Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures.
Thomas AquinasRead
The fact that so many people choose to live in ways that narrow the community of fate to a very limited set of others and to define the rest as threatening to their way of life and values is deeply worrying because this contemporary form of tribalism, and the ideologies that support it, enable them to deny complex and more crosscutting mutual interdependencies-local, national, and international-and to elude their own role in creating long-term threats to their own wellbeing and that of others.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the dangers of modern tribalism, where people isolate themselves within narrow communities and view others as threats.
Margaret Levi's quote addresses the contemporary issue of tribalism, where individuals and groups tend to insulate themselves within a limited circle of like-minded individuals, thereby viewing those outside this circle as adversaries. This mindset not only fosters division but also obscures the interconnectedness that exists between different groups, leading to a disregard for the complexities of social, national, and global interdependencies. The consequences of such narrow thinking can be detrimental, as it hinders cooperative efforts necessary for addressing shared challenges, ultimately threatening the well-being of everyone involved.
Themes
TribalismCommunityInterdependenceValuesDivision
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about social cohesion and inclusivity during a community meeting.
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