A Discussion on American Values: Universal Application of Philosophical Symbolic Artifacts

We discuss a lot about economics, life, research, investment, national development, art, science, community and much more. What we don't often talk about are about those values the move to define we are as a people and as a nation. The values we share across different groups within societies and the values we share that hold our society together under certain common principles of a shared destiny. These values are based in our very basic human needs as fulfilled through our collective societal goals. They are built and rooted into our social contracts such as the Constitution and furthered in our oaths and pledges.

Signing of the Constitution
Howard Chandler Christy 1940

While individualized values may be different, the essential roots of our collective values are more universal. It means we can go to any culture and find something very similar in a way that would reverberate with our American values. One would not be aware of those similarities unless they have the personality and open mindedness to see people of equal status *****. We can't see the essential logic of another's culture until we see them as valuable and worthy to learn from (You have to listen to what their goals, dreams and hopes are. America has a place in inspiring that collective goal achievement.).

Philosophy is the search for essential truths and that relates to our root values. This is one reason why I believe in universalization of our core value systems in a modern and global world as a way to solve some cultural transition issues. The American conception of some of these truths are codified in our Constitution based not only on the struggles of the people then but those struggles that carry forward today. They have resonance if upheld with integrity and with a bigger picture in mind (Defined as upright and whole or undivided. See integrity definition. You will also notice in the Constitution there is a lot of discussion on rights.).

Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion

For example, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion are two constitutional protections in which all other laws should fall into alignment. Where they do not, it means we have a level of misalignment that turns into societal rubbing as lower and higher truths compete for dominance. The higher truths often being more accurate and more common among people. Without these essential freedoms will be subject to decline as a nation through lack feedback for improvement and/or not anchoring in deeper moral purpose (i.e. the moral roots of laws through ethics and values.)

Let us also consider concepts stated and professed in our oaths such as the Oath of Allegiance and our pledges such as Pledge of Allegiance. Both of these state very similar things and are the action that supports the Constitution as a shared governance principles. We make oaths and pledges to Our American Principles that have transcended and been passed on by generation to generation in symbolic forms such as  (i.e. the Torch of Liberty, Flag, Drummers, and Bugle). We do so because of their essential truths the resonate with each generation. This is why leadership is more or less about influencing people to loftier goals in alignment with truer values.

The Genius of the Constitutional Crafter

Those high level hierarchical truths of speech and religion are codified in the Constitution. What many do not know is that the primary crafter of the James Madison was a gifted genius with all of the eccentric characteristics that come with advanced thought and skills. That in turn creates a way of looking at the world that were inherent in his psychological and biological make up that might be difficult for others to understand (Each will understand a little differently. The elemental way in which he formed his perspective and how he connected them together is important.).***  The American system is a formal logic system based on a philosophical and historical understanding of freedom that goes all the way back in history to before modern society and the beginning of written form. It is not the only system but it is the system we adhere to within the U.S. and it transcends different cultures. It is also kind of a geo-logic/ethical system that can increasingly be broken down elementally with the development of society. *. 

The Logic of American Values

Just like in Ethica Ordine Geometrico Demonstrata our Constitution is a geo-logic/ethical system that can be broken into universal elements that can be represented cross culturally. From a sociological perspective societies share interconnect characteristics that make them one people. (The beauty of people who can think beyond close similarity and into the shared value of life. This is partly why James Madison pushed for liberty. Gifted people can see the similarities and values in people. They know the large system must accept fluidity and difference) This is why I believe that the next stage of our development is universalization of all entities and systems to maximize human capital in conjunction with other deeper innovative platform changes.** 

Big Data will likely push us to recognize things we did not recognize before and that will in turn push us to adapt/twist toward a higher form of truth. We will do that because that which we cannot see will be brought before us in a way that is supported by science and not backed by subjective values or subjective application of the laws that represent those values (Truth transcends politics. If functional and healthy political discussion can eventually lead to a generation's "truth".). New feedback loops and ways of looking at problems is a good thing that allows us to keep the torch bright through helpful discussion and relevant for the next generation. Our democracy can adjust because it shares elemental truths with each generation who can define that democracy in a line with generation-to-generation understandings. Feedback pushes the system to change in alignment with better definitions of truth. (In other words, because it is designed as representative and inherently bottom up it can push the decision makers of society to adjust toward higher societal needs.)

We are at this place in society and history where the great winds of change will push us to think again about our national development. We have some work to do. That includes ensuring that each institution is aligned with our great principles from an elemental perspective (All the way down to the human-to-human interaction). It is a time when each leader, politician, and common man/woman should consider the greater purpose of our nation and its value systems so as to push the system upward in a way that appeals to the inner power of our youth of diverse perspective and background in meaningful constructive work (i.e. finding the youths cultural logic and connecting that better to the bigger purpose as codified in our Constitution and representative form of a democratic republic.)  At this juncture in history we should seek to maximize our human capital through realized and enacted shared American principles as the law of the land.

“The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated.” 

James Madison the Fourth U.S. President 

** Benedict de Spinoza used the philosophical methods of ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology to create a truth in thought. i.e. the universal is rational with principles/elements. These schools of philosophy tell us 1. truth in reality, 2. origins/nature 3. moral conscious/ethics. )

* Philosophical science is often mathematical in orientation such as Euclid Elements and Euclidean thought. All logical philosophical systems can be broken down into elements and when they work together they create a system. Its beauty is in its adaptability and as long as people believe in its essential shared "truths"/"perception of reality" and  the liberty bell will continue to ring over the land. 

***Genius is a complex thing. They think in finiteness and abstraction at the same time. There has been a strong relation between genius use of mathematics to break down and understand/analyze logic. Math-Logic connection. A level of depth that sometimes can run deeper than others to the things under things that make stuff work. The gifted curse to search for novelty and newness in an ever present need to understand "why?" that makes them unique and also swimming against the current in society. MD Traits of Genius, Genius Levels, Gardner Multiple Intelligences.

****Where there are elements in systems that are not in connection with our bigger purpose then we must make changes (i.e. enhancing our diverse youth). We have recently become aware of this problem and I believe we are again aligning our elements to the bigger purpose that transcends generations. Just like science, each law (and its shadow application) become a more elemental measurement of the success of the greater whole. Where something is not in alignment we must adjust to ensure full competitiveness. I believe we are on that path now. We may very well be one of the first nations to adjust to a more global perspective of our essential shared democratic perspectives. 

***** This blog is designed to help people think. "cogito, ergo sum"  Rene Descartes the philosopher, scientist and mathematician. You may read more about him and his atomistic philosophies of society It is not definitive answer. Its just food for thought. Feel free to click off. The sad reality is that even though we should be inclusive as a society we are not and that is causing us all types of issues. While I think we will eventually become more enlightened in how we treat people, often people sort of roll their eyes and go back into the same patterns. Yet, on an elemental level developing our Human Capital through fairness of treatment will make all the difference in the future. I think we have a hard time seeing that in our current political and legal environment.