Nations rise and fall. Political figures come and go. And nothing dates as quickly as today’s news.
But if you have been paying attention to current events — specifically, Joe Biden suddenly relinquishing his bid for the presidency, the rise of Kamala Harris as a presidential contender, and even the surprise August offensive by Ukraine into Russian territory, then you are witnessing, not an ephemeral phenomenon, but one that has been with us since Adam took a bite from the apple and was immediately expelled from Eden.
We call it “flippity” — a term borrowed from G. Spencer Brown’s logic in his book, Laws of Form. It means a sudden change of states, from one condition to its opposite. The Greeks called it “peripeteia,” meaning a sudden reversal of fortune.
Changing fortunes are part of the cycle of becoming and the transient nature of the physical world. But when change appears to happen so suddenly, it shocks us. We may have prayed for such a change. And indeed, worked long and hard for it, sacrificing much. When the situation flips, surprise is usually the first reaction, even before delight sets in. Or perhaps horror, depending on the event and one’s perception of it.
When Trump won in 2016, like millions of Americans, I was horrified. Now, when Harris seems to stand a good chance of winning, I’m delighted. Still, flippity underscores the reality that events are largely unpredictable and beyond any one person’s control. You can call it a “coin toss.” But that cheapens it. It doesn’t touch the depth of its significance. It doesn’t explain the root of the phenomenon. It doesn’t unravel its complexity. And if you’re on the receiving end, and it’s not what you hoped for, it offers no consolation whatsoever.
So, does this make us hapless victims of fate and circumstance? That is the very same question Boethius, a famous Roman philosopher, pondered when, 2,000 years ago, he was awaiting execution by his political rivals for exposing their corruption. His answer? Fortune is fleeting and true happiness is not dependent on events. Happiness comes from within and from the pursuit of wisdom. Because wisdom itself is divine.
Well, that’s a lot to swallow. And even if we’re not capable of fully living that reality, we can see his point. Fortune is fickle. Flippity, we may come to realize, abounds. But as Boethius informs us, we can still find a measure of stability in the joy and light that resides in our own souls. That realization may carry us through difficult times.
I’m an independent, but my hat goes off to the Democrats. They are pointing the way out of darkness and despair. They are offering “light” and “joy” and “unity.” I don’t recall ever hearing those sentiments in a political race. It got my attention because those are the major themes in a musical I wrote with my writing partner, Jack Engstrom, called “The Further Shores of Knowing.”
Basic issues like healthcare, education, the economy and clean energy directly impact our lives. It remains to be seen how such promises will transform those policies into empowering and sustaining solutions. I trust Harris and Walz are being authentic because that is what the world needs. And if they reach “The Further Shores” before we do, God bless them. We’ll be close behind, following the path of joy and light.
“The Further Shores of Knowing” is a new and original musical that represents a light-filled journey to rediscover ourselves and our place in the cosmos. We welcome donations to support our production.
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