Towards a Right Understanding of Success

Success is a powerful idea. It builds empires and orders lives. At least the common conception of success which has been considered thus far. It might even be the difference between higher life and the lives of beasts. Perhaps that is an overstatement, but success drives us beyond mere survival in a physical sense. It is not enough to fill the stomach, rest the mind and propagate our genetic code. While bears prefer to chase scents on the forest floor we chase wealth and possessions. Why is that? Why should we not experience contentment when all of those appetites experiencing want (shelter, sustenance, sex) are contented?

A theory: Perhaps survival has become too easy. If the necessities of life are adequately provided for and there remains no trace of survival anxiety, then our energies need be displaced. Success is what is left to seriously pursue when the basic needs are met. To me this is an interesting account of success. One could say we’ve grown idle and success is the societal solution.

Everything that survival provided for now success provides. This means a powerful structure of meaning and agreed form of release. We strive to succeed as social survival. There are still winners and losers of course. That much is perfectly clear. But the penalty upon losing is not the loss of ultimate existence. Rather it is social death. In this way, we human beings can continue our struggle for survival which is so characteristic of our common condition.

Though this is an interesting account of success it simply will not do because it cannot make sense of the whole phenomena which is success. It provides one commentary on success but this explanation doesn’t go far enough. If success is only the measurement of prosperity and the thrill of competition, which incidentally brings us back closer to the animals we assumed so different in the first place, then all has been said on the subject. However, there is a success which aspires to something different.

A second theory: Perhaps we’re conscious that survival is futile. The former theory interprets possessions, wealth and honour as demonstrations of superiority. This is survival of the fittest played out in social circles; a consequence of having too much free time. But there is a success sought which is intent, not on accumulation and demonstration, but identity and permanence. Those seeking to be loved by the world for what they gave. A measure of identity and striving for permanence.

Maybe we all want to last forever but know we never will. Collectively, we have been granted the unique insight that one day we will die. Therefore, the only avenue of survival left is accomplishment. Public remembrance through success of some variety or another. Achieving immortality is the meaning of success. It is the only way to truly survive our deaths. A great book will immortalize its author and a great general will establish his legacy through conquest.

The end of theory: Success as the perversion of ambition. Whatever the meaning of success, whether the measure of social status or the eternal testament of a life, the concept itself is found to be corrupt. It is fed by anxieties of one sort or another. In contrast, the Christian’s source of hope and identity is found in the hope of the resurrection and the righteous judgement of Christ.

On Success

Shawn Miller wanted to be loved by as many people as possible. Not that they would cling to him, or that they would really need him in any way. He knew of course that this would be expected and of course that was unfortunate. What Shawn really wanted was their praise, their honour, and their esteem. To be lifted up on the wings of these sentiments and soar far above the common men living below. There breath would come naturally and movement freely.

This does not mean he sought empty compliment or took satisfaction in the mere form of praise. Only the cruellest and most removed tyrants, having lost the ability to discern the substance of such hollow words, derive pleasure from empty compliment. Those who, being deluded as they speak to themselves, ignorantly compensate for what is lacking in the flattery they receive from others. No, Shawn was not like that. It was true that he wanted to be loved by as many people as possible. He, however, could not endure false praise. For those wings to function they had to be strong and solid.

Furthermore, Shawn Miller wanted to be loved on account of what he gave. For the greatness he could bestow upon others. He would say the right things at exactly the right times. This meant a kind word for some; for others a rebuke or correction. He would give and receive in perfect proportion because he understood both the wrong felt by a frustrated giver and the grateful heart a gift engenders. Never could one accuse him of being inappropriate. To be all things to all men while all would marvel at his appropriate conduct. This would be his measure of success. In it he felt an assurance. Though not completely stable, as it was subject to fickle people, neither was it a product of his own imagination.

The life of a politician is measured in just this way. Pretence of virtue aside, the politician’s success is dependant on perception and presentation. Perception as in the opinions of others, either in accordance with or contrary to the facts as they are. Presentation as in how he goes about influencing these opinions. Unfortunately, the life lived “politically” is a thorny affair. The old adage that you cannot keep all the people happy all of the time seems to be true. Empires (large political networks) have a tendency fall apart just as quickly as they have appeared.

Empires too attempt to ascend to heaven. Much like the wings Shawn Miller wished to construct, empires construct monuments and furnish entire civilizations to soar. Their ambition is aimed at undeniable success; an assurance of their place in history. Such confidence is bought in gold and built with marble and stone. It is paid for with the sweat and blood of human struggle.

It might appear that the only success granted empires is the success of conquest and acquisition. Indeed, this is certainly true in some way. But, it is even clearer that this demonstration of power is only a precursor to the real success actually pursued. To be loved by the world for what they gave, to be regarded by others in honour and esteem. Why else build monuments? They are not built for others to inherit. They are built as presentations to the world with the perception of others weighing in the balance. Is it not obvious to see how they foster confidence and both display and provoke success? Ground is broken and expenses paid because they assume their republic is everlasting. But they aren’t. Though it simply cannot be imagined otherwise, empires have a tendency to fall apart just as quickly as they have appeared.

Zeitgeist and the Call to Paranoia

Zeit·geist /ˈtsaɪtˌgaɪst/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunc[tsahyt-gahyst] – noun German. The spirit of the time; general trend of thought or feeling characteristic of a particular period of time.

In English it would look like this: Thespiritoftheage. However, the Germans with their wonderful efficiency proclivity were able to discard a few unnecessaries giving us the much more visually appealing zeitgeist.

Unfortunately, as of late it is also recognized as the title of an online move now circulating among the bored and restless (for who else roams the internet) which seeks among others things to argue against the historicity of the Christian faith vis-à-vis denial of the historical Christ. I hesitate to say it is original in any way save perhaps two. Both in the ambitious extent of it's conspiracy theory and it's very special disregard for quality in presentation Zietgiest does excel.

Credit is due for the sheer scope of the movie's foolishness. It is essentially the Grand Unifying Theory of conspiracy. You know, that one scientific idea that scientists postulate will consolidate all natural knowledge, uniting facts from what are now very diverse branches of inquiry. Well, Zietgiest does just that - with less fact. Religion, particularly Christian religion, 9/11 and international monetary conspiracy are all addressed and I assume associated or linked in the elaborate fashion that only the mind of an undisciplined child would conceive of. I say "assume" because I haven't yet viewed the movie in it's entirety. Of course, any movie which opens with 5 minutes of seeminly arbitrary, self-explanatory warfare montage deserves nothing less.

While interest permitted, I watched the movie's first part (it is explicitly divided into three) which concerned origins of Christian religion (and probably all religion for that matter) as essentially interpretations and reconstructions of the of the primal religious sensibility: celestial awe. In our case, the narrator is especially lucky, for "sun" and "son" are homonyms. The Son of God and the heavenly sun, got it? Well, his arguments are a little more sophisticated then that to be fair. But they are patently dishonest from a serious academic standpoint. Yet the tune does sound pleasing the undiscerning ear.

Ironically, Zietgeist does represent the spirit of our age. Amusing ourselves to death, while neglecting any serious, sustained reflection of ideas and the consequences of ideas. Conspiracies like this, win an increasingly larger following for that very reason. I will admit the Zeitgiest was at least entertaining.


Watch it here: http://zeitgeistmovie.com

(In the days to come, I will attempt to present specific objections to the actual arguments raised by the movie: lies, lies, lies.)

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

St. Paul (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Declaration of Intent

[Originally written over a month ago. Still serves as a fine introduction to the seeshawnblog project.]

November 8.

I don’t know if this will work. Doesn’t a writer have to enjoy writing? Doesn’t he or she look forward to the game, the process, the release; in a way such as an athlete? I don’t think I like it: that's what I am trying to say. But I want the result. To bestow a greatness unto others that I meet. To express myself clearly to myself. And above all, to assure all that I am capable of magnanimity. If there are great thoughts lurking, how else would they be found except by searching?

Every once and a while, I will cough one up. That is certainly true. A cough is a rejection of a harmful agent working its way through one's body. These thoughts are not to be rejected though. The tuberculosis patient, at least as he is presented in my imagination, reserves a special cloth for his bloody rejections. Here is my cloth.

Again : It’s like a finding lucky penny. But I cannot live off of those. I need to earn an honest wage. Here it is. Not lucky any longer, but merited.

I hope to God, no-one reads these things. Not just because I’m vulnerable. But because my vulnerability is naked, is average. Fail excellently if nothing else (If you are going to fail). Frame the failure and put it on a wall for all to see, that’s no bother. But I cannot endure to display me as I am (that's wallpaper).

Maybe I enjoy it. Maybe it scares and intimidates me. The empty spaces accuse me, and whisper thoughts into my head. This space is a door for them to enter. They come inside together and rummage through the drawers of my mind, the closets, and the garage. Of course, they find nothing and leave the place a mess. Stomp them out with your shoe like a finished cigarette. . .

And, what is creation? An extension of oneself. It’s a shame that words get in the way and my object is wrapped up in them like a present.

Writing/creating is the imitation of God. Explosions in the sky (think Genesis) and in my head. God is the Creator (of heaven and earth), I am the creator of this page. Will God see Himself? Will I see God? Imagine the divine creation. God’s creation unlimited in scope and idea. Setting out in the confidence that He could produce nothing inferior, and nothing untrue, and nothing ugly. That is artistic freedom! Oh, how I admire the working of God!