Jun 14 2008
The Lazy Man’s Sophism
Perhaps the most perilous fault of mankind, that litters almost every disastrous event in our past, is the self defeating notion of individuals being incapable of creating change.
This the Lazy Man’s Sophism (as coined by an old professor of mine) in itself prevents change. Realizing that you as an individual make a contribution to your own present and future is the first step towards making change.
I am fed up of people adopting the naive pessimist notion that because groups inspire change they in themselves cannot. Simply, groups are made up of individuals, therefore without individuals change is never possible.
I can understand that often we feel powerless when surrounded by threats such as global warming, the war on terror, and the slow steady death of the ocean. But by simply giving in, we metaphorically slide the blade across our own wrists.
Despite this self defeating hopelessness, I believe it is our duty to always fight for change. Through this we’re liberated from our burdens, by knowing we are a part of the positive. I will never be overtaken by the Lazy Mans Sophism if even only at the end to say ‘I did my part’ out of spite.
3 Responses to “The Lazy Man’s Sophism”
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Very well said.
I would definitely agree with you on your statement about individuals only believing that ‘groups’ only, lets say, commit to change. I’m going to add a little bit to this statement in regards to what I call, ‘little man’s syndrome - no pun intended. Individuals think that they are to small in society’s eyes to make a true difference. However, we must throw away that notion and give way to thoughts that we can truly make a difference one person at a time.
There is in a sense as well a self-esteem problem that follows the Lazy Man Sophism as you call it ‘little man’s syndrome’. It comes from people literally not appreciating their own change. For example if an individual was to pick up a piece of trash on the street, then look around at the other trash scattered about and say ‘Ya see I can’t make a difference.’. The individual fails to appreciate their own actions. To say I can’t make a difference after clearly making a difference, although small (IE there is one less piece of trash), the individual fails to appreciate themselves and their own contribution. This comes from the pre-assumption that ‘I am small’.
First, why do you think people have a right to necessities like that? You could argue that it’s the responsibility of the government to provide at least basic forms of those (I’d throw medical care in there too, which you Canadians get but we don’t), but I wouldn’t say people have a “right” to them. In any case, even tap water isn’t free…someone pays for it, even if you don’t. Really what you’re paying for with bottled water then is the packaging, and in some cases refrigeration. How often do you find water fountains (drinking, not decoration) anywhere? Bottled water takes the place of a water fountain. And privatization of water is different then paying for bottled water…it’s a community commodity, like electricity. And like electricity, it’s more efficient to have a government regulated monopoly than to have competing electric companies, which would result in wasted resources as you would likely have redundant power lines through neighborhoods, since each company would have to have their own. Imagine if power or water was privatized like internet access is, where some people have little to no access simply because it’s not profitable enough for a provider to lay cable out to them (which leads to another point, making internet access a regulated utility like water and power). I don’t think people would be in danger of privatization of an established utility, unless something drastic happens.