THE ZEITGEIST MEMORANDUM This is a global memorandum for those who seek societal transformation and a future that is defined by hope. If what is written below appeals appeals to your intellect and intuition you may forward this memorandum to other like minded people.
Part I
What is the Zeitgeist ? It is something everyone breathes. Something everyone everyone is in . . . like a fog it obscure obscures s our vision. vision. Until Until we are awakened awakened we live with with the delusion that we are immune to it. We think we are in control. We think we are autonomous. But this is only because we have forgotten. We have forgotten history history and have forgotten forgotten to listen listen to the wisdom wisdom of the past . . . to our ancestors. They too were in it. And yet some enlightened souls saw through the veil. Ever since humans began to think beyond immediate needs, we have tried to transcend the Zeitgeist. For better or for worse, it can cause us to believe and act in certain ways. Sadly, we forget that each individual has power. Everyone has a choice. We can choose to follow the Zeitgeist blindly or we can choose to transcend it. We can go about living in our semi-conscious state by allowing others to think for us and be myopic and apathetic OR we can choose to transcend the Zeitgeist . WHAT IS THE ZEITGEIST ? Ever Every y era, era, like like ever every y pers person on,, has has its its own own pers persona onali lity. ty. This This is the the Zeitgeist . It is not an esoteric concept. It is a simple word yet a very descriptive word that anyone can understand. The German word Zeitgeist (often capitalized and italicized) is comprised of two German words: zeit meani meaning ng “time “time” ” and geist meani meaning ng “spiri “spirit”. t”. The word word denotes the spirit of a particular age . . . the milieu of a society or era.
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With hindsight we can understand the personality of any given era . . . what it did right . . . where it went wrong . . . and the people (influencers) who shaped it, for better or for worse. Whether it was the Zeitgeist of the 1960’s, the Renaissance or the Zeitgeist of pre-Nazi Germany, behind every era are people of influence who affect the masses and thereby define the personality of any era (e.g., musicians, poets, poets, novel novelist ists, s, author authors, s, philos philosoph ophers ers,, essayi essayists sts,, movie movie direct directors ors,, etc.). Consider your own personality. It was partly shaped by your genetic make makeup up but but AL ALSO SO by your your pare parent nts. s. What What pare parents nts are are to chil childr dren en,, influencers are to the Zeitgeist . Not only is every person shaped and moulded by their parents but also by their culture, by the Zeitgeist . We are a product of our times, that is to say, we are a product of the Zeitgeist . Just as our parents can affect the way we think so too does the Zeitgeist affect the way we think and act. Our parents instil in us certain values and ideas and these ideas become part of our belief system, likewise with the Zeitgeist . The problem is, when we are IN the Zeitgeist we are often not fully aware of its manifestations; how it affects us and how it directs the future . . . sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Consider, for example, how one particular Zeitgeist in North America promoted the ‘idea’ that woman were inferior to men. In fact, the Zeitgeist went so far as to say that woman were not “persons”. To affect the Zeitgeist all it takes is one person to act as a catalyst. A Canadian woman, for example, by the name of Emily Murphy sought to be a Senator; however, she was unable to. Why? Because she was a woma woman. n. Reca Recall ll the the word words s of Amer Americ ica’ a’s s thir third d Pres Presid iden ent, t, Thom Thomas as Jefferson: “The appointment of a woman to office is an innovation for which the public is not prepared, nor am I.” Remember, the Zeitgeist of that time said (according to the British North American Act) women were not allowed to vote because they were legally not “persons” therefore a woman could not be Senator. Murphy’s Murphy’s motion to overturn overturn this ‘idea’ – to overturn this one facet of 2
the Zeitgeist – beca became me know known n as the “P “Per erso son’ n’s s Case Case”. ”. The The most most import important ant consti constitut tution ional al case case in Canad Canadian ian his histor tory. y. Her Her motion motion was denied by the Canadian Supreme Court. In deviance, she courageously sailed to England in 1929 to appear before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of the British Empire, which at that time was Canada’s final court of appeal. Emily Murphy did not, like most of us, resign herself to the Zeitgeist . She saw through its veil and awoke. As a result, she challenged it and won. Five years later the Prime Minister of Canada, Mackenzie King, appointed the first female Senator. Unfortunately, it was not Emily Murphy. It should be noted, however, that Murphy was the first female magistrate in the British Empire. Ideas have consequences. Ideas are created by people. And ideas, for better or worse, shape the Zeitgeist . It was was peop people le of infl influe uenc nce e who who mould oulded ed the the Zeitgeist of Emil Emily y Murphy’s era and because most people are followers they uncritically accepted that woman were inferior. We should not be so foolish or arrogant to believe that today we are so much wiser than the past. Everyone, from time to time, needs to be awakened from his or her ideological slumber. Sometimes when influencers communicate their ideas they become ideologies. Ideologies affect how we think and as a result how we behave. For this reason, influencers have grave responsibilities. Their idea ideas s will will live live on long long afte afterr they they die die and and pote potenti ntial ally ly affe affect ct futu future re genera generatio tions. ns. Consid Consider, er, for examp example, le, peopl people e like like Arist Aristotl otle, e, Darwin Darwin,, Marx, Gandhi, Hitler, and Martin Luther King, etc. These are people who, in one way or another, affected the masses and moulded the Zeitgeist (the ethos and milieu) of their era. With hindsight , it is easy to understand past Zeitgeists like the 1960’s, for for inst instan ance ce.. Beca Becaus use e we have have hind hindsi sigh ghtt we can can see see how cert certai ain n people’s ideas, namely, influencers, affected the masses and thereby defined the Zeitgeist of the 1960’s. Ideas can be very powerful. And because ideas can change how people think, ideas can effect how people act. If we were to closely examine the 1960’s we could connect 3
the dots, as it were, of those people who ‘created’ what we now call the Zeitgeist of the 1960’s. For example Michael Lang, the co-creator of Woodstock; Musicians like The Beatles, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Eric Intellectuals like Clap Clapto ton, n, Led Led Zepp Zeppel elin, in, & Jodi Jodi Mitc Mitche hell ll;; like Isaac Isaac Asimov, Noam Chomsky, Carl Sagan, Jean-Paul Sartre, & Alan Watts; Activists like like Mart Martin in Lu Luth ther er King King,, Malc Malcol olm m X, Mari Mario o Savi Savio, o, Glor Gloria ia Ste Steinem inem,, & Abbie bie Hoff Hoffm man; an; Directors/Producers like like Ingm Ingmar ar Bergm Bergman, an, Woody Woody Al Allen len,, Michel Michelang angel elo o Antoni Antonioni oni,, & Dennis Dennis Hoppe Hopper; r; Artists like Peter Blake, Bridget Riley, Sol LeWitt, & James Rosenquist; Poets like like Rober Robertt Frost Frost and Basil Basil Buntin Bunting; g; Authors like William William Faulkner, Truman Capote, Jules Ralph Feiffer, Louise Fitzhugh; John Steinb Steinbec eck, k, & Betty Betty Fried Friedan; an; Playwrights like like Josep Joseph h Helle Heller, r, Gore Gore Vidal, Vid al, &Tom &Tom Stopp Stoppard ard;; Religious Leaders like like Pope Pope John John XXIII XIII,, Paramahamsa Yogananda, Billy Graham, Franklin Merrell-Wolff, Irina Tweedie, Sri Aurobindo, & Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This list of course is not exhaustive, but it at least illustrates how people’s ideas influence the masses and create what is known at the Zeitgeist . In short, ideas have consequences and actions are born from ideas and ideas/ideologies are generated by influencers. If we are aware of the current Zeitgeist then we can, with foresight, predict how the future will unfold. If we can operate with foresight then we could curb noxious ideologies. That is to say, harmful ideas of TODAY that can have negative ripple effects into the future. Since every particular age is cultivated by people of influence such people dictate the Zeitgeist and yet it is the masses who give power to influencers. For this reason, every person, like Emily Murphy, has power. Every person is like a drop of water and contributes to the vast ocean of our existence. existence. And every person is like a word on a page page . . . carefully placed by the dictates of grammar . . . the unforeseen laws of nature. As each page of history is turned by the wind of change it bears the weight of humanity’s theme. Although the plot of every era is diff differ eren ent, t, the fine fine balan balance ce betw betwee een n life life and and death death rema remains ins the same.
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Every person, one way or another, is framed by the Zeitgeist . We are all IN it. The question is, are we able to transcend it? Are we able to see it with our own eyes? Do we want to be preventive so that the future is one of hope and not destructive? Will we redeem our short existence by striving for what the ancient Greeks called areté (i.e., the drive for excellence/virtue) and attempt to reach our potential? It is everyone’s desire that as we get older we become wiser and learn from from our our mist mistak akes es (hin (hinds dsig ight ht)) in hope hope that that we may may oper operat ate e with with foresight. Reaching our potential and knowing ourself is not easy and yet this effort far exceeds the rewards of becoming whole and living in harmony. Just as it is difficult to know yourself, it is also difficult to grasp the Zeitgeist when you are in it. When we reflect on our personal history we often say, “I wish I knew then what I know now.” This is the advantage of hindsight. What if we could apply hindsight to the future? This is foresight. If we are wise and prudent, then foresight operates like hindsight but of course foresight looks forward. Foresight allows us to live with less regrets because we are able to ‘see’ the future if we continue on our current path. Unfortunately, all too often we want short term solutions to problems plaguing society. If we truly want societal transformation; if we truly desire a future that is defi define ned d by hope hope,, then then sh shou ould ld we not not give give heed heeds s to the reig reigni ning ng Zeitgeist ? Understand it? Listen to it? And wonder, given the current Zeitgeist , what will the future Zeitgeist look like? The future is ours to write. We cannot erase the past. We only have today. What we do today will define the future. And although the plot may change, the theme is always the same.
We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring
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Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. Through the unknown, unremembered unremembered gate When the last of earth left to discover Is that which was the beginning; At the source of the longest river The voice of the hidden waterfall And the children in the apple-tree Not known, because not looked for But heard, half-heard, in the stillness ~ T. S Eliot, Four Quartets
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THE ZEITGEIST MEMORANDUM PART II www.zeitgeistproject.org Malcolm CC Armstrong, PhD
A Global Call to Action – The Zeitgeist Initiative SUMMARY STATEMENT Inequality and injustice is often a result of the lust for power and noxious ideologies. This breeds arrogance and consequently can cause unforgivable calamities. The Zeitgeist Project desires to be a bridge between the chasms of opposing camps and those unforeseen causes (viz., ideas). It believes that authentic dialogue amongst influencers can be an important means to help ensure the Zeitgeist of the future is defined by hope. In other words, empathic dialogue can itself be efficacious in generating a Zeitgeist of equality, justice, and peace. Organic change, in a spirit of equanimity, is possible by raising the consciousness and conscience of society. For this reason, the Zeitgeist Project is arranging the first Zeitgeist Assembly where people who influence society artistically, spiritually, and intellectually will gather to address the State of the Zeitgeist . The issue which they will address is the following: given the current Zeitgeist what will the future Zeitgeist look like? Imagine what a critical mass of influencers could generate? The Zeitgeist Assembly hopes to inspire foresight, hope, and what the ancient Greeks called arete (the ability to reach our potential). There are many positive aspects of the Zeitgeist , however, we are always on the brink of either devolving or evolving. Issues inflicting the Zeitgeist cannot be addressed exclusively within the realm of philanthropy, which primarily deals with effects. By exclusively treating effects this means dependency for recipients. Consequently, the original issue being addressed becomes epidemic and cyclical. For this reason, the Zeitgeist Project seeks to redress issues as opposed to only addressing them. The Zeitgeist Project is, of course, not a panacea, however, it will play a critical role on the international stage. It will speak to a concern that has lingered across the ages. A concern that has inspired poets, philosophers and artists. A concern that transcends all ideologies and cultures . . . what does it mean to be human in the face of our mortality? This is what has always and will forever define the Zeitgeist .
A pathologist is one who studies the nature of disease and its causes, deve develo lopm pmen ent, t, and and conse onsequ que ences nces.. A ps psyc ycho holo logi gist st is one one who who is conc concer erne ned d with with the the well well-b -bei eing ng of an indi indivi vidu dual al and and assi assist sts s one one in becoming whole. The Zeitgeist Project has similar concerns except it is concerned concerned with with the collective collective psyche; psyche; with with society society at large and in understand understanding ing potential potential psyche/sp psyche/spiritu iritual al ‘diseases ‘diseases’’ that may inflict inflict society. In particular, it is concerned with how the future will unfold given the current Zeitgeist. It seeks to anticipate and prevent a future 7
Zeitg Zeitgeis eistt that that might might be destr destruct uctive ive.. How? How? To encour encourag age e dialog dialogue ue amongst people of influence and thereby discover how the Zeitgeist is affe affect ctin ing g us and ask ask how how infl influe uenc ncer ers s are are sh shap apin ing g the the grow growth th or decline of the Zeitgeist. The Zeit Zeitgeis geistt Proje Project ct recog recogniz nizes es the great great potent potential ial in humans humans to create a Zeitgeist of harmony; for people to live with hope and for each person to realize that his or her life is significant. Consider how the Zeitgeist is analogous to one’s own body. How we treat our body will ill determ termin ine e how how long long we live live.. How we fee feed our our mind inds will ill determine the quality of our lives. Likewise, the life span of humanity is dete determ rmin inat ativ ive e on the the Zeitgeist . This is because the Zeitgeist repres resents the heartbeat and soul of any soci ociety and given globalization it will affect how we collectively evolve. If you look at world history and compare compare it to today we have in many ways collectively mature ured, but of cours urse we still face many any challenges. What complicates matters further is that we are always on the verge of devolving. We are not always consciously in pursuit of what what the the Gree Greeks ks call calle ed arete . . . the notion of striving for excellence/virtue in the attempt to reach our potential. And since the Zeitgeist tend tends s to be frag fragil ile e and and fick fickle le,, not not unli unlike ke ours oursel elve ves, s, the the Zeitgeist has the potential to perform unthinkable evils. If you think about the Zeitgeist , the collective personality of a nation, it operates in a very similar way as an individual. The Zeitgeist operates at the macro level while individuals operate at the micro level. They are mirror images of each other. Anothe Anotherr functio function n of the Zeit Zeitgeis geistt Proje Project ct is to have an impact on philan philanthr thropy opy.. Phi Philan lanthr thropy opy attem attempts pts to corre correct ct injust injustice ices s in societ society y and increase the well-being of humanity. Unfortunately, there does not exist a balanced approach to philanthropy which currently focuses its attention on addressing the micro level of our existence. If we want societal transformation then we must also be concerned about the macro level (i.e., the Zeitgeist ). ).
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Every era attaches on to something. Often the Zeitgeist is reactionary and will rally around a particular cause. For example, the ‘cause’ a few decades ago was overpopulation, now it is the environment. On a much much more more fund fundam amen enta tall leve level, l, it coul could d be argu argued ed that that what what has always driven the Zeitgeist is one of the most basic of all human desires. It is a desire that has many manifestations like the desire for power, fame, money or popularity, etc. It is a desire everyone shares . . . a desire that defines humanity. What unifies people of all races is not simply our anatomical and physiological attributes, but also the fact that we are all desire the same thing. As we mature, we begin to wake up and ask more of life . . . ask more of our ephemeral existence. We desire a WILL TO LIVE in the midst of suffering, paradox and contradictions. We want to ju justi stify fy our existe existence nce.. We humans humans,, unlike unlike animal animals s (who (who only only follow follow their instincts), are always trying to make sense of things. The most common question, for example, of child is . . . “Why?” This universal desire to find a “will to live” often divides us because we have different ‘answers’ to what each person defines to be his or her raison raison d’etre d’etre. As a resu result lt,, diffe iffere rent nt Zeitgeists have emerged throughout the ages. Understanding past Zeitgeists is far easier than grasping our current Zeitgeist . Why? Because we are IN it. The question is, do we want to lift the veil of the Zeitgeist . It has for better or worse matured, but has it lost its innocence forever? Can we go back? Do we want to go back? Too often, we not only LIVE vicariously but also BELIEVE vicariously and and allo allow w the the Zeitgeist to cont contro roll us us.. If we coul could d appr approp opri riat ate e our our ephemeral natural and our common angst in find a will to live within our our frag fragme ment nted ed exis existe tenc nce e we migh mightt real realiz ize e how how it is poss possib ible le to transcend the Zeitgeist . However, However, as history history demonstra demonstrates tes again and again and again . . . most of us are not courageous to lift its veil. Inst Instea ead, d, we becom ecome e resi resign gned ed.. Even Eventu tual ally ly we loos loose e hope hope.. Why? Why? Because we forget we have power to impact the Zeitgeist . We forget we can contribute to the whole by being part of humanity’s collective growth like Emily Murphy. 9
Today it appears that we have entered an “event horizon” and life has become like listening to an orchestra tune up. Sometimes it seems that we have everything to live with but nothing to live for . In physics an event horizon is the area surrounding a black hole where time essent essential ially ly stands stands sti still ll and what what happe happens ns next next is anyone anyone’s ’s guess. guess. Never before has the Zeitgeist become global and never before has it reached the potential to collapse in on itself. In the last 200 years, humani humanity ty has experi experienc enced ed unprec unpreced edent ented ed change change.. It is debatab debatable le whether we have paused long enough to generate enough foresight to ensure that the future is what we envision it to be. Perhaps, as the religious studies scholar Huston Smith observes, “We have withdrawn ourselves so that we have as little emotional attachment to the world as possible. What we see is not very comforting. We find it far simpler to not be engaged with the outside world.” Regrettably, there appears to be little concern about the Zeitgeist . We tend to want short-term solutions. Look at the world of philanthropy, for example. Most philanthropy, as well as a lot time, money and resources go towards stop-gap measures (i.e., band-aid solutions). In othe otherr word words, s, much much of the phil philan anth thro ropi pic c worl world d address issu issues es as opposed to redressing problems. Philanthropy tends to treat the effect and not the cause of issues. This means all the good that philanthropy does do will have to be addressed again the following year. In other words, words, philan philanthr thropy opy is cyclic cyclical al in nature nature.. It is being being proffe proffered red that that equal amount of time must be spent redressing issues so that we may be prev preve entiv ntive e and and reme remedy dy the the causes of oppres oppressio sion, n, suffe sufferin ring, g, injustice, apathy or anomie.§ What if we could operate with foresight , instead of waiting until it is too late to act? Ideas have a domino effect and can spread like a virus . . . and some ideas, once they gain momentum, can take centuries to contain and overcome. What ideas TODAY are being generated that will have dire consequences for the future? §
Anomie was coined by the French sociologist Emile Durkheim to express the idea of social instability caused by steady erosion of values and a sense of alienation and purposelessness purposelessness experienced by a person or a society.
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What if leading influencers could gather to discuss what the future Zeitgeist will look like given current trends? What if influencers made a conscious effort to use their influence to advance civilization? This is what the Zeitgeist Project is all about in its goal to orchestrate the first Zeitgeist Assembly . . . a bi-decad bi-decade e assembly assembly where where a nation’s nation’s and and then then world’ world’s s leadin leading g influe influence ncers rs gather gather to unders understan tand d the curren currentt Zeitgeist , how we are being affecting by it and how we can move forward to ensure that we do not create a degenerate future. A critical mass of influencers could generate enough foresight so that we could “see” the future. Although we cannot predict with 100% accuracy accuracy what the future will look like, this does not mean we should should not try to direct its path. What will come out of the Zeitgeist Assembly? Assembly? It is believed that empathy, dialogue, awareness and the sharing of ideas are essential components to initialize change especially if those dialoguing are the most influential people of a nation or the world. From the Assembly a summary will be generated called the Zeitgeist Report. Report. This report will serve to disseminate what is discussed at the Assemblies. The report will also be published on the internet to allow people from all over the worl world d to comm commen entt on the the Zeit Zeitgeis geistt Asse Assembly mbly and and the the ins insight ights s it generates. generates. The Zeit Zeitgeist geist Rep Report ort will will also also be dist distri ribu bute ted d to poli policy cy make makers rs,, arti artist sts, s, gove govern rnme ment nt offi offici cial als, s, thin thinkk-ta tank nks, s, the the medi media, a, educators, and the UN, etc. We can choose to let the future take its course OR we can choose to sculpt it. If we want the future to be defined by hope then this requires that we move forward cautiously. What we do today can redeem the past. What we do today can ensure that all our striving will not be for not . . . that what we think IS good does does not END like like Mary Mary Shelle Shelley’s y’s provoc provocati ative ve and revea revealin ling g novel novel Frankenstein.
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As we reflect on our own mistakes, we readily admit we have made decisi decisions ons in haste. Socie ociety ty is no diffe iffere rent nt.. We mus ustt not not let the Zeitgeist go unchecked. TODAY we must concern ourselves with much larger issues. Issues like harmful ideologies which affect how we think and thereby how we act . We must not ONLY be concerned about extending our mortality but the mortality of civilization. If we want societ societal al transfo transforma rmatio tion n then then we must must start start thinki thinking ng organi organical cally ly as opposed to stop gap measures. The future is ours to shape, but this depends on every single human being playing their part. As Shakespeare uttered, “All the world's a stage/And all the men and women [are] players/They have their exits and their entrances. . . .” If we do nothing the Zeitgeist will continue to control us or worse destroy us us.. Remain aining neutr utral is no longer an option given globalization. We must attempt to lift the veil of the Zeitgeist and break free of its grip so that we can begin to operate with FORESIGHT and HOPE in pursuit of ARETE. Every effect has a cause. How we THINK today and what we to DO today will have ripple effects into the future. The Zeitgeist Project seeks to operate like a catalyst by causing people to be increasingly conscious of the reigning Zeitgeist and the myriad ways it affects us. We can choose to capitulate to the Zeitgeist , compromise our integrity and believe vicariously OR as Shakespeare penned we can, take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
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To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause . . . Since the Zeitgeist is the character of any given era it can either devolve devolve or evolve evolve over time. time. Collective Collectively ly we are always always on the verge of evol evolvi ving ng or devo devolv lvin ing. g. By brin bringi ging ng toge togeth ther er those those peop people le who who impact the Zeitgeist this initiative called the ZEITGEIST PROJECT seeks to influence influencers and empower people to rise above the “heartache” that Shakespeare speaks of and reach our potential (arete). See PART II: A GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION
www.zeitgeistproject.org
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