Interesting that you quoted The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times. He also criticizes egalitarianism and democracy in that book, which he views as examples of the reign of quantity, because they disregard the qualitative features of persons that result in hierarchical distinctions.
Yes, Guénon's perspective on this is in contradiction with my own views. But I don't think one has to accept his philosophy whole hog to see the value in his critique of the reign of quantity. Generally I think traditionalist/right thinkers tend to conflate difference and hierarchy too readily. All hierarchies are differences but not all differences are hierarchies.
Dennis Prager defined America (or Americans) as believing in a threesome of essential beliefs. When anyone asks me what is an American it is someone who aspires to those 3 principles - and if you reach in your pocket and pull out any coin it is all right there to behold, but outta sight and mind. Liberty, E Pluribus Unum and In God We Trust.
Simple and as true today as when we first placed those words on our money
Fair enough, but any holistic conception of America or Americans must also factor in the complexity of our historical experiences (such as the struggles over the race problem), not just abstract principles.
The question should be what we aspire to be as America, not what we have become that is often at odds with the values that define us. Its lack of belief in those principles that defines America of today that gives rise to racism on BOTH sides.which is against "e pluribus unum" or out of many, one people.
BTW, your post was thought provoking, esp for.a big fan of Sly Stone.
Interesting that you quoted The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times. He also criticizes egalitarianism and democracy in that book, which he views as examples of the reign of quantity, because they disregard the qualitative features of persons that result in hierarchical distinctions.
Yes, Guénon's perspective on this is in contradiction with my own views. But I don't think one has to accept his philosophy whole hog to see the value in his critique of the reign of quantity. Generally I think traditionalist/right thinkers tend to conflate difference and hierarchy too readily. All hierarchies are differences but not all differences are hierarchies.
This answers my earlier question: what do Americans think.
Dennis Prager defined America (or Americans) as believing in a threesome of essential beliefs. When anyone asks me what is an American it is someone who aspires to those 3 principles - and if you reach in your pocket and pull out any coin it is all right there to behold, but outta sight and mind. Liberty, E Pluribus Unum and In God We Trust.
Simple and as true today as when we first placed those words on our money
Fair enough, but any holistic conception of America or Americans must also factor in the complexity of our historical experiences (such as the struggles over the race problem), not just abstract principles.
The question should be what we aspire to be as America, not what we have become that is often at odds with the values that define us. Its lack of belief in those principles that defines America of today that gives rise to racism on BOTH sides.which is against "e pluribus unum" or out of many, one people.
BTW, your post was thought provoking, esp for.a big fan of Sly Stone.
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