We had a youthful middle aged person, Mihai Lupu, who has abundant energy and vision, to spread himself thin between many projects, with high stakes. He has incredible influence as he is the currently Director of Cabinet to the Secretary of State of the Head of the Department for Emergency Situations of Romania.
He researched the theme of anOther through the philosophical history. And shared with us their take on othering. “Why do good people disagree?” and “why are we tribal?”
Our first task is not to win arguments but to understand the other. If only we understood this well. “First task is not to win arguments but understand moral concerns that shape how others view the world.” This ties so well to what Noemi said about implicit bias.
There is a contrast between Survival & Danger. Biology is not destiny
How do ordinary people become part of exclusion? The jail experiment, gradually normalizing exclusion
What changes when we truly meet the other? The encounter. “The opposite of othering is not agreement but encounter.”
Why does ethics begin with the others, not with rules & institutions? Institutions exist to serve people.
Democracy greatest strength is plurality others, differences.
He told us a story of Umberto Ecco who was asked by a taxi driver: “Who are your enemies? You can’t define yourself if you can’t define yourself through the other” It is an interesting way to approach life. To view it in such a way that you can’t escape the thought of defining yourself through your enemies.
The conclusion he drew is that the opposite of the other is not the same. It is community. And reminded us that Mandela said to make the table longer not the walls taller.
“We are called to recognize dignity in a world of labels.” Labels help us sort through the abundance of information, socializing, but I guess it’s not about quantity but about quality. And dignity is invaluable.