Passion and logic, Duality of love

Published: 30 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

As 2012 winds down let's examine the duality of love in the context of Thai culture, not least of which because I'm in the mood to party and couldn't care less about the news and what's going on in politics. We'll save that for next year, after I sober up. Instead, let's ponder philosophically on romance. An unexamined life is not worth living; an unexamined society is not worth living in.

The first phrase belongs to Socrates; the second belongs to yours truly. Not that I would ever have the audacity to put my thoughts on par with the founder of Western philosophy, but putting the two phrases together does help to order the flow of logical thoughts a bit. After all, what is a society but a cluster of lives in a community? For that matter, what is social behaviour but a collection of individual behaviours acting together somewhat uniformly? I qualified "uniformly" with the term "somewhat" because no group of people ever acts exactly the same, though there is always the prevailing norm.

That prevailing norm of course becomes a stereotype, a generalisation when we theorise about a society. There are always exceptions to any man-made theories; after all, as man is flawed, man-made theories are full of holes. As such, behavioural science is subjective at best and when the focus magnifies from a single person to an entire society where millions of whining, me-me-me individuals exist, generalisation is necessary to form an understanding.

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onlyasking
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Discussion 13 : 30 Dec 2012 at 09.3113
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Building a nation starts in every home, not in schools, not in courts and not in parliament. Parents should motivate children to learn and encourage them to excel, parents should teach children about love, compassion, right and wrong. Today however parents tend to spend less time with their children and shower them with gifts and money to compensate the children for the less time spend with them. In the end we have a society based on the value of money and not the value of virtue.
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felixqui
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Discussion 12 : 30 Dec 2012 at 09.1712
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"But an honest critical examination of Thailand is not an easy thing to perform, especially not for a Thai."

In fact, it is in many cases strictly illegal under Thai law to even attempt such a healthy critical examination of elements of Thai culture.It is hardly surprising that the Ministry of Education and many others opt for the safer path of encouraging the mindless parrotting of pious platitudes, which are not so pious when we recall Socrates on his way to court to face the charges that led to his execution in Euthyphro.
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tansri
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Discussion 11 : 30 Dec 2012 at 08.3911
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An important guiding principle of Buddhist practice is the Middle Way (or Middle Path) and the practice of non-extremism.
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oldairman
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Discussion 10 : 30 Dec 2012 at 08.2810
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Education is or should be a non partisan long term effort but sadly in Thailand it is short and sometimes very short term thing. A prime example is that the current Minister for Education is the third one of this governments, each of whom has been slelcted as the "right person" for the job.
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amazed
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Discussion 9 : 30 Dec 2012 at 08.079
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For a time, I thought I was listening to Spock on the Starship Enterprise. The last few paragraphs echo what is often alluded to in comments found in the BP. It seems to me that overindulgence is portrayed as love and concern as a cover for lack of commitment and willingness to put in the hard work of discipline (in a proper way, seldom seen in Thailand) and teaching. Where will we find the teachers to begin the process? Live long and prosper.
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johnbegood
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Discussion 8 : 30 Dec 2012 at 07.588
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A Great Article khun Voranai!
I would say one of your best,
"To build a better future, we must understand the present. To understand the present we must investigate the past".
Unfortunately the above is somewhat difficult for so many to contemplate.
But being human we all live in hope for a better tomorrow!
Wishing you and all your loyal readers a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year.
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nitnoi
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Discussion 7 : 30 Dec 2012 at 06.447
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I don't see the brochure Khun Voranai mentioned "never short on empty propaganda and yet being approved by culture ministry".I read 4 full pages advertising section in Time Magazine about our beloved Thailand. I also read the one in the past when exPM in exile was in power. the language is full of sugarly words about Thailand then and now. Yes we love our kids but feeding them with food full of sugar and artificial stuff will kill them eventually.
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nns
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Discussion 6 : 30 Dec 2012 at 06.156
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Very tactful, Khun Voranai. I think I can read between the lines.
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bangmodken
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Discussion 5 : 30 Dec 2012 at 05.485
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Excellent,Khun V! Very refreshing with your open self-criticism and spot-on analyses of one of the single most pressing problems that Thailand face. Themselves.
Happy New Year,Khun Voranai and be careful out there! We want you back early next year.
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bkkmatt
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Discussion 4 : 30 Dec 2012 at 05.414
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In Thailand from an early age the National Anthem is sung twice a day, Patriotic/Nationalistic pride is drummed in and a belief that Thailand, Thai people and Thai food is the best in the world etc etc.
This indoctrination leads to a one sided opinion of ones self, country and status.
Thai's need to be much more honest and open to move forward.
Parents and schools need to give "Tough Love" to teach these children right from wrong and win and lose (No Fail Policy at school). Sometimes you have to be "Cruel to be Kind" to teach the children good morals & life skills which I see is clearly lacking in this otherwise wonderful country.
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Passion and logic, Duality of love | Bangkok Post: opinion