Sunday, December 12, 2010

Now you need an element of the Leviathan to shine

It has been sometime since I last updated my blog. In the last few weeks, I have been privately occupied, with this and that. Meanwhile, the world seems to be moving into a chaos zone. I think an era of the Leviathan has come.

Used to be that order and justice were simple matters. There were several accepted authorities, and the rogues were easy to point out. Now, with the advent of forces that ignore the long respected institutions, the world has come to a state where the Leviathan roams.

Probably it started with China. Its defiance of the world order, as typified by the Nobel Peace Prize fiasco, is both worrying and inspiring. When I say inspiring, the point is that it reminds us of what kind of animals we remain to be. Then came the wikileaks saga, which is still going on. The reaction from governments of the United States, U.K., and Sweden revealed to us the sometimes murky nature of the nation state. Even the democratically elected governments are now “suspect”.

So it is an era of the Leviathan, in which laws and orders are not automatically guaranteed. The most intriguing fact of the day perhaps is that now you need an element of the Leviathan to shine, whether as a nation or as an individual.




6 comments:

Greg said...

As you said, we seem to be experiencing more chaos and uncertainty in these times. Perhaps it's a symptom of the process of the building blocks of old, tired, but comfortable frameworks and institutions being recycled to provide space and materials for the new. The danger may be that some may cling too hard to the old or that others may try to accelerate the process too much. It may just remind us that we need to reevaluate the contracts within ourselves and to the institutions we have entrusted. It's good to hear your voice again on your blog!

砂山鉄夫(Tetsu Sunayama) said...

I'm also glad to read your new entry on this journal.

We, in this age, might face on the eve of a revolution. Sooner or later all rigid systems will...

Big Wave comes. I'd like to get a flexible surfboard...

Anonymous said...

yes, it's good to hear your voice again on your blog.

in addition, I was surprised that this morning I was just thinking about my recent case of experiencing chaos and uncertain state of the world.

maruko247 said...

Am reassured that the chaos is something others sense, as well. But maybe it takes chaotic times like these to find the real champions of our day like Assange and my personal hero Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders . . .

Maybe, just maybe, it's not a bad thing, this chaos. Now, trailing a bit behind it, I feel change on its way!

Echoing the comments from those before me, it's good to see you back!

Pupa said...

Hi, Dr. Mogi.
It's been a long time.
I got garden plants from Dr. Hidaka's cherry garden last week.
So my room is full of life now.
Why don't we sometimes exchange your aloha shirt for my narcissus?

There is something in Leviathan that has relevance to selfish gene.

Tsumabenicho said...

Happy New year, Dr. Mogi !
I have a feeling that something good will happen this year for no reason.
A rabbit will run and clear one hurdle after another.