-
Essay / An argument by Daniel Barbezat on self-reflection and inwardness
The topic known as mindfulness is often considered a means of self-assessment but not a method of social change. However, Daniel Barbezat argues that, much like the Socratic idea of self-reflection, his belief in what he calls "interiority" can be a mode of societal correction. According to him, mindfulness can be used not only to become aware of the nature of humanity, but also as a way to start the conversation and end the flaws that it has developed over time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essay Barbazet defines interiority as a person's personal experience, that is, the way in which a person experiences the world as a whole through their own perspective. Yet it attempts to go further and examine how personal experience relates to the wider world. He explained that interiority can best be found through a period of introspection and other contemplative methods. He says that introspection breeds awareness and that by seeing ourselves as we really are, we can better understand the impact humanity has had on society and our planet. He himself set an example of white privilege and, if only society would open its eyes, communities would see it too. He spoke of the idea that those who experience the world without really seeing it will not understand the intricacies of the American racial structure. Yet, through mindfulness and introspection, individuals can learn to see their own advantages in society and begin to correct them. On a larger scale, Barbazet argues that self-reflection will reveal even greater impacts on the world. He says humanity has “a great impact” on both society and the planet. By taking the example of a new geological epoch (the Anthropocene), he shows that man affects everything. We have changed our environment so much that we have caused the Earth to change its geological configuration. In fact, we have controlled our societal structure so much that we have reallocated the distribution of wealth to better favor the “ruling class,” so to speak. He draws attention to the fact that four hundred Americans own more wealth than half the remaining population, a staggering inequality. This fact reflects the idea of "racial bribery", the idea that poor whites gave up their alliance with poor blacks for the promise of higher social status rather than fighting the elite upper classes. Barbezat recognizes this imbalance in American society and suggests that, through the power of introspection and self-understanding, things can be changed. If we have the power to alter the very geology of our planet, we can change it for the better. Barbezat channels this method through a kind of ethical theory of his own that emphasizes conscience. In the same way that McIntosh fears the racial taboo, he values the recognition of social issues in order to initiate a movement for change. He argues that self-reflection should be used to target a problem, a specific goal that will lead to social or environmental change. Once the initial position is established, Barbazet says that consciousness must move towards analysis, that each action must be confronted with the question: "does this correspond to my objective?" And finally, an action should only be taken if it is consistent with the person's goal. In this way, consciousness can be used to advance a.