David Skousen: “Phantasma-gloria”
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antitheses. The ”Liberty” category includes all unlisted human aspirations,
such as creativity.
WHAT WE WANT:
peace
happiness
fulfillment
health
long life
liberty
friends
family
love
privacy
security
wealth
time to enjoy life
WHAT WE DON'T WANT:
war, or contention
depression, sorrow, or worry
to be useless with no purpose
disease or pollutions
premature aging or accidental death
oppression, or discrimination
isolation
to be without progeny
hate (i.e., rejection)
interference
danger
debt, or inability to meet our needs
overwork and stress
€ Each Ideal is understood somewhat differently by every person. No
”plan-for-all” will fully satisfy everyone.
€ Life is not fair. We can’t always depend on others to treat us well.
To encourage stronger relationships, compromise, or suspending portions of
our expectations, buys more time while the group matures. Given this
shortage of fairness, at a general level all of the above ideals can be
achieved-at once-though never perfectly. Increased happiness throughout the
Society compensates for this shortfall.
Chapter 2
The Village Doctor
Once upon a time in a little village far away lived an old doctor who
never retired from serving the villagers, even as he became feeble. He never
charged for his advice or healing skills.
He believed that each person had the responsibility of managing his own
needs as best he could, and taught the people how to take care of
themselves. Beyond that, the doctor was glad to assist. Some cases were
beyond his knowledge, however, which he freely admitted. The villagers
learned to trust this honest, loving man. Somehow he gained great joy in
helping, and teaching others all he knew, while seeking no further reward.
The villagers made sure he was fed and housed comfortably.
One day a sick young man came to see him. The doctor patiently took a
long time to make his diagnosis. The young man became impatient and
irritable. He demanded quick answers to his questions.
When the doctor said that the signs pointed to leprosy, the young man
burst into a tirade against both the diagnosis and the old man’s character,
and pushed the doctor away. The old man fell and hit his head on the stone
fireplace, breaking his neck.
In shock, the young man ran into the woods nearby, to escape being
caught and blamed for his tragic mistake.
The old man’s body was discovered by the villagers, who supposed the
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