The perils of words, concepts, rational thought and scientific theory
The first two lines of the Dao De Jing, the seminal Chinese spiritual text, contain a profound wisdom little appreciated in the West.
They offer the view that anything enshrined in words, concepts, rational structures or scientific theories may be convenient for the human mind but is no more than a pale reflection of reality. Only continual probing and testing with the disciplines and insights of human intuition can equip humanity to work harmoniously and productively with the imperatives of nature.
The Western emphasis on faith in spirituality and rationality in thought contrasts strongly with East Asia’s faith-free spirituality and disciplined intuition. The substance of this difference is often disguised by the discreet rituals of East Asian peoples, who readily accommodate the expectations of others, particularly those of assertive and intrusive Western powers.
Laziness in the Western usage of words, concepts, rational thought and scientific theory often allows people of East Asian origin to exploit comfortable and widespread Western assumptions that have lost touch with changing realities.
This has been most obvious in the American reliance on words, concepts, rational structures and (pseudo) scientific theories in the area of economics, as evidenced by the steady movement of a variety of competitive advantages from the American economy to East Asian economies.
It is also evident, with somewhat different consequences, in the area of human health and well-being, where America has become overly dependent on food and pharmaceutical industries that are highly profitable but that deliver little in terms of human health or well-being. They are, therefore, likely to become economically endangered, as people become aware that trans fats are only a symptom of food and medical culturesthat are slowly poisoning large numbers of people. Again, the words, concepts, rational structures and scientific theories in use, driven by corporate profit imperatives, have simply strayed too far from the realities of human physical nature.