Daniel, this was a really compelling framework!!! Very well done. It struck me that each pole carries its own danger if overemphasized: the risk of order is tyranny, and the risk of chaos is instability; the risk of “we” is conformity, and the risk of “I” is isolation; the risk of duty is oppression, and the risk of choice is aimlessness. To evaluate if the both/and balance of these dialectics is integrated properly in ones life, it also helps to recognize the harms we've felt by an imbalance. Both pain and pleasure are tools to assist in our evolution.
What also intrigues me is "scaling" this. This model is true not only of an individual person, it scales and applies to larger bodies (family, community, region, culture, nation, etc). I think it is likely we may see certain dialectical needs balanced and fulfilled better within specific communities or even nations. Though proper vision for this type of evaluation does of course first require removing the log from my own eye.
Thank you Micah! I love these thoughts!! I agree with your assessment of the dangers of each pole. And yes, assessing balance is an important question, and much wisdom is gained in learning from past pains. I hope to write about both of these topics at some point!
I'd be really cool to see different countries ranked on this model! Perhaps it could be done with really well developed surveys. But to your point, what counts as an "appropriate" meeting of security or a "healthy" meeting of freedom would seem a very difficult task. Probably the best plan would be to give satisfaction surveys to the people and let them decide... but then their own cultural biases and self-deception would be in play. Maybe some benefit could come from an expert's review of countries. Maybe they could even do multiple reviews using different philosophies of human nature/flourishing as the measuring stick.
An obvious parallel already is the Individualism -- Collectivism spectrum, which compares "I" vs "We." The dialectical needs model though could help with analyzing both as necessary needs. 2 equally "collectivist" countries could vary wildly on how well people have their individualism needs met.
Daniel, this was a really compelling framework!!! Very well done. It struck me that each pole carries its own danger if overemphasized: the risk of order is tyranny, and the risk of chaos is instability; the risk of “we” is conformity, and the risk of “I” is isolation; the risk of duty is oppression, and the risk of choice is aimlessness. To evaluate if the both/and balance of these dialectics is integrated properly in ones life, it also helps to recognize the harms we've felt by an imbalance. Both pain and pleasure are tools to assist in our evolution.
What also intrigues me is "scaling" this. This model is true not only of an individual person, it scales and applies to larger bodies (family, community, region, culture, nation, etc). I think it is likely we may see certain dialectical needs balanced and fulfilled better within specific communities or even nations. Though proper vision for this type of evaluation does of course first require removing the log from my own eye.
Thank you Micah! I love these thoughts!! I agree with your assessment of the dangers of each pole. And yes, assessing balance is an important question, and much wisdom is gained in learning from past pains. I hope to write about both of these topics at some point!
I'd be really cool to see different countries ranked on this model! Perhaps it could be done with really well developed surveys. But to your point, what counts as an "appropriate" meeting of security or a "healthy" meeting of freedom would seem a very difficult task. Probably the best plan would be to give satisfaction surveys to the people and let them decide... but then their own cultural biases and self-deception would be in play. Maybe some benefit could come from an expert's review of countries. Maybe they could even do multiple reviews using different philosophies of human nature/flourishing as the measuring stick.
An obvious parallel already is the Individualism -- Collectivism spectrum, which compares "I" vs "We." The dialectical needs model though could help with analyzing both as necessary needs. 2 equally "collectivist" countries could vary wildly on how well people have their individualism needs met.