Happiness can only be the purpose of life in futile natures. First, because of its impossibility; second, for its smallness.What harm does it do to accept life in full? It is a vigorous attitude to greet the bad times, and more: to value them as formers of meaning.
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According to Pascal, man is corrupted to such an extent that even knowledge is not immune from forgery. If we take such a statement seriously, it will be necessary that we adopt a humble stance towards everything: we will have to doubt each of our words and be extremely cautious about anything that appears to us as “conviction”. We will treat ourselves with a certain contempt, and self-esteem will be an impossible word. We will be likely to avoid contact and our independence, if it manifests itself, will do so in a measured manner. In short, we will be exactly the opposite of the men of this century.
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Scientific development, with its invaluable contribution to humanity, has brought unprecedented progress in history. The brilliance of technique improvement, problem solving previously seen as insoluble, of the drastic elevation of the average standard lives totally overshadowed the other areas of knowledge. However, modern society has contaminated itself with the stupid sense of self-reliance. Human error, because it is largely mythable, is no longer seen as a threat. Philosophy, theology and social sciences have become very secondary. As I write, planes fly and organs are being transplanted. I observe the advances, I see the feeling of progress, I perceive the illusion that man is nearing the apex — although I cannot say what exactly would be that apex… — I see, above all, the confidence of the stupid. I see the voracity of the technologies that are imposed without asking for leave, changing reality as in a lamp; perfecting and, by perfecting, they end up unquestionable. I perceive in limbo any hierarchy of values. What was once a core of meaning — relations — today are fragile, replaceable, virtuous as useful. The wise, above all, have their faces stuck on a cell phone; wishing for cheaper implants… If they talk — and they should! — they do so softly, in almost inaudible whispers. Where are the limits? There are no limits to man! We forget the value of the futile, we forget that disastrous are the well-meaning. The awareness of failure, perversion and greed has succumbed by giving birth to absolute hope, which is but the certainty of success. I end up noting the obvious: the stupid modern claim can only lead to a total and atrocious disappointment.
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I have been a neighbor of a Chinese family’s for almost a decade. For this reason, I had the opportunity to meet and talk to more than a dozen of them. And recently, for no apparent reason, I began to articulate: it seems to me — I may well be mistaken… — that the Chinese, as a rule, is less vain than the Westerner. Deepening my investigation, I found that in China there is not, for example, political debate. Oh, look at that! I always thought that a world without political debates would be less rough and that, summarily, every debate of ideas is, rather, a war between vanity. And ordinary Chinese feel no need to see debaters vying for intelligence, proving to the public the wisdom of their own ideas! And ordinary Chinese do not turn on the radio to hear the political commentator say, “I have the best analysis!”, or to hear the economic commentator predict, “Such a measure will fail!”. Ordinary Chinese, it seems to me, makes taking care of their own life; and China, it seems to me, is hardly going to burst into debates, controversies, seeing hatred shed anywhere one looks, with its citizens in a fight, aggressive with each other, almost killing themselves by stupid personal opinions on issues that, not enough the ignorance, they do not keep them the slightest possibility of effective action. For a moment, I find ordinary Chinese superior to the greatest of our scholars.
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