Subjugation

Subjugation. People often think of this word in terms of governments and political structures. Is it possible to have a government without subjugation? I do not think subjugation is inevitable in human societies. Structures of governance do not necessarily have dominate citizens. They can also create order and divide up civic responsibilities according to people’s capabilities and education. It is not possible to have everyone do the same thing. This difference in positions, tasks and responsibilities allows for the creativity for people to use their gifts freely. There are many forms of government. In the ancient world large empires were formed through the conquering of people by stronger groups. The result was the emergence of large empire states made up of different peoples but united under the same ruler.

Is there an alternative form of governance that will can safeguard the rights, dignity and freedom of all people? For me the answer is not found in external structures. The answer lies within each person. If people are properly formed and educated, they will be more likely to act accordingly. The formation a person is the formation of a state or a nation. Many Greek philosophers like Socrates and Aristotle believed this. People have choices and can make a difference through their actions. To assert that subjugation is inevitable in human societies implies that people are not free or capable of choosing otherwise.

 

Socrates

Socrates throughout his life and right before his death is able to see the paradox in life. Most men who are considered wise are really foolish and men who appear foolish are indeed wise. According to him only God is wise and men have little wisdom. He has been accused of misleading the youth and for this has been sentenced to death. He sees nothing shameful about his sentence. He has lived well and has no fear of death. He would rather die for what he believed (his love for wisdom) than accept to be spared on the condition that he no longer freely philosophize. As much as he loves Athens, Socrates would rather obey God than the Athenians. We see here a true Philosopher and citizen. He is ready to die for his convictions. He knows his worth and predicts that if he is killed it will be more of a loss for Athens than for him. They will with great difficulty find another person like him. He was right. The world has not seen another Socrates but his thought continues to influence people and cultures millennia after his death.

The Chinese and Greeks both believed in the power of the human mind to understand the world and grasp reality. Confucius stressed the need for moral character and intellectual abilities as qualities government leaders should posses. Education and morals went hand-in-hand. Virtue was embodied in  wen -- rational, linguistic and literary abilities and wu --physical and martial achievements. The former occupied a higher place in society than the latter.