The line about attacking the cartographer because one dislikes the map seems to carry the essay’s central force. A serious analysis of power is not the same thing as admiration for power, but public argument often collapses that distinction immediately. What interests me is the inner need behind that collapse: if the map is accurate, then innocence becomes harder to preserve. The prisoner in the cave is not only being asked to see more; he is being asked to lose the comfort of a moral world where naming the shadows was enough. That loss may explain why reality is often resisted before it is even understood, and why clarity can feel like an accusation.
It feels like there are two different scripts being followed. One by the awake who abhor evil and another by those whose indolence encourages said evil.
That is still two scripts. The essay is arguing there is only one reality and that both scripts are written within a constructed herd morality neither side can see clearly. You are putting an absolute moral binary on a rather complex idea.
The line about attacking the cartographer because one dislikes the map seems to carry the essay’s central force. A serious analysis of power is not the same thing as admiration for power, but public argument often collapses that distinction immediately. What interests me is the inner need behind that collapse: if the map is accurate, then innocence becomes harder to preserve. The prisoner in the cave is not only being asked to see more; he is being asked to lose the comfort of a moral world where naming the shadows was enough. That loss may explain why reality is often resisted before it is even understood, and why clarity can feel like an accusation.
Bread tastes better than key
This was the best thing I've read in a while. Brilliantly done. Truthfully written.
He also called out the Vatican power structure as well and knew what it was at the end of the day, a political organization.
IMO it was a renaissance hit job on him that has stuck for centuries.
He also never took a bribe when he was in politics.
How many of our elected representatives can say the same today?
True strength is being able to see and navigate the realities of this world no matter how nasty those realities are.
That does take a certain kind of strength. Many are far too happy to live in their illusions.
It feels like there are two different scripts being followed. One by the awake who abhor evil and another by those whose indolence encourages said evil.
That is still two scripts. The essay is arguing there is only one reality and that both scripts are written within a constructed herd morality neither side can see clearly. You are putting an absolute moral binary on a rather complex idea.
Yes, but I have noticed some people have a very strange script they are following in their head, and there is no stopping them!
I love what you are doing
I wish Substack would allow contributors to swop access to each others contributions
I simply cannot afford to subscribe to the content but I would happily swop access to mine