Navy Memorial (Canberra, Australia), also known as “Sailors and Ships - Interaction and Interdependence,” honours the service and sacrifice of Australian naval personnel.
Evocative of the Responsible Citizenship I discussed recently with education expert @Cheryl Lacey DGSJ on her weekly radio show, ‘THE CHERYL LACEY SHOW - Where Curiosity Meets Courage.’
https://t.co/7dK0U8e3E1
Angst, Selfishness & Moral Decay: It’s Time To Address Our Inner Conflict
The following are some of the topics I discussed recently with education expert @cheryllaceydsj on her no-nonesense weekly radio show, ‘The Cheryl Lacey Show - Where Curiosity Meets Courage.’
=> Responsible citizenship and the ‘sickness of irresponsible citizenship’, as described by former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia @JohnAndersonAC: A declining outward focus (meeting responsibilities) and increasing inward focus (demanding rights).
=> Moral virtue, internal angst and the psychological pain of the human condition as described by Australian biologist Jeremy Griffith: Understanding the decline of responsible citizenship as a symptom of this inner conflict.
=> We have an innate, loving and moral nature, which gives rise to virtue, values and our humanity. Our selfishness and moral corruption are the product of a psychologically upset mind, which can be healed.
=> The need for accountability around the moral and material compromises of globalisation, contributing to the decline of citizenship.
=> We intuitively know that to end selfishness and virtue-signalling, and to achieve moral renewal, requires opening up the hitherto off-limits domain of the human condition.
=> The spiritual shift in Australia from can-do, self-reliant, and a healthy scepticism of authoritarianism to readily handing over to government is another symptom of this inner malaise.
=> Recognising the foundational importance of a functioning, loving, secure childhood and family unit in sustaining a high-trust and outward-looking society brings the human condition into focus.
The range of topics discussed in the interview stemmed from a recent article I had written, ‘The Decline of Responsible Citizenship: A Symptom Of The Human Condition.’
Please take a moment to listen or read the transcript, and let me know your candid thoughts.
#JeremyGriffith #HumanCondition #ResponsibleCitizenship
@FixTheWorldOrg
https://t.co/IcDHUn1tOl