{"id":1710,"date":"2018-08-06T10:50:23","date_gmt":"2018-08-06T10:50:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/?p=1710"},"modified":"2018-09-11T21:38:55","modified_gmt":"2018-09-11T21:38:55","slug":"excellence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/sociocultural-issues\/excellence","title":{"rendered":"Excellence"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>One should not be apprehensive to excel as long as this does not interfere with human value. There is a natural drive to excel and that\u2019s perfectly OKAY.<\/h3>\n<p>[see also: \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog?p=1500\">Being of Value<\/a>\u2019]<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>\u1f04\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 (aristos)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>= ancient Greek for \u2018excellent\u2019 or \u2018outstanding\u2019, being apart \/ above the rest. You recognize it in the term \u2018aristocracy\u2019. This may bring a negative connotation of elitism, especially in comparison to democracy. It brings pictures in mind of a \u2018ruling class, having money and power\u2019 and holding down the rest of society.<\/p>\n<p>Even more: imagine this in combination with genetic modification of one\u2019s children\u2026 The \u2018Uber-Mensch\u2019 is not far away.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>So, should one not strive for excellence?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I think one should. It\u2019s a human natural propensity to want to excel and even to be admired for it. Practically any child wants to excel in the eyes of his\/her parents, one way or another, and to be admired for it. If properly supported, this may linger on during one\u2019s lifetime.<\/p>\n<p>There is nothing wrong with that. However, I see some caveats. I bring these by way of what \u2018excellence\u2019 may \/ should be, while not exhaustively:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Excellence =<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>a striving, not a fixed characteristic<\/li>\n<li>deeply valuing oneself in one\u2019s striving for excellence<\/li>\n<li>knowing that \u2018the best\u2019 is not more <em>humanly<\/em> valuable than anyone else<\/li>\n<li>not feeling frustrated when not reaching the top the heap<\/li>\n<li>still striving towards that top, in an ego-transcendent way, giving \u2018the best of oneself\u2019<\/li>\n<li>being proud of doing so <em>and<\/em> also being proud of having done so in the past<\/li>\n<li>helping others in their striving, in a most generous way<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Is this a plea for a competitive spirit?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I guess so. I also hope that the above characteristics show how competition can and should be experienced in a most friendly way. Let me put this clearly:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Friendliness first!<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It\u2019s a necessary condition for a competitive spirit to be worthwhile in the first place. Of course, I mean friendliness of the competitive person but also of those who support him\/her and of all people concerned. Probably first of all \u2013 if there is one \u2013 the coach.<\/p>\n<p>In (very) many cases, I don\u2019t see this standing at the forefront. In a \u2018the winner takes it all\u2019 kind of competition, there is mostly only the winning that counts. I would put contrary to this: it\u2019s the <strong>winning in excellence<\/strong> that counts. Excellence necessarily encompasses friendliness.<\/p>\n<p>[see also: \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog?p=1166\">The Concept \u2018Kindness For the Total Person\u2019<\/a>]<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Children at school<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u2018Equal opportunity to every child\u2019\u2026 Sure, this is an excellent endeavor that should be a priority in the schooling system. However, is it ideal to downgrade children towards the common base?<\/p>\n<p>Or: should every child be given <em>equal opportunity to (strive for) excellence<\/em>? I think this is the better way in view of the above caveats and maybe some more. There is much room for investigation and discussion. At least, with this in mind, we can think about how to realize it. As a matter of fact, it leads to very different pragmatic measures.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>The \u2018ruling class\u2019?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This would be aristo-cracy in the sense of: power to those who excel\u2026 in what? Plato thought it would be the philosophers\u2019 job. He even tried to implement it (in Syracuse, +\/- 360 BC). His attempt deplorably failed. Can we do better?<\/p>\n<p>I see a possible combination \u2013 in principle at least \u2013 with democracy when \u2018excellence\u2019 is validated as such in most of society, starting with schooling. This can then be an excellence of many sorts \u2013 again \u2013 with the above characteristics. People who really give \u2018the best they can\u2019 in a most humane way, get elected. Democracy itself becomes \u2013 much more \u2013 excellent this way.<\/p>\n<p>I know: it\u2019s Utopia.<\/p>\n<p>But imagine\u2026 and may not every step towards it be worthwhile?<\/p>\n<div data-object_id=\"1710\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkwrap cbxwpbkmarkwrap_no_cat cbxwpbkmarkwrap-post \"><a  data-redirect-url=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1710\"  data-display-label=\"0\" data-show-count=\"0\" data-bookmark-label=\" \"  data-bookmarked-label=\" \"  data-loggedin=\"0\" data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"1710\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig  cbxwpbkmarktrig-button-addto\" title=\"Bookmark This\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig-label\"  style=\"display:none;\" > <\/span><\/a> <div  data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"1710\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap\" id=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap-1710\"><div class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguest-message\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguesttrig_close\"><\/a><h3 class=\"cbxwpbookmark-title cbxwpbookmark-title-login\">Please login to bookmark<\/h3>\n\t\t<form name=\"loginform\" id=\"loginform\" action=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-login.php\" method=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-username\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_login\">Username or Email Address<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"log\" id=\"user_login\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-password\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_pass\">Password<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"password\" name=\"pwd\" id=\"user_pass\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-remember\"><label><input name=\"rememberme\" type=\"checkbox\" id=\"rememberme\" value=\"forever\" \/> Remember Me<\/label><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-submit\">\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"wp-submit\" id=\"wp-submit\" class=\"button button-primary\" value=\"Log In\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect_to\" value=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1710\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One should not be apprehensive to excel as long as this does not interfere with human value. There is a natural drive to excel and that\u2019s perfectly OKAY. [see also: \u2018Being of Value\u2019] \u1f04\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 (aristos) = ancient Greek for \u2018excellent\u2019 or \u2018outstanding\u2019, being apart \/ above the rest. You recognize it in the term \u2018aristocracy\u2019. <a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/sociocultural-issues\/excellence\">Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-object_id=\"1710\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkwrap cbxwpbkmarkwrap_no_cat cbxwpbkmarkwrap-post \"><a  data-redirect-url=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1710\"  data-display-label=\"0\" data-show-count=\"0\" data-bookmark-label=\" \"  data-bookmarked-label=\" \"  data-loggedin=\"0\" data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"1710\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig  cbxwpbkmarktrig-button-addto\" title=\"Bookmark This\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"cbxwpbkmarktrig-label\"  style=\"display:none;\" > <\/span><\/a> <div  data-type=\"post\" data-object_id=\"1710\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap\" id=\"cbxwpbkmarkguestwrap-1710\"><div class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguest-message\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"cbxwpbkmarkguesttrig_close\"><\/a><h3 class=\"cbxwpbookmark-title cbxwpbookmark-title-login\">Please login to bookmark<\/h3>\n\t\t<form name=\"loginform\" id=\"loginform\" action=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-login.php\" method=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-username\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_login\">Username or Email Address<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"log\" id=\"user_login\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-password\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"user_pass\">Password<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"password\" name=\"pwd\" id=\"user_pass\" class=\"input\" value=\"\" size=\"20\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-remember\"><label><input name=\"rememberme\" type=\"checkbox\" id=\"rememberme\" value=\"forever\" \/> Remember Me<\/label><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"login-submit\">\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"wp-submit\" id=\"wp-submit\" class=\"button button-primary\" value=\"Log In\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect_to\" value=\"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1710\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1713,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[26,23],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/235-1.jpg?fit=962%2C566&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Fdiq-rA","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1710"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1710"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1717,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1710\/revisions\/1717"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}