Cultural Norms vs. Inner Strength

December 31, 2022 Sociocultural Issues No Comments

Historically developed cultural norms frequently have cultural welfare as their primary aim ― not, therefore, necessarily the Inner Strength of individuals.

History of Homo sapiens sapiens

In the evolution of the human species, the need to make individual humans adhere to larger groups favored common (to the group) elements to adhere to and conform to. And so it happened over millions of years. These elements could be practical in a direct or just a group-building sense.

In this same vein, cultural norm-setting served the genesis of the cultural phenomenon itself and, more specifically, the formation of many different cultures ― each with its distinct concrete realization of the underlying culture-building phenomenon. For instance, the us-versus-them from smaller groups/tribes got co-transformed into cultural norms, with adhering groups of individuals defending their culture against other cultures.

This gave us – individuals of the human species – many advantages and the rich sociocultural world as we know it. It also aided much in the growth of our specific kind of human intelligence. However, the norm-setting mainly aimed to further the cause of the culture ― not, therefore, of the human individual. To some degree, time and time again, the individual became subjugated to the culture. Note that there is no conspiracy involved in this but a natural flow of phenomena.

Because this happened over a long time, it forms part of our being-human pretty profoundly, also genetically. Paradoxically therefore, a strong emphasis on Inner Strength may reside only partly within human nature. However, any particular culture is more recent and, therefore, genetically less relevant ― if at all.

Culture versus Inner Strength

Inner Strength enables the individual to choose from the inside out whether or not to conform. This power of choice goes against strict dependence on cultural support. If culture could ‘like’ something, it definitely wouldn’t like this. So, time and again, we can see how Inner Strength is impeded to the advantage of culturally sanctioned institutions, heightening the difference between what people want and what they deeply need. It’s as if the wanting itself is hijacked. We can see this in healthcare, religion, education, politics, news-making, and everywhere else possible. Unfortunately, we see this more in technologically developed societies with strongly rationalized institutions.

As a result, in every conceivable domain, Inner Strength is ignored, downgraded, or made suspicious. Even more, this process has been gradually internalized within the individual psyche. Thus, many people are afraid of their own Inner Strength, drawn to conform even while this goes against their self-interest.

The dissenter who intends to open this up to everybody’s advantage risks being ostracized by the same people he tries to give what they direly need.

Prometheus

Does this remind you of the Greek mythological Prometheus who stole fire from the gods and gave it to the people? Since the gods weren’t happy about this, they enchained the unfortunate Prometheus to a rock and punished him through a falcon’s daily diet of fresh liver (his liver).

Please don’t mess with the gods unless you know how to evade their wrath. Interestingly, these gods generally do not stand for culture but for precisely the individual’s deeper self ― be it, in this case, misguided through culture’s manipulative ways.

The choice for the future

Whether or not this means messing with the gods, AURELIS equals choosing for the individual as a total person ― not altogether an evident choice for reasons that should be obvious by now. A specific culture – or the cultural phenomenon in general – may object to this and act from much experience over thousands of years.

On the other hand, there is no better time than the present to choose for the ‘power of the flower.’

Let’s go for it.