1. “How deep the ruts of tradition and conformity!” (Thoreau, Walden, paragraph 6 of Conclusion)
The Simple Living movement recognizes the superficiality of present day society which, though formed with mankind’s happiness in view, has not succeeded in achieving it. Thoreau, who saw through the facade from nearly every angle, said it best when he penned, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” (Economy, paragraph 9). His view of the modern world’s pursuit of luxuries was a “positive hindrance to the elevation of mankind.” (Ibid, paragraph 19). He had come to realize that ‘being’ was more important then ‘doing’ but that society had only framed a universe for the latter rather than the former. The Simple Living movement therefore, is interested in furthering this paradigm shift by promoting the return to a proper focus on ‘who’ we are within the larger world in which we live and in turn, simplifying our overly complex lives.
Rachel Carson’s contribution to our nation’s ecological awareness is best known through her writings concerning the hazards of pesticides being used in the 1950′s and since. Her influence led to policy changes on a national level which have in turn, provided the impetus for the expansion of global awareness. Resulting from this new awareness, the Simple Living movement informs and educates its audience concerning ways to avoid the use of toxic chemicals in the production of home grown foods. In addition, this movement emphasizes the ‘slowing down’ of those who would escape the “heedless pace of humans” in order to enjoy the “deliberate pace of nature.” (Week 4 Lecture quoting Carson). Of course, this is a surface solution to a subterranean problem which Ms. Carson knows all to well and unveils in her many writings. Because we misunderstand the ‘soil’ and consider ourselves disconnected from the inanimate ‘dirt’, the industry we create is structured in a way that is antithetical. We poison the living soil that produces our food. Therefore, we poison ourselves. The Simplified Living movement re-educates us how to avoid these ingrained tendencies.
Finally, the Simplified Living movement supports the tenets of Schumacher’s Buddhist Economics theory by attempting to liberate us from the mainstream view of ‘people’ as a means to an end (consumption). Rather, the movement provides tips and self-help articles to promote the “maximum of well being with the minimum of consumption.” (Week 4 Lecture chart). Since “human life is a dependent part of an ecosystem of many different forms of life” (Week 4 Lecture, IV), the Simple Living movement promotes lifestyle changes that are in harmony with a synthesis of man and nature.
2. “Let every one mind his own business, and endeavor to be what he was made.” (Thoreau, Walden, paragraph 11 of Conclusion)
I find the very asking of the question of ‘going back to nature’ somewhat irksome. After all, what are we, aliens? Where are we right now? (if we have to ‘go back’ to nature?). The earth is an enclosed biosphere. There’s no place else to go. The real question is whether we should simplify our lifestyles by reducing consumption and contamination of earth’s resources. How could we possibly unravel the tangled web we’ve spun?
From the other posts I notice an underlying sense of futility in view of such a daunting task as making our world sustainable. It would seem the very structure and fabric of society would need to be razed and rebuilt from the ground up. The typical resignation to ‘do what I can’ seems to be the patent answer and a kind of escape mechanism of our already worn out minds.
I detect an error in our reasoning however. We should not consider simplicity as the key to happiness. If this were the case, then single celled amoebas would be delirious and God, the “Builder of the universe” (Thoreau, Conclusion, paragraph 16), would be most miserable. The key to contentment lies in the direction of synthesis and not mere simplifying. Certainly having less is simpler but let us not forget that even Thoreau returned to “civilized life again.” (Economy, paragraph 1). The difference was that while most of us are “sound asleep nearly half our time” (Thoreau, Conclusion, paragraph 18), Thoreau had been awakened.
Our need is a great awakening not a new rut of reasoning. Re-education won’t overcome the greed for base gain. We need a paradigm shift in our view of what it means to be a human “being” as a vessel to contain and express the life we were given before we could do anything to deserve it. Our greatest joy is not in having nothing, though being reduced to nothing often awakens our appreciation for what really matters. If we could synthesize who we are with where we are and why we are, we might discover the truth as Thoreau did, that “Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul.” (Thoreau, Conclusion, paragraph 15).
3. “Things do not change. We change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.” (Thoreau, Conclusion, paragraph 15)
A paradigm shift in our view of reality will certainly change everything. There is no substitute for the proper view of a matter. Because we have embraced the wrong view, we have built up a societal structure that is not compatible with its own well-being. Given time, the new ideas will prevail as new generations come forth and old ones pass on. For those who believe it is too late, I would disagree. Renewal is a process of nature itself.
So we will continue to educate. We will continue to monitor and speak up. We will continue to hold others accountable through public policy and debate. We will vote. We will take the baby steps as noted in another’s post. And we will see the difference slowly but surely; not because we are optimists but because we are realists with faith and the knowledge that our self-cleaning biosphere will regenerate itself.
And because a generation is being awakened to the plight and the promise, we will develop new technologies to resolve the inherent problems of the old ones. Today we do our part; we speak our part. And we simplify by synthesizing because we have a proper view of who we are and not because we are trying to ‘do’ something. We are Human Beings not Human Doings.
