I think C. S. Lewis described in detail why this summit won't work in "The Abolition of Man." If we want to do anything serious to get rid of evil in the world we have to completely get rid of our society's notions of cultural relativism and I doubt Google is prepared for that.
There is a difference between evil and extremism. "Evil" implies profound immorality--perhaps amorality. Extremism, while its tactics often read as immoral (to relativists or non-relativists alike), may be born out of circumstance and not a lack of moral guidance or fundamental inability to act morally. Combatting extremism, therefore, requires not the abolishment of cultural relativism, but rather the willingness to truly understand how and why extant systems of power and influence encourage some people toward violent extremism. Starting from the position that extremists are not fundamentally evil, but rather rational actors with compelling stories and motivating factors that are important to understand, we can begin to craft policy solutions to problems too often ignored or treated reductively by the policy community. Wish I could attend the summit! Go Google Ideas!
Lewis had little use for extremism. He denounced it in The Screwtape Letters, by having one of his devils praise it:
All extremes except extreme devotion to the Enemy [of evil, meaning God] are to be encouraged. Not always, of course, but at this period. Some ages are lukewarm and complacent, and then it is our business to soothe them yet faster asleep. Other ages, of which the present is one, are unbalanced and prone to faction, and it is our business to inflame them.
Dear Jared and Google Ideas - Thank you for supporting this timely and important Summit. For 5 years, I worked as a technical advisor on an initiative to fight violent extremism in Karachi, Pakistan. This involved a multi-sector partnership between business, government and civil society although business was the main driving force. The CPLC approach has been in existence now for two decades and has spread across Pakistan and even into India. We are trying to replicate the model in Egypt which is wrestling with related challenges right now. I have a concept paper on the CPLC approach which I'd like to share with you and any other interested parties. How do I go about this most effectively? Thanks and again, wishing you continued success in this vital initiative.
I think C. S. Lewis described in detail why this summit won't work in "The Abolition of Man." If we want to do anything serious to get rid of evil in the world we have to completely get rid of our society's notions of cultural relativism and I doubt Google is prepared for that.
ReplyDeleteThere is a difference between evil and extremism. "Evil" implies profound immorality--perhaps amorality. Extremism, while its tactics often read as immoral (to relativists or non-relativists alike), may be born out of circumstance and not a lack of moral guidance or fundamental inability to act morally. Combatting extremism, therefore, requires not the abolishment of cultural relativism, but rather the willingness to truly understand how and why extant systems of power and influence encourage some people toward violent extremism. Starting from the position that extremists are not fundamentally evil, but rather rational actors with compelling stories and motivating factors that are important to understand, we can begin to craft policy solutions to problems too often ignored or treated reductively by the policy community.
ReplyDeleteWish I could attend the summit! Go Google Ideas!
Lewis had little use for extremism. He denounced it in The Screwtape Letters, by having one of his devils praise it:
ReplyDeleteAll extremes except extreme devotion to the Enemy [of evil, meaning God] are to be encouraged. Not always, of course, but at this period. Some ages are lukewarm and complacent, and then it is our business to soothe them yet faster asleep. Other ages, of which the present is one, are unbalanced and prone to faction, and it is our business to inflame them.
I'm very interested to see what comes out of this. Please post some interactions and talks on your youtube!
ReplyDeleteThere are others looking into these same issues. Check out the HCI for Peace blog for more ideas, interviews and links at http://www.hciforpeace.org/
ReplyDeleteDear Jared and Google Ideas - Thank you for supporting this timely and important Summit. For 5 years, I worked as a technical advisor on an initiative to fight violent extremism in Karachi, Pakistan. This involved a multi-sector partnership between business, government and civil society although business was the main driving force. The CPLC approach has been in existence now for two decades and has spread across Pakistan and even into India. We are trying to replicate the model in Egypt which is wrestling with related challenges right now. I have a concept paper on the CPLC approach which I'd like to share with you and any other interested parties. How do I go about this most effectively? Thanks and again, wishing you continued success in this vital initiative.
ReplyDeleteAlice Miller made a great work against violence and she explain how stop terrorism and others violence, but nobody can do it only with "ideas":
ReplyDeletehttp://www.alice-miller.com/index_en.php