Any one thing
is what it is
because of it’s relationships
with all the other things that define it.
The building is the building,
because of each of the parts that make it up,
but the rafter is the rafter
because it is part of the building.

— excerpt Taking Back Philosophy A Multicultural Manifesto
By Bryan W. Van Norden p. 50

It is obvious that I am working my way through Van Norden’s book.  His exploration of ancient Chinese thought is an illuminating contrast to the current state of Western thought, and in particular the political ramifications of thought.  Politicians invariably are not intellectuals for who in that role has time to dedicate to reading and self reflection.  Nevertheless a politician will support and advocate a policy that is the consequence of the zeitgeist of his place and time.  How could we expect otherwise?

Therefore a source of counterpoint, an alternative angle of view is valuable because reality is multiple, composed of different points of view.  “Reality” for a family living in Portland, will differ in important ways from that of a family living in Houston, or Washington DC, or St. Louis.  Weather, topography of the locale, and past events all contribute to a regional sense of what is important.

The above quotation is a reflection upon a Tang dynasty Buddhist philosopher Fazang’s (643-712) philosophical dialog.

And finally this:

If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.

The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together.

— excerpt campaign speech at Roanoke, VA. July 13, 2012 Barack Obama