The Biological State

Tyler Golightly

Prof. MulHolland

Eng. 102 sec#3017 E1

13 February 2012

The Biological State

The citizens of a state collectively contribute to their communities, as well as gain many benefits from it, a cycle which ensures the longevity of the entire system. Governed societies are similar to conscious, complex organisms, such as humans, and therefor should be viewed as living beings, in their own right. Much like Ortega y Gasset’s thought on how the majority’s destiny is to be lead and not followed, it is the destiny of the body to be led by the mind (Ortega,91). A human body cannot survive without its master the brain, for the brain tells the heart when to beat and the lungs to breath. The mind has its own values, and decides upon the distribution of resources. Brains do nothing but command and strategize, just as as Lao-Tzu wrote in the Tao, ” The master does not talk, he acts,” (Lao-Tzu 25).

The brain leads the body, just as a government leads its people. Ortega states in “The Greatest Danger, the State”, that the masses are destined to be lead by a minority, just as the body is destined to follow the mind, anything else would be a rebellion of destiny which is a rebellion of the truth (Ortega,91).  The brain governs naturally, there is no struggle, as Lao- Tzu wrote, “The master sees things as they are, without trying to control them / She lets them go her own way / and resides in the center of the circle” (Lao-Tzu 26). Societies would be like starved saplings without the direction of their leaders.

Without a brain, a body cannot govern itself, and without a population to govern, any government, would perish. Ortega wrote that without superiors, the majority would not be able to sustain its livelihood and safety, for without guidance the body would cease to be (Ortega 91). Science has shown that humans have evolved to rely on their bodies, just as governments have learned to rely on manpower for their perpetual machine of extortion and greed. The single cell organism has become systematically reliant on its cell community and can no longer make a relevant contribution by its lonesome; dependency is a large aspect of the human, as well as the governmental, machine.

Interests of the minority should never outweigh the interests of the majority, for if this happens the minority will lose focus on what is truly virtuous. Dictators hold absolute control in their states, and with this amassed power there is desire for more power and with more power more corruption and greed, he who leads has a choice of pleasuring himself or supporting the commoners. One’s mind can only be so virtuous, an individual may choose to buy a point of heroin instead dinner for the week, if the wrong choice is made then body will either suffer, it is all up to that which has control. Health should not replace pleasure and pleasure should not replace health, balance and harmony should be the goals of the mind, not destruction or fear. To quote Lao-Tzu,” If you want to learn how to govern / avoid being clever or rich / The simplest pattern is the clearest”(Lao-Tzu 29).

To conclude, governed societies are not much different than the humans that run them, and thus should no longer be thought of as an abiotic system of laws and enforcers, but as a thriving organism with a pulse and life cycle. The brain governs the body on the great adventure that is life, for it is in its destiny. Both brain and body are reliant on each other to progress on this adventure and to overcome and endure the hardships it may face, just as a government and its people are reliant upon each other for defense and prosperity. It is the responsibility of the brain lead wisely, because with great power comes great responsibility. Like all organisms, death is the only true end.