Bicycles move forward from the steady contest between the left and right pedals to be in front. Like bicycles, human civilization advances as humans compete, set and break records in specific areas of human life and activities. Because of their positive effects in the society, progressive societies promote activities and qualities that drive social responsibility and growth. Without evaluating the activities and qualities that directly or indirectly promotes a society, social behaviours, morality, emotional and physical energies can be high-jacked by negative influences. Hence, growing societies like Nigeria may need to reorder their standard of pride and competition for national growth.
During his first presidential inaugural speech, Barack Obama reminded Muslim-world leaders that they will be remembered for what they can build, and not what they destroy. This emphasizes the need for an evaluation of the sets of actions from which people seek social recognition and approval.
Human beings are social beings,[1] who are constantly influenced by trending views and activities in the society. Popularizing views and activities, through approval or critique, motivate people to compete to obtain social recognition through such views. Two conflicting philosophies that broadly categorize prevalent views in societies are Epicurean hedonism and Plato’s role-philosophy.
Epicurean hedonism is the view that physical[2] pleasure is the only good[3] for humans: let us enjoy today, for tomorrow we shall die. Advocates of hedonism (hedonists) portray the acquisition of wealth and individual pleasure as the meaningful life. People in hedonist societies are made to compete in acquiring and showing off individual wealth and pleasure as evidence of good living. Such societies are characterized by wide gaps between rich and poor, extreme individualism, desperation, greed and social irresponsibility. There, ceremonies, religious and social gatherings become avenues for showing off expensive wears, gadgets and luxuries to intimidate other people. Also, hedonist societies use their songs, movies, shows, lectures, politics, religious doctrines and other media to propagate and pursue individual wealth and pleasure.
Plato’s role philosophy is the view that man’s good is fulfilling his social role in administration, security or production as his contribution to common good.[4] Advocates of role-philosophy portray socially beneficent values and gestures as means to a happy and meaningful life. Such societies encourage and reward gestures and values of sincerity, modesty, courage, dedication and generosity above individual pleasure. They do not denounce individual pleasure as evil, but see it as ingredients to enable people perform their social duties. The outcome of this philosophy includes justice, equality, human resource development, productivity, safety and fulfilment for all.
While advocates of role-philosophers regard individual’s material pleasure as tools for contributing to common good, Hedonists view material pleasure as the life-goal. These two philosophies compete constantly in several societies.
The situation in Nigeria, where government seizes and sells people’s resources so as to share revenue to few individuals, exemplifies hedonism. Despite the wide gap between the rich and the poor, mass media bombard Nigerians with shows of individual pleasure. These contests for individual pleasure now flows from churches, mosques, schools, reality-shows, music, movies, politics, ceremonies and even families. Thus, several firms sponsor the publicity of individual pleasure in order to gain from the few privileged members of the society. While the privileged ones compete on who spends more on wears, cars, drinks, food, sex, wedding and burial, millions of poor Nigerians die in illiteracy, diseases, unemployment and hunger.
Using the media, Nigerian handlers can promote the values that can lead to productivity and progress in Nigeria. Thus, instead of applauding or condemning hedonist advocates, government can organize contests that promote beneficent social values, and publicly reward qualities and deeds of sincerity, modesty, sacrifice, loyalty, productivity and generosity, without formal contests. By publicizing social values, government redirects the citizens’ consciousness and energies, motivating their contributions to development, progress and common good.
In conclusion, human beings have a lot of energy, which when not properly directed, will be abused. Progressive societies direct these energies for social progress by rewarding deeds and qualities that portray socially beneficent values. When the publicity and energy invested in rewarding good social deeds is far more than in condemning evil deeds, citizens will naturally tilt towards good deeds. I believe that reward is a better social teacher than condemnations, shame and punishment.
[1] Aristotle, Politics bk. 1, ch.2
[2] By physical pleasure, he meant pleasures derived from “taste, touch, hearing, sight smell” … Derek Johnston, A brief history of philosophy (London: MPG Books Ltd, 2006) p.46
[3] Derek Johnston, A brief history of philosophy (London: MPG Books Ltd, 2006) p.43, 46
[4] Derek Johnston, op. cit. p22