Nowadays, we see neatly maintained gardens that look quite attractive. The plants are well shaped and the grass is neatly cut. Similarly, we see some modern cities such as Paris where all the buildings have symmetrical architecture. We see many townships where everything is so well maintained, including the roads, lawns, clubs, and gardens. Harmony attracts us. Similarly, systems attract us. They make everything quite predictable. We walk on the road and if there is harmony in the traffic, we will see all the vehicles following the speed limit and traffic lights. It would make us feel safer to drive on the road as against a case where people are jumping traffic lights and violating the speed limits.
On the other hand, we have organic growth, say for example, in the forest. In a forest, there is no law. Some trees grow extraordinarily strong while some plants are very tiny. There is no fixed law in the jungle or the jungle has its own law. There is a struggle at every stage. Struggle for sun, water, and space, and if somebody has the capability, the jungle offers a lot of space for that person. Jungle does not spoon-feed the plants and animals living therein. Everybody has to make efforts to survive and grow.
We human beings prefer systems over organic growth. We want an education system where we can impart instructions to our kids in a systematic manner so that they can learn what has been explored by scientists, geologists, historians, and other people so far. We feel that once they develop all these skills, they can probably contribute to society. They become capable of taking up different jobs and can earn their livelihood by taking up such jobs and can thereby sustain their families. Similarly, we want traffic systems where speed limits on the roads are decided by the administration and there are rules as to when to stop and when to go. We want systems in the form of laws of the country so that the dos and don'ts are written in black and white to make us feel safe. The people who violate the laws of the land are punished and there is a policing system for that and if there is a dispute, there is a judicial system to find the truth.
The legislature in every country makes many new laws that have to be followed by the citizens of that country. We have quite strong informal systems in the form of morality and social conventions. In fact, almost every organization too has such conventions that are widely accepted by the members of the society or organization. The moral code of society evolves over a period of time and is quite a deadly cocktail of religion, past history, geographical conditions, and disasters that such society has faced over a period of time.
Human beings have been trying to set up different systems since they became human beings. Almost all the systems have failed. Different types of political systems have failed in different parts of the world right from communism to democracy. Education systems have failed to provide employment to the people. Religions have failed to keep people happy and peaceful. Families have failed to take care of each other. Societies have failed to take care of their weaker members. Laws have failed to take care of the violators. But the jungles have their own rhythm. Is it so because we know too little about the forests? Or we have missed something fundamental while trying to design these fancy systems. I think it all depends upon the level of consciousness of the people participating in a system.
Most systems, in their background, try to serve the interests of a few people who are capable of manipulating the systems for their petty interests. In most cases, most people in a system are too lazy and mindlessly accept whatever is imposed on them. Some resist but after some time, they get fed up with the time and energy that is required for such resistance and give up. Very few can actually see the pain areas and inconsistencies and try to work on those. Unless these people have a critical mass that can face the manipulative force of the people who exploit the systems, it is quite difficult to reset the systems. That is why people lose respect for these systems and slowly they become redundant. The law of forest returns back and then again certain individuals get the courage and conviction to set up new systems, to be again exploited by a selected few. This cycle keeps going on. I wonder whether there is a possibility of organic growth where everybody is absolutely aware and there is no requirement for any system. Like a road where every driver is absolutely aware and there is no need for any traffic rules. Systems, in the absence of awareness, seem to serve the interest of few, and where people are aware, probably there is no need for systems for organic growth.
Comments