Reality and Truth

 

Reality and Truth

– An Imagined Discourse in a Democracy –



Socrates – You say ‘the world is not fair’. How is the world not fair?

Citizen – There is inequality in so many facets of our lives.

Socrates – Why do you think that is so?

Citizen – Because the wealthy control our lives.

Socrates – Do the wealthy not create businesses and pay wages to workers?

Citizen – Yes, of course.

Socrates – Why do you not create your own business?

Citizen – Because I’m not wealthy, old man!

Socrates – Why are you not wealthy?

Citizen – Because I had not the money to go to college for higher education.

Socrates – Are there not business owners without college educations?

Citizen – Well, yes, I’m sure there are.

Socrates – So, why do you not create your own business?

Citizen – I have not the knowledge nor the money to create my own business.

Socrates – So, can you not study and get the knowledge to create your own business?

Citizen – I don’t understand the development and marketing aspects of business.

Socrates – Do you believe then that intelligence can be a factor in business?

Citizen – Yes, of course, I believe that.

Socrates – Then, can we say that people have different learning abilities, that some people are more intelligent than others?

Citizen – Sure, I believe that is obvious.

Socrates – Would it not be reasonable to assume then that not all people are created equal in terms of intelligence and ability?

Citizen – Yes, that would be reasonable to assume.

Socrates – Could we not further assume that ‘equality’ is an unattainable goal?

Citizen – Sure sounds that way… But there are people who are poor and without these abilities. Some are infirm and cannot work at all. What about these people?

Socrates – An excellent question. What, indeed, about these people?

Citizen – It seems to me a civilized world needs to recognize the needs of these people and care for them.

Socrates – A noble sentiment! And, what about the group among the needy who would take advantage through fraud of this largesse?

Citizen – There most certainly would need to be a ‘fail safe system’ built into any program that addressed this issue.

Socrates – So, it would seem in many areas of a democracy that ‘equality’ is a noble thought but not an attainable goal. Our dialogue further implies that hard work and effort can lead one to her/his success in life…



Billy Ray Chitwood – December 7, 2016

                 

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