The Phoenix, Monotony and Corruption
All Japanese movies are basically the same. They begin with destruction usually in the form of war or an atomic bomb. Then a new marvelous and seemingly rich environment is established. Slowly, the corruption of this new world is revealed. In the end, the world is destroyed only to begin again.
This is, of course, a metaphor for Japanese society. The Samurai were corrupt and their downfall along with coming out of isolation made the nation new. A wonderful and new Japanese society came about and, again, became corrupt. A nuclear bomb was dropped and the phoenix once again rose from the ashes.
It is not just Japanese society that has this pattern. Dynasties have cycles. Kings come and go. Yesterday’s empires are today’s ashes and today’s empires are tomorrow’s ashes. Politicians are discovered to be crooked only to be replaced by other politicians that are discovered to be crooked. Clearly, over and over, power corrupts.
Why?
I always say that is worse winning at gambling than losing. When one loses, one stops. When one wins, one takes things to the next level. One needs to press the limits. Next time, to get the same buzz, one has to bet more money.
Doing the same thing over and over becomes monotonous. In order to entertain oneself, discover one’s potential and self-actualize, one must have a gradually increasing fulfillment of needs. Soon, laws and moral become barriers to this fulfillment and they are ignored.
Basically, corruption is a response to monotony and boredom. Any teenager knows this.
Corruption is not the only cure for boredom. One can simply choose new experiences. Unfortunately, most people are locked into careers and lack imagination. Variety and creativity may be the cure to everything.
This is, of course, a metaphor for Japanese society. The Samurai were corrupt and their downfall along with coming out of isolation made the nation new. A wonderful and new Japanese society came about and, again, became corrupt. A nuclear bomb was dropped and the phoenix once again rose from the ashes.
It is not just Japanese society that has this pattern. Dynasties have cycles. Kings come and go. Yesterday’s empires are today’s ashes and today’s empires are tomorrow’s ashes. Politicians are discovered to be crooked only to be replaced by other politicians that are discovered to be crooked. Clearly, over and over, power corrupts.
Why?
I always say that is worse winning at gambling than losing. When one loses, one stops. When one wins, one takes things to the next level. One needs to press the limits. Next time, to get the same buzz, one has to bet more money.
Doing the same thing over and over becomes monotonous. In order to entertain oneself, discover one’s potential and self-actualize, one must have a gradually increasing fulfillment of needs. Soon, laws and moral become barriers to this fulfillment and they are ignored.
Basically, corruption is a response to monotony and boredom. Any teenager knows this.
Corruption is not the only cure for boredom. One can simply choose new experiences. Unfortunately, most people are locked into careers and lack imagination. Variety and creativity may be the cure to everything.
posted by American Dilettante at
2:22 AM
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