Analysis 3: Slaving Geometry

The numbers involved in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade are staggering. We may try to distance ourselves from our natural lean towards feelings of repugnance for the sake of historical analysis, but the core nature of slavery and its breadth are difficult to ignore. The fact is, in many cases, slaves were not only treated, but understood as subhuman creatures, in the same way that a farmer might treat and understand a draft animal. To many, an animal’s life has less value than a human life, because it is seemingly less capable and less intelligent. (As much as it is somewhat tangential to our current project, it is interesting to note that this is an instance where a purpose of existence is imposed from one living creature onto another)

As much as slavery seems fundamentally wrong, we must be clear that this was not a brief, passing phase. This is a part of human history involving millions of people, over hundreds of years. We have already briefly touched upon the relative unavailability of the psyches of human history. We can never sufficiently place ourselves in the exact, true mindset of the past. Trying to make sense of something like this is that much more difficult. Usually, all one can conclude is that “things were different back then”. It remains important to find out why, and how.

And so, we are left with many lessons, most in the form of open questions. Just how flexible are the goals, or the purposes, we have? How much of a role does our cultural and environmental context play a role in the purposes we individually form? What is the relationship between the purpose of a nation, and the purposes of an individual of that nation? What is the role of morality in purpose, or purpose in morality? Are specific purposes “good” or “bad” to have, and to what extent is such an attribution related to morality? These questions and more will be elaborated upon more specifically in this project’s further examinations, and should be kept in mind.

Comments

[jlan]

Imposition of a Purpose has been a recurring theme in human history. Strict class systems in England and Japan and the estate system in France are all examples of this. If one was born a farmer, one’s Purpose was to farm; if one was born a warrior, one’s Purpose was to do battle. I think perhaps the freedom to choose a purpose and subsequently the investigation of this question is a relatively recent phenomenon. In the past, the Purpose was assigned by a god or ruler. In fact, one might also conclude that even today a freely chosen Purpose is a luxury. Peoples’ Purposes are shaped by their situations and circumstances can choose a purpose by default. Terry Fox for example, an inspiring individual with an exemplary Purpose however dictated by circumstances beyond his control. Also, the example of the poor immigrant’s son who strives to succeed to raise the social and economic standing of his family can be considered an assigned Purpose.