Harmonia

A Forum for and the Background of the Mediation of Dialogue in Ancient and Modern Academies

Sunday 20 September 2015

Greek Elections, and the Desire to Learn

My dear Greeks went to the polls, or, to tell the entire truth, a greatest number of them, decided not to, actually the strongest "party" of the today elections. The so-called radical left won the elections (I have already expressed my puzzlement about its "radicalness"), and due to the third strongest party, the ultra-right party, the Greek parliament smells burnt Europe, and, unfortunately, mirrors how many parts of Europe become right now.

Something which might seem irrelevant at first sight: utilitarian calculation of costs and benefits is a well-established method of doing things in all possible fields and even when leading lives. Politics and policies may be built on this attitude, why not? There are many problems arising, though, as I see it: on the surface and in principle; from both the fact that there are always surprising things emerging, and that there are things that are simply immeasurable.  Be it as it may, the way the Greeks think and act may cause disturbance to utilitarians now and then: not only is there a strong factor of indeterminacy, which often impedes predictions à la micro-economics (see the "NO" of the Greek referendum, which, irrespective of what politicians and sophists made out of it, was neither utilitarian NOR even consequentialist), but there is also a genuine and sincere desire to learn, a desire immeasurable in itself, which has, therefore, no place in such utilitarian calculations. This desire is so immeasurable that sometimes it cannot even be detected!* Remember what the German press unanimously maintained about the lazy Greeks who bring no plans when coming to the Euro-group meetings!!! (For now, allow me to be silent about the Greek vices)

The Greeks will bear no gifts, but have gained valuable time to, among other things, spread argument and nurture discussion, and inform people all around Europe and the world. Those lazy Greeks, with the unfathomable desire to learn. Those Greeks who will always remain children, to both utilitarians and Plato, for different reasons. And how they are going to learn from all states and nations, California, Argentina and other Latin American and indebted developing countries, but also France, Germany and England, and from all experts! Everyone comes on their side: from bankers and supporters of austerity to Professors like Krugman and Stiglitz. We have a serious crisis and a greatest possible depression. So the one who forgets the seriousness and gets lost in calculations or ideologies of any sort will be in turn forgotten by history. Even IMF joined, partly but substantially, the agreement lately. Greece has been a laboratory, not of thought, as once upon a time, but of austerity. So let's lend our ears and learn; let's keep on being embracing when understanding and ruthless when examining logic and irrationalism. 

The chapel of St. John the Baptist, Skopelos 2015. All (immeasurable!) beauty of the sea could not console me as I was meeting young unemployed people with university diplomas, serving the tourists.
* Plato fans know how very much connected the abilities to learn, examine and teach are.

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