Hubris
In ancient Greece, Aristotle coined the term hubris to represent a certain type of pride he found rampant in humanity. He felt that certain men became a law unto themselves and this state was a state of hubris. A great example of hubris is found in Crime and Punishment where the main character, Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, believes that his superior intellect justifies him to commit a heinous murder. He convinces himself that his greater understanding of humanity gives him the power to rule the destiny of others. Rodya eventually realizes that his hubristic decision to murder makes him less than other human beings. The end of the novel sees him accepting the punishment of prison that his crime meritedI have come to realize that all humans, to some extent, have this need to feel superior. As a historian, I sometimes discount the opinion of others because they haven't gone through the same training that I received. Yet in reality no amount of education makes us any better than anyone else. I don't think that historians, politicians, mechanics, engineers, scientists, lawyers, doctors, or any other professionals are better than anyone else. They might have more knowledge than many other people, but if they don't use that knowledge correctly and morally they are no better than the beggar or the street cleaner and they might be a great deal worse. I think that in a world of increasing specialization, everyone needs to reach out to everyone else or everyone will be increasingly marginalized in society. Wisdom comes through understanding, and a baker can obtain understanding equally as well as a doctor. I believe the great plague of our time is the hubris Aristotle bemoaned in ancient Greece. Just remember that if we set ourselves up as a light for others, we must remember that something else powers that light an that someday it will burn out.
posted by Joel @ 11:17 PM
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