Philosophy of Hope

If we can imagine humanity as a web of both intersecting and interacting minds rather than bodies and brains, then we can strip down all barriers that prohibit equality of opportunity. I believe that it is the perceived differences from the social or physical norms which entice people to find reasons to negatively discriminate against each other.

But we must also address the intellectually disabled in this philosophical exercise. They are so diagnosed or labeled because they too deviate from the norm established by their societal environment. From my personal observations this population holds both thoughts and feelings like every other human. It is society’s judgment of their level of these aspects of humanity as compared to those of their peers which creates the perception of them being different, and thus leads to discriminatory attitudes and treatment of them.

What if the intellectually challenged dwelled in an environment which was free of academic judgment? Would they not then set their own norms and consider themselves normal? They would not be disabled in any way. They are disabled now because people in their environment set them up against a larger societal norm, and have determined through a system of standards that they deviate from it. But we must account for the fact that in order to physically survive, they must interact in mainstream society in order to acquire the basic necessities of life such as food, water, shelter, and clothing. The humane way to treat the environmentally challenged is to offer equality of opportunity to them.

Segue from this concept into the construct of educational inclusion. I believe that we have taken proper strides to care for each other, regardless of the individual challenges posed on people that society considers disabled. We offer both life skills training and assistive technology to those who need them in order to navigate towards survival, while providing opportunities for social interaction in the mainstream. We support those who lack skills necessary to compete with their peers for mainstream jobs. We provide appropriate challenges to the gifted who ultimately contribute to major advancements for the betterment of humanity.

I believe that we are constantly evolving into a society which values a larger and even nobler construct of societal equality of opportunity; a civilization which glimpses the concept that we are indeed simply minds encumbered by the fog of both flesh and societal standards and norms. We are becoming a web of humanity which rejects discriminatory actions, condemns the criminals who abuse the weak and infirm, and chides those without empathy.

After all, our minds live on beyond the death of the body. How do I know? Science tells us that matter and energy can be neither created nor destroyed, it merely changes form. If something tangible can remain in existence forever, then isn’t logical that it is easier to keep something intangible in existence? Just as the recorded thoughts of Aristotle and Shakespeare keep them alive beyond their physical existence, so shall mine on this page keep me in existence beyond my allotted corporeal sentence.  

I must leave you with the thought that as we are evolving toward a nobler society, then we must instinctively understand that there is a foggy target of perfection that we can glimpse. Such perfection must include the notion that we are all equal minds regardless of the inequalities of the flesh in which we are all trapped. I look forward to being reunited with my parents, and meeting both Benjamin Franklin and Rene’ Descartes. Oops; gotta’ go, I need to learn French!