29 October

One thing I've noticed that is shared by most of the competing beliefs in society right now, is a retreat to the ideal. Whether it's spirit in religion, or New Age metaphysics, or absolute truth in science, or the economy in politics, or 'no politics please', or the retreat to escapist art and music and holidays etc. A common response to a complex world is to retreat to a more ideal version of that world, and then seeing the actual world we live in as some fallen version of those ideals. I see most opposing arguments in public debate as actually coming from the same side - this ideal side. Nobody has much appetite for the messiness of actual life.