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U not the great thinkers of the century Colombian XIX was Carlos Arturo Torres, who was born in Santa Rosa de Viterbo, a town of conservative tradition, presented a rational and empiricist thought based on the Baconian philosophy, so it was considered an Englishman transplanted to the tropics, and his thinking was framed within the mainstream liberal, but as we shall see, this is only partially true.
"It is well known that Bacon called" Idols of the Forum "(idola fori) those ideas-true formulas or political superstitions, which continue to prevail in the spirit after rational criticism has proven its falsity. " ( Torres, Carlos Arturo. "Idola fori." Editorial Kelly, Bogotá. 1994.)
"Formula Bacon could complementary, thus indicating as included in the idolatry of the Forum, not only the ideas which have been proven false already, but those whose evidence has not been demonstrated yet, or may not ever show. " ( Torres Carlos Arturo. "idola fori." Editorial Kelly, Bogotá. 1994.)
"When Taine Penseroso to a glory gone, sadly exclaimed one day in the Eternal City" The history is a cemetery, "forgot that preserved within the ashes of the death camp, burning the fire of a perpetual resurrection. "
" The same event and react the same institution diverse and sometimes opposite way in every mind and every age time, forgotten or abandoned today as insignificant entities of life to flourish again tomorrow with the dual status of rehabilitation and youth ... " ( Torres, Carlos Arturo. " Fori idol. "Editorial Kelly, Bogotá. 1994.)
"The proverb attributed to the voice of the people the wonderful gift of infallibility and justice custodial voice of God is not confirmed, unfortunately, in the most tragic and decisive moments in history . ( Torres, Carlos Arturo. "idola fori." Editorial Kelly, Bogotá. 1994.)
"... the amount of revolutions is in direct proportion to the goodness of the ruler to whom it was made, and reverse the wrongs they have received from the people who make them. Authoritarianism and intolerance for feelings very clear crowd comprising and practice and to accept when there are those who impose them, respectful of force, despises the goodness that is not their eyes but a form of weakness, sympathetic to the master that restrains, and whether crushing the fallen despot, is not to be, but lost its force moves into the category of the weak who are despised because they are afraid. " ( Torres, Carlos Arturo. " idola fori. " Editorial Kelly, Bogotá. 1994.)
But for Torres there is a figure that is guiding the masses to this state of conflict, and other superstitions embodies democratic, that is another idol of the Forum: demagogy embodied in the demagogue.
" The demagoguery is the apparent ally of democracy and its obvious enemy, is the body of snipers located vanguard lost, discredited and hateful the army, is the exaggeration of the principle, which is to refute the very beginning." ( Torres, Carlos Arturo. "idola fori." Editorial Kelly, Bogotá. 1994.)
"The character of the demagogue flattery of kings or governments, is identical background, and have observed Aristotle and Burke, quoted by Sainte-Beuve. The two courtiers, the top and bottom, have the same mentality and the same meanness, his views are equally interested and identical projects. Gratify the passions of which has the omnipotence, or village law, for personal profits, just in case the despot has a head and the other has five hundred thousand. " ( Torres, Carlos Arturo. "idola fori." Editorial Kelly, Bogotá. 1994.)
Today many talk about the "Colombian identity" or "national identity" but are actually few who may come to define these concepts. In fact, there is much confusion about our Constitution nosdefine even as a pluralistic nation, one might say, like a patchwork quilt.
But are we really a patchwork quilt? "Lack something that identifies us all as Colombians?, is of course not, that "something" that makes us all Colombians, that makes us share certain customs, traditions and even certain institutions called Hispanic, and perhaps one of the people who best understood this concept was Alvaro Gomez Hurtado.
In his book "
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some will think that this statement background is wrong, that our culture is both indigenous and English, even argue that it is a fascist statement he wants to undermine the Aboriginal culture and history. However, these claims are the product of the mass man imbued with the democratic, tolerant and liberal West, pretending to be what you intend to be and forgetting its historical roots, because as we shall see, is actually the English and Colombian heritage non-Aboriginal.
Throughout his work, Gómez Hurtado defends the positions raised above, however in our view, this approach Hispanics are brilliantly illustrated in the third part of his book, under called "The problem of cultural miscegenation."
In this section, the author argues that Latin America suffers an identity crisis process, due to, in the words of Alvaro Gomez, destructive tendencies of revolutionary liberalism, as this is handled homogenize the prospects of this region under Western precepts of liberalism, by setting aside our historical roots, ie, ignoring our Hispanic heritage. In fact, Gomez Hurtado reminds us that Indigenous status was embarrassing for the English-American phenomenon until recently years, specifically to the 60, where the emergence of doctrines and inclusive multiculturalists want to renew the so-called "native pride."
Likewise, Gómez Hurtado explains how the possibilities of expression in the colonial Indian died, because, first, lack of historicity of these peoples, either by the absence of written tradition or their different perception of the story about the conception of the West, or whether it was because in most cases (except the author indigenous communities Peru Bolivia and Mexico) Aboriginal tribes were wiped both militarily and culturally.
Following this line, Álvaro Gómez we suggest that, although it is clear that there was racial mixing, which is logical and natural biological questions, talk about cultural miscegenation is a historical inaccuracy, because the author presented a process of acculturation by Aborigines, that is, that the colonized ended up adopting the customs, institutions and traditions of the colonists either in its own right or imposition
Finally, the author argues that those who claim that we have cultural miscegenation because Indians eat certain dishes or adopt some form of Aboriginal traditional dress, are wrong to base, since these phenomena not the result of a cultural mix, but a process of acclimation by the settlers, by which modified some of their behaviors due to the physical environment, geography and climate in which they were because, of course, was different coming.
As can be seen, part of the national identity crisis that exists in Colombia today, is due to the denial of our Hispanic tradition considering it "politically incorrect", so we call the reader to go to the wonderful text of Gomez Hurtado , and the arguments himself to regain that identity belongs to us Hispanidad.
In principle, this measure may appear to be correct, but here comes a dilemma, as this practice is a clear violation of the principle of equality, whereby, before the law all have the same quality and hence citizens the same rights and same duties. In fact the Constitution
While the article in the fundamental rights upheld by the Charter
Some feminists, for example, suggest the need for "positive discrimination", ie the need for recognition of rights, especially political, in this case of women through the gender differentiation . It is possible that this position get the desired political results for feminist groups, however the term "positive discrimination" is essentially discriminatory, despite the redundancy, since it involves a female differentiation from the rest of society, which has a reverse effect as though it achieves a certain "equality" policy, there is greater social discrimination.
The reader may wonder why this phenomenon occurs social discrimination. The answer is simple: this phenomenon violates the principle of equality before the law "without discrimination on grounds of sex", which creates resentment among those sectors that are not beneficiaries of it, and whose rights are diminished by the recognition of rights these special groups.
But feminists are not the only example in which such recognition privileges to minority groups violates the principle of equality before the law, stepping over the rights of others. Another case that clearly illustrates this situation is the protection of indigenous rights and granting privileges to ethnic community that just for the sake of being.
The political constitution of Colombia states that to be representative of the City of Bogotá, the candidate must be a Colombian citizen in the exercise and over 25 years. However, in the last elections for the council, the candidate of the Alternative Democratic Pole Quigua Ati, won a seat without meeting the age requirement posed by
As we can see the questions that arise with this phenomenon are many and in fact the answers may be troubling. That is why we must consider the protection of a minority can not be done through the violation of constitutional principles inalienable rights of all citizens, as they would be committing a greater injustice to which it is addressed.
Throughout history, mankind has experienced a process of improvement in all areas of your being, from art to science, because of the restless nature of his spirit. Clear example of this was the Greek search the arete , ie, perfection or excellence of spirit. In fact, this concept was the goal of any Greek, from the artisan to the ruling, and that was the way to transcend and become virtuous. Later in the Renaissance, human behavior focused on the pursuit of beauty as the highest expression of perfection, always with the desire to capture the essence, the spirit of things and translate it into great works of art that can still be appreciate. And to further emphasize my point, I refer to
Despite this, the modern West appears to have reached an impasse, a stalemate, where these anxieties typical of the spirit of classical perfection or enlightenment
And here comes the question: What remains? The answer, though sad and disturbing, is clear: we are destined to lose our spirit, to be automatons in a system that will meet our immediate needs, without worrying about the perfection of the spirit, transcendence.
someone is likely to argue, not without some logic, that the technological development of the human being does not imply a loss of spirit, as looking for a utility maximization of the individual, therefore, following this logic utilitarian maximizing the happiness of it. To counter this argument, refer some clear examples to illustrate the "commodification" of human beings and the emptiness of their existence the result of the lack of desire to transcend, that is, to perfect the spirit.
It is no secret that education now tends increasingly to greater specialization of knowledge of learners, experts in micro producing large areas of a specific science, but also useless and ignorant another and even in other areas of the same. A clear example is the doctor can not treat a patient with appendicitis, since he is an expert in orthopedics of the left wrist. Or the lawyer who hides his inability to respond to a matter of criminal law, after the phrase "I'm no criminal lawyer, I specialize in tax law." And doctors and lawyers are not the only ones who suffer the serious consequence of excessive technicality today's world, every professional today is at risk of becoming the same, ie to become a single piece, easily replaceable, a giant mechanism that determines their actions and which depend on a insane, making them empty shells no desire for transcendence, that is, no desire to cultivate the spirit.
But this is not the only sign by which we can deduce that the success of the technically minded and immediately implies the loss of spirit, utilitarianism does too. In today's society there is a clear tendency to live the present, without thinking about the future, because if an individual is able to maintain a decent standard of living, with revenues that allow you to enjoy some comfort, there is no need to think the need to be worthy of itself, because to be decent in our society refers to having more. The greater amount of goods and wealth is held by the exercise of any profession, the greater the dignity of the subject, but at the time that wealth is gone, disappeared with her dignity. Thus, we see that dignity has nothing to do with the greatness, honor and all those values \u200b\u200bthat cultivated the spirit, but something measurable, volatile and empty, like money.
And here I ask the reader "a subject may be empty but happy rich? Does the money go down in history and spirit? Technical immediatism Can replace the desire for truth or perfection? What happened to the likes of Michelangelo, to complete a work of the perfection of the "Moses" not happy with it, asks you what why do not you speak?
probably survive with the rich appearance devoid of happiness, you can probably buy a monument that will last some time to be remembered, you probably think that truth and perfection are unnecessary for someone who lives so comfortably. However, only transcend those like Michelangelo, not content with what seems perfect, seeking true perfection, not happy with the appearance of truth, seeking the absolute truth, those who achieve the impossible and write history.
is where I urge the reader to retrieve the desire for transcendence, perfection of the mind, to shake the grogginess of his mind and seek the arete in your life, because it depends on your ability as well as individuals significance of our culture and civilization.
Through history the hegemonic cultures through the ages have made a feature in common: they believe to be the destination or the end of the world and humanity, that is, all have a teleological character. Currently we are under the hegemony of the "Western Culture" and this is where the question arises is it also
To get a satisfactory answer on this question, it is necessary to define the values \u200b\u200bespoused by the Western culture, so that we can find it, if it does, the West is seen as a teleological culture. I should clarify that when I say "Western culture or Western," I'm referring to modern Western culture, namely the West Liberal.
With this we can begin to clear name of Western values. The first of these, belonging to what could be called the "triumvirate of Western values \u200b\u200bis the freedom with democracy and equality, representing the ideal lifestyle of the West. Other values \u200b\u200bless representative but equally important in the West are the order, reason, money or capital, technology and secularization of society.
West believes its values \u200b\u200bis a moral duty to humanity, which is reflected in various activities undertaken by the United States, leading exponent of Western values \u200b\u200bnow .. The clearest example of this struggle against "anti-values" of the West is
But the imposition of freedom, democracy and equality are not the only example of the teleological nature of Western culture, because if we focus to the economic sphere we will find another typical western value which is appropriated the world, the capital.
It is no mystery in the world today who have no money has no power, and who has not Power is not anyone in society, so he has no money is not nobody in today's society. From this simple logical syllogism derives economic competition so strong that countries like China, which has a communist political system, typically adopted a capitalist economic system, thereby seeking not left behind in the global economy, which achieved a resounding success especially since the West imposed its economic system, based on the value of money as the global economic system, ie the West and how to beat the world-system as world-economy.
And the Chinese case is not unique which the West is imposing its world-economy, putting pressure on those who do not take it, reducing poverty. Such is the case of Cuba which, besides possessing a communist political system thereby earned the enmity of the West, typically has an anti-capitalist economy, that resulted in poverty in the country due to various economic blockades made this country by the West.
other hand if we compare the impact it has had the West over the world, with the impact of other cultures as they were teleological
As you can see the teleological character of the West is clear, reaching the point where liberal ideology that initially sought to get rid of any religious, imbued with self-sufficiency became an almost fanatical, where anyone who goes against its precepts should be considered an enemy of humanity and so removed from society or subject to its dogmas, which leaves us no taste whether that speech posed by inclusive democracies does not imply a contradiction with the dealings of the these current champions, against anyone who thinks differently.
And because of this I began to think that life today is like a shell: bright and beautiful on the outside but empty inside. A life where all that matters is the cultivation of material goods frivolous and banal fantasies amenities. A life where the cultivation of the spirit is neglected in pursuit of pragmatism exaggerated.
And I started to wonder What can then fill that empty shell? How can you eliminate the loneliness of the spirit? And multiple answers came to mind, each more unsatisfactory than the previous.
At first I thought in the academy, but I realized that today is forbidden to think, as any idea contrary to the so-called democratic principles, is considered a heresy, is considered politically incorrect and condemned by society. Then I thought of worldly pleasures, filling the void with satisfaction of any kind, but I realized that the only thing this does is increase the solitude of spirit and, in excess, become corrupted. I also thought of the irony, making fun of everything from a subtle way, laughing at what they do not consider it correct and make fun of it, but I also realized that this would just be looking and that the gap would continue.
Then what is the meaning of life? How I can fill the void? And I realized that the only way to give meaning to life and fill the void is the search for transcendence by cultivating the spirit. Is to cultivate the desire to be better, to reach perfection, to find the truth, to find the beautiful, in conclusion, is to seek perfection through the perfection of the spirit itself.