The Buddhist Middle Way Versus a “Brave New World”. Perspectives from the Philosophy of History
摘要
History demonstrates that “a good idea”, if not stopped at a middle point, like suggested by Buddhist (and other non-dual) Middle Way-ethics, becomes its opposite, “a bad idea”. History repeats itself because of fear, greed, ambition, and the need to control others and everything. This “Short Memory Disorder” caused Climate Change. We argue that climate neutral technologies, if unchecked, may lead to another “bad idea”. Both Big Capital and Big Government are implementing technologies like IT and AI and promote them as climate neutral. In reality this allows to completely control unaware and willing human beings, much like in Aldous Huxley’s dystopia “Brave New World”. While Climate Change is focused, Mind Change is overlooked. Story-telling (passing on experience and wisdom) is replaced by story-selling (brainwashing causing a wrong black/white perspective). Problems cannot be solved with the same thinking which created them. What is needed is a Middle Way obtained through meditation, awareness, quietness, and eventually leading to consensus.