As a bit of continuity, I would like to briefly explore the quote with which I closed the first post:
"Medicine is a social science and politics is a medicine on a large scale."--Virchow
Many people complain that the liberal multiverse is too fragmented ideologically. (The same is often said, interestingly, about Hinduism.) But in the context of this quote, almost all liberal positions--unemployment insurance, free health care, workers' rights, consumer protection, women's rights, minority rights, social security--make perfect sense. All are geared towards helping the individual blossom in a world in which he/she has less and less agency. Each policy, and the politics that make it happen, are designed initially and meant ultimately to help people actualize their potential, and to sacrifice to make this actualization happen for one another.
Is this ideal subverted sometimes? Of course it is. But it also works splendidly at others. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, public sanitation, rural electrification, the interstate system, and the enormous government investment in infrastructure and research are all examples of how well government can work when it is meaningfully engaged. They are all also examples of the government providing breathing room and basic amenities so that people have the time and energy to achieve all they can. Some will waste that gift, but that is true of all gifts, and is hardly a reason to stop giving them.
I entered medicine because I liked the idea of healing people and making them well. This remains true despite the reality of the ways in which medicine is often delivered, and it motivates me to want to improve that reality rather than abandon it altogether. There are politicians and public servants who enter politics for the exact same reason, and stay in it for the same.
That is why Virchow matters; he matters to those who enter politics and remember that they are using its tools not for personal enrichment but for easing the suffering of their constituencies. We are told in medicine to "keep the patient first"; when we do this, we almost always do the right thing. If politicians also "keep the people first", they are living by Virchow's words--and likewise have the potential to do much good.
Raman
NEXT POST: why I am not a conservative
Friday, October 12, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Introduction
Hello friends,
After a long sabbatical (also known as "intern year" to those in their medical training fortunate enough to have experienced it already) I have decided to return to the world of writing. My purpose now, as then, is to discuss those issues closest to my heart through the twin lenses of liberalism and Hinduism. To my mind, and in my own understanding of them, the two have always been of one piece. Kindly allow me to explain.
Liberalism, to me, means an estimation of reason and rationalism, both as ends in themselves and as means to achieving a state of minimal suffering and greatest overall happiness within the domain of their influence. Liberalism in this wise can be credited with (1) conceiving projects with the purpose of improving the lives of people and (2) thoughtfully executing such projects so as to achieve that purpose. Liberalism stands in marked contrast to projects conceived with other aims, such as profit, punishment, or maintenance of the status quo, and also in marked contrast to projects executed without respect to reason or reality. These other aims and philosophies may at times be in lock-step with liberalism. However, when they are not, my personal aspirations and loyalties lie with the latter.
Hindu philosophy has been historically concerned with similar ideals. A despicable lack of clarity exists among many, including many practitioners, regarding the basic foundations of our great religion, but I think it can fairly, and creditably, be summarized as follows: Hinduism is a spiritual search for truthful ends by least injurious means and a moral search for least injurious ends through truthful means. In other words, an ideal Hindu is one who seeks truth passionately, but with an active desire to avoid hurting anyone in the process, and also one who seeks to help people and other beings through well-informed kindness at every level of human endeavor.
As you can see, Liberalism and Hinduism share their two most important values: compassion and truth. These values have generated, in no particular order, such powerful consequences as a peaceful pluralism of viewpoint and dogma, the scientific method, the remarkable success of very diverse nation-states, and the great social programs of industrialized nations. These values are my deepest aspirations as a doctor, as a citizen, and as a human being. I hope to continue to bring them to bear upon my life, and I hope to explore them and their implications in our world today in the course of this blog.
I will end for now with a quote:
"Medicine is a social science and politics is a medicine on a large scale."--Virchow
Many thanks for reading this! A warm welcome to all of you, and, for now, a good night.
Raman
After a long sabbatical (also known as "intern year" to those in their medical training fortunate enough to have experienced it already) I have decided to return to the world of writing. My purpose now, as then, is to discuss those issues closest to my heart through the twin lenses of liberalism and Hinduism. To my mind, and in my own understanding of them, the two have always been of one piece. Kindly allow me to explain.
Liberalism, to me, means an estimation of reason and rationalism, both as ends in themselves and as means to achieving a state of minimal suffering and greatest overall happiness within the domain of their influence. Liberalism in this wise can be credited with (1) conceiving projects with the purpose of improving the lives of people and (2) thoughtfully executing such projects so as to achieve that purpose. Liberalism stands in marked contrast to projects conceived with other aims, such as profit, punishment, or maintenance of the status quo, and also in marked contrast to projects executed without respect to reason or reality. These other aims and philosophies may at times be in lock-step with liberalism. However, when they are not, my personal aspirations and loyalties lie with the latter.
Hindu philosophy has been historically concerned with similar ideals. A despicable lack of clarity exists among many, including many practitioners, regarding the basic foundations of our great religion, but I think it can fairly, and creditably, be summarized as follows: Hinduism is a spiritual search for truthful ends by least injurious means and a moral search for least injurious ends through truthful means. In other words, an ideal Hindu is one who seeks truth passionately, but with an active desire to avoid hurting anyone in the process, and also one who seeks to help people and other beings through well-informed kindness at every level of human endeavor.
As you can see, Liberalism and Hinduism share their two most important values: compassion and truth. These values have generated, in no particular order, such powerful consequences as a peaceful pluralism of viewpoint and dogma, the scientific method, the remarkable success of very diverse nation-states, and the great social programs of industrialized nations. These values are my deepest aspirations as a doctor, as a citizen, and as a human being. I hope to continue to bring them to bear upon my life, and I hope to explore them and their implications in our world today in the course of this blog.
I will end for now with a quote:
"Medicine is a social science and politics is a medicine on a large scale."--Virchow
Many thanks for reading this! A warm welcome to all of you, and, for now, a good night.
Raman
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)