From the Seminal Book, LANGUAGE IN ACTION
General Semantics, as written about by S.I. Hayakawa, Stuart Chase and some others played a formative role in the origination of Limitation Philosophy.
The Parable, A STORY WITH A MORAL, by S.I. Hayakawa is a very rich demonstration of the power of language to shape reality. As a piece of literature it is a premier example of using fiction to express philosophy in very rich human terms.
What I especially like is how it demonstrates a specific principle in Limitation Philosophy.
THERE IS NO ORIGINAL SIN, ONLY LIMITATION.
In community A, the sin paradigm is operative, without any explicit reference to it (nobody is called a sinner). The snooping inspectors expect cheating and the recipients are expected to and would be excoriated if the failed to experience guilt for needing and then taking assistance.
The specter of wrongdoing hangs over everything and guilty feelings are expected and their experience is forced onto people.
In community B, the limitation paradigm is operative, without the author even being aware that there is such a thing. The plight of the unemployed is seen as natural. The result of human limitation on the individual as well as the societal level.
Reasonableness and understanding is the guiding spirit of community B. No ideological cloud forces them to frame people in less than ideal circumstances as criminal. A patient concrete picture of reality enables everyone to take the whole situation in with a high degree of accuracy. This is what happened and this is the situation we are in, simple as that.
In conclusion I was struck by the wholesome attitude in community B. People are seen as essentially good and well intentioned. This is lacking in the sin paradigm, and is instead replaced by the taint of evil. That’s why I use the term, ‘original sin’ in the principle statement. All the suspicion, accusation, guilt and blame are rooted in the idea that a human propensity for wrongdoing is in every instance operative. If not openly visible then devilishly crafty humanity must be hiding it.
For balance I’ve included a concise and enjoyable biography of Robert Owen. I’m certain that in a community explicitly dedicated to reasonableness and understanding ingenious humans would exploit things. The sin paradigm may rely too much on guilt and sell human goodness short but humans are quite capable of vice, especially when the rules of the game provide a ready excuse.
That’s part of Limitation too!
A STORY WITH A MORAL, by S.I. Hayakawa – PDF
Robert Owen a Concise Biography, by Joshua Muravchik
As a pair these reading complement one another.
The Parable demonstrates profound truths with richness, depth and clarity, while the examination of Robert Owens life reminds us that life is never that simple. Humans are complicated.