As I mentioned in my last post, my alma mater has embarked
on an ad campaign about “The Power of [And].” However, I have found the little
word or gets me much further in my search
for truth.
In our pluralistic culture, we are nervous about saying one
thing is right and another is wrong. Be tolerant. Keep an open mind. Relativism
is good. Absolutism is bad.
But in The Closing of
the American Mind, Allan Bloom suggested relativism itself closed our minds.
People always knew different cultures had different opinions about good and
bad. The historian Herodotus considered this a challenge to study nations and
their cultures to learn what was good and bad in each. Relativists say we must
not judge. We must respect them all.
That leads to a problem. If all cultures are equally good,
why should I invest time and energy to study all of them? I can learn about a
couple. Enjoy their music. Eat their food. And go on with life. My life is fine
the way it is.
But if absolute truth exists, if there is an ultimate good,
it is worth searching for it. I will sell all I have for that priceless pearl.
Education becomes a quest. My mind is open because I want to know.
What direction do we want to take? We can approach our
studies with both/and logic. Diverse cultures are equally good. Let’s have an
international festival and then go on our merry way.
Otherwise, we can take the either/or approach. Deep
understanding of cultures reveals conflicting value systems. One or the other
is right. They cannot both be. Am I courageous enough to dig this deep? Will I admit
that my culture isn’t always right? Will I change the way I live when I find a
better way? Am I brave enough to state graciously when an aspect of my culture
is better? This is the only way to grow in truth.
I choose “The Power of [Or].”
