Between Nihilism and Utopianism - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Between Nihilism and Utopianism:Military Intervention, the Tragic and Rescuing the Human

Daniel. M. Bell, Jr.

CGSCF Ethics Symposium 2016Slide2

Niccolo Machiavelli Many

men have imagined republics and principalities that never really existed at all. Yet the way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live that anyone who abandons what is for what should be pursues his downfall rather than his preservation; for a man who strives after goodness in all his acts is sure to come to ruin, since there are so many men who are not good. Hence it is necessary that a prince who is interested in survival learn to be other than good, making use of this capacity or refraining from it according to the need.Slide3

Introduction: What Matters More?Reflect on intervention in terms of our moral identity, in terms of the best that we claim to be about.Offer an account of the

American experiment

that asserts the primacy of the moral / the good in politics against realism, while avoiding the pitfall of utopian idealism.

Reclaiming tragedy, which is crucial

both to

honoring the good in this world where indeed, as Machiavelli says, so many are not

good, and to rescuing

the human.Slide4

1. Never Again, and Again, and Again…

Things That

Matter More

(

S. Power

“A Problem from Hell” America and the Age of Genocide

) 

1

. National Sovereignty

2

. Geopolitical Influence and Foreign Relations

3

.

American

Lives

4

.

Domestic

Politics

5

. National InterestSlide5

1. Never Again, and Again, and Again…The 20th

Century:

A

Success Story

“Before I began exploring America’s relationship with genocide, I used to refer to U.S. policy toward Bosnia as a “failure.” I have changed my mind. It is daunting to acknowledge, but this country’s consistent policy of nonintervention in the face of genocide offers sad testimony not to a broken American political system but to one that is ruthlessly effective. The system, as it stands now,

is working

.”

“The real reason the United States did not do what it could and should have done to stop genocide was not a lack of knowledge or influence but a lack of will. Simply put, American leaders did not act because they did not want to. They believed genocide was wrong, but they were not prepared to invest the military, financial, diplomatic, or domestic capital needed to stop it.”Slide6

2. Just Who In This Hell Are We?“This is not just a vote about Bosnia. It’s a vote about America. It’s a vote about what we stand for.

About

our humanity and our principles

.”

Realism’s

Dance with the Devil

Hans

Morgenthau: “political ethics is indeed the

ethics

of doing evil.”

The

Primacy of Politics: Ethics Subordinated to Interests

National

interest is the standard for political actionSlide7

2. Just Who In This Hell Are We?The American Experiment and Justice for

All

(2 visions of America)

Realism

:

America

is a collection of possessive, self-interested individuals –

egoists

.

Civic Republican: Human

ends (not interests but life, liberty,

“

happiness”)

as

a project shared with

all

of humanity. Requires

governments and

power.

Declaration

of Independence

 &

Constitution

A

vision of a moral politics, which includes the moral use of

power/force

.

“

Justice for all” ~ people united in a common moral project of

shared

welfare and flourishing that embraces all of humanitySlide8

2. Just Who In This Hell Are We?The Primacy of Morality and Military Intervention

American

experiment – America embodying a moral project of ordered liberty for all – foregrounds deliberations regarding military intervention.

Recognizes

the primacy of morality in politics.

Contrasts

with 20

th

cent.

utopianism, which ignored power.Slide9

3. The Tragic Between Nihilism and UtopianismRealism, Nihilism, and the Loss of the Human

Realists

often claim the mantle of tragedy against utopians: Human imperfection

Realism

is not tragic but fatalistic. Resignation. Despair. = Nihilistic

Deficient

understanding of the human:

A

beast with a bad conscienceSlide10

3. The Tragic Between Nihilism and UtopianismThe Irony of Realism

Cannot openly admit

nihilism and rejection of American experiment.

Therefore

, cynically

feeds

utopianism / American

exceptionalism

- perfectionSlide11

3. The Tragic Between Nihilism and UtopianismDefining Tragedy

Tragedy

recognizes imperfection of humanity

But

also

recognizes that

good

is a genuine possibility

Genuinely

tragic politics = has a real possibility of achieving good but is vulnerable to missing the mark.

The

American experiment is just such a tragic politics.

Seeks a genuine good

But does not ignore possibility of falling short.Slide12

3. The Tragic Between Nihilism and UtopianismJust War and Reasonable Chance of Success

Tragic

politics rejects Crusade in favor of Just War

Just

War: aims at good, recognizes possibility of corruption / failure

Example

: Reasonable Chance of Success

Tragic

sense that sometimes we cannot attain the

good we desire.Slide13

Conclusion: Tragedy and Rescuing the HumanRealism, and the utopian offspring of its cynicism, cannot deal

with

the human.

Cannot

deal with less than perfect results, failure, etc.

Example: Wounded warriors

Only

tragic vision can face human suffering and act to overcome

it.

Recognizes

failure and limits but does not despair.

Also

recognizes the

good.

More than Beasts…Slide14

Hu

m

a

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Politi

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A

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er

i

c

a

W

a

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R

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a

lism

(Ni

h

ilis

m

)

Corr

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p

t and evilEgoists seeking domination This is permanent condition Fatalistic

Morality subordinate to Politics National Interest is primary Struggle of wills for power

Collection of egoists

Ends Justify Means

Tragedy

Imperfect: can fail + limited Therefore power necessaryGood is possible

Morality primary in politics Human ends are shared mission

Experiment in Justice for All Capable of good but need power,checks & balances

Just War: pursue good, recognize need for restraint

Reasonable Chance of Success: May not be able to do all the good that we desire

Utopianism

Humans are goodbecomes good v evil Don’t need powerbecomes crusade

Morality primary Isolationbecomes crusade

American Perfectionbecomes Exceptionalism

P

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