Destruction of Purpose

The destruction of purpose was a theme I picked up in several presentations at the 69th ISSS Conference. This theme mainly seemed to refer to contemporary political efforts to reduce or silence thought and action where sustainability and the conditions for life are taken into account in economic strategy and decision-making.

Voices of sustainability, considering social, environmental and governance (ESG) aspects of the economy are harrassed, silenced by being imbued with fear to speak up, punished or retaliated against. It´s a sign of our times.

Collectives or units of a higher order than people, organizations or countries, e.g. our Commons, maintaining planetary conditions for life, doing what is good for all seem to be suppressed as a reference for ethics in decision-making and action. In some circles at least.

In her book The Agonies of Narcissism, Isolde Charim observes Narcissism becoming a stronger reference for action and decision-making. Society has challenges to find action for the common good.

To narcissists, the only good and right Purpose is what a person, a group, a leader or political holder of office finds to be important. Narcissists act, think and feel as if they are the center of the world.