The World is Interconnected: The Importance of Social Change

Written on May 23, 2009 by Akhila in issues, life, social change

If you haven’t already, please pop on over to Matt Cheuvront’s blog, Life Without Pants. I recently wrote a guest post for his Inconvenience of Change series, describing my viewpoint on why social change is so important and why it’s so hard for people to understand that. Here’s an excerpt:

“Why is helping someone thousands of miles away so important? It’s because we are all truly, deeply interrelated. We can’t separate their poverty from our success. My success depends on the success of a farmer in India, or a small business owner in Mali. By making the world better as a whole, I’m improving my own life. By improving the economies of developing countries, we here in the U.S. are finding more emerging markets to export to. By helping Somalia establish a stable government and helping Somalian fishermen, we are preventing piracy attacks on U.S. ships. By educating children in poor areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan, we are helping to reduce extremist Islamic ideology that recruits future terrorists. Helping others helps us. Good karma comes back to help you when you need it. This isn’t selfless altruism: it’s the virtue of selfishness.”

So please head on over there to read my full post, and while you’re at it check out the rest of the excellent posts in Matt’s series. I thank Matt for the great opportunity to participate, and it’s been really great to hear everyone’s unique viewpoint on change. Enjoy!

17 Comments - Leave a comment!

http://www.avisiblespectrum.blogspot.com/ Valerie

Great cause- found you on 20 something bloggers. Keep up the good work!

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

Thanks so much for commenting Glad you liked it!

http://www.avisiblespectrum.blogspot.com/ Valerie

Great cause- found you on 20 something bloggers. Keep up the good work!

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

Thanks so much for commenting Glad you liked it!

http://www.citydictionary.com/ Thomas

Good stuff. I think your large-scale examples make the point well. However, the example of how your success depends on an entrepreneur in Mali is a bit more difficult to grasp. I’m not saying that the connection doesn’t exist, but I’m not quite convinced to the same extent that I am about the US’s interest in thwarting extremist Islam.

I make this nit-picky point because I think it’s important to make the distinction between what gives us clear material gain and what gives us a more nebulous abstract gain.

While you can probably come up with a reasonable argument for the interconnectedness between the Mali entrepreneur and yourself, this connection is not so great that you would benefit materially from extending credit to her from your own pocket. This–I’m sure you would agree–overestimates her importance to you, as her impact on your life might not be greater than anyone else’s impact from the African continent.

On the other hand, the connection is a much greater one between the United States and Mali, two countries that could be trading partners if the former extended credit to the latter. (I’m not saying credit is the answer, but that’s not the point.)

While these two examples are quite different from one another, they are both valid and might make sense from a “selfish” standpoint, but in very different ways. You extending credit from your own pocket satisfies your natural impulse to do well for your fellow human. This instinct is borne out of our long history of living in small bands and tribes, when performing a good deed for your fellow human had clear “karmic” implications because you would certainly see that person again.

However, your charity to someone in Mali has very little implication for you in a direct material way. In essence, your impulse might be 100% sincere, but is actually a misfiring of your inborn desire to be charitable. This is not to belittle such an impulse. Knowing why you have that impulse doesn’t mean you’re going to abandon it voluntarily–freeing yourself from it, knowing that your success as a human is no longer tied to it.

Anyway, I’m rambling here, but I thought I’d add my perspective…which may or may not be clear at this point.

Oh, by the way, I like the thinly veiled reference to Ayn Rand. What do you think she’d say about your comments…if she were around to comment?

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

Thomas, thanks for your excellent and thought provoking comments. I agree with you that the fact that my success depends on an entrepreneur in Mali or a farmer in India, is perhaps a lot more indirect than the other examples I give. I would say that if an entrepreneur in Mali succeeded, in creating perhaps a new business or an exciting new product, that could improve my life here in the U.S. as well. But, I think you’re right in that the connection is a lot more indirect and not so obvious.

The point overall I was trying to make was not related to each specific example, but I was attempting to make a point on the whole that the world is interrelated. Jacqueline Novogratz talks about this a lot in her “blue sweater” analogy which I thought was brilliant. I think the point is, helping others eventually helps us, perhaps in an indirect or even direct way. We don’t have to think of it as charity or donation or altruism, but I believe very much in the concept of karma — what we do comes back to us. So why not do good and help others? Why not contribute to social change? Ultimately, it can only help us – whether it is direct, or indirect. You never know, but I believe that our lives can be enriched by helping others.

Actually, I had no idea I was referring to Ayn Rand. I am not really sure what she would think — I am not sure she’d even agree with what I am saying. I’ve only read Atlas Shrugged, but it seems to me her viewpoint is much more individualistic. I would say that it is a responsibility to care about others, while I think Ayn Rand would consider what is in your best interest REGARDLESS of whether it harms someone or helps someone – as long as it benefits you in the end. I’m not sure I was referring to her at all? I don’t have a good understanding of her philosophy – maybe you can enlighten me!

http://www.citydictionary.com/ Thomas

Enlightenment isn’t a service I can provide. However, I will say that The “Virtue of Selfishness” was a central philosophical work of Rand’s. I thought you were making reference to it, or at least making a loose reference to Rand. I can’t speak for the deceased, but if I were a betting man I’d say that she would agree that we are being rightly selfish when we help out those who are likely to reciprocate in some way that pleases us. However, she might think your example about an entrepreneur from Mali goes a bit overboard. On the other hand, if you help that entrepreneur and feel good about doing so, that might be all the reciprocation you need. Rand would probably think it’s goofy, but we’re not here to please her, right?

By the way, I think it’s wild that your guest poster (that doesn’t sound right) has lived in Ibarra. People used to always ask me why I live in some of the most obscure corners of the globe. I must admit that I had a similar reaction when I read ‘Ibarra’. It’s funny how the tables can turn. I’m usually quick to defend the honor of small towns, but my first reaction was, “what on earth would you ever do in Ibarra?” I went there for a party once. That might be the answer to my question.

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

Thanks, I actually wasn’t making a reference to her, and apparently accidentally stole that phrase from her! Actually, my mother used this phrase at one point, and it’s stuck with me ever since. My aunt loves Ayn Rand – maybe that’s why.

But that’s beside the point: what you say about her philosophy makes complete sense. She’d probably consider it the ‘virtue of selfishness’ if we did whatever made us happy and what was for our benefit, but I would question whether charity or altruism would be considered all right by her. It seemed to me as if she would be against altruism, or at least against having to give up something for the good of someone else – even if it is does make you happy.

http://www.citydictionary.com Thomas

Good stuff. I think your large-scale examples make the point well. However, the example of how your success depends on an entrepreneur in Mali is a bit more difficult to grasp. I’m not saying that the connection doesn’t exist, but I’m not quite convinced to the same extent that I am about the US’s interest in thwarting extremist Islam.

I make this nit-picky point because I think it’s important to make the distinction between what gives us clear material gain and what gives us a more nebulous abstract gain.

While you can probably come up with a reasonable argument for the interconnectedness between the Mali entrepreneur and yourself, this connection is not so great that you would benefit materially from extending credit to her from your own pocket. This–I’m sure you would agree–overestimates her importance to you, as her impact on your life might not be greater than anyone else’s impact from the African continent.

On the other hand, the connection is a much greater one between the United States and Mali, two countries that could be trading partners if the former extended credit to the latter. (I’m not saying credit is the answer, but that’s not the point.)

While these two examples are quite different from one another, they are both valid and might make sense from a “selfish” standpoint, but in very different ways. You extending credit from your own pocket satisfies your natural impulse to do well for your fellow human. This instinct is borne out of our long history of living in small bands and tribes, when performing a good deed for your fellow human had clear “karmic” implications because you would certainly see that person again.

However, your charity to someone in Mali has very little implication for you in a direct material way. In essence, your impulse might be 100% sincere, but is actually a misfiring of your inborn desire to be charitable. This is not to belittle such an impulse. Knowing why you have that impulse doesn’t mean you’re going to abandon it voluntarily–freeing yourself from it, knowing that your success as a human is no longer tied to it.

Anyway, I’m rambling here, but I thought I’d add my perspective…which may or may not be clear at this point.

Oh, by the way, I like the thinly veiled reference to Ayn Rand. What do you think she’d say about your comments…if she were around to comment?

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

Thomas, thanks for your excellent and thought provoking comments. I agree with you that the fact that my success depends on an entrepreneur in Mali or a farmer in India, is perhaps a lot more indirect than the other examples I give. I would say that if an entrepreneur in Mali succeeded, in creating perhaps a new business or an exciting new product, that could improve my life here in the U.S. as well. But, I think you’re right in that the connection is a lot more indirect and not so obvious.

The point overall I was trying to make was not related to each specific example, but I was attempting to make a point on the whole that the world is interrelated. Jacqueline Novogratz talks about this a lot in her “blue sweater” analogy which I thought was brilliant. I think the point is, helping others eventually helps us, perhaps in an indirect or even direct way. We don’t have to think of it as charity or donation or altruism, but I believe very much in the concept of karma — what we do comes back to us. So why not do good and help others? Why not contribute to social change? Ultimately, it can only help us – whether it is direct, or indirect. You never know, but I believe that our lives can be enriched by helping others.

Actually, I had no idea I was referring to Ayn Rand. I am not really sure what she would think — I am not sure she’d even agree with what I am saying. I’ve only read Atlas Shrugged, but it seems to me her viewpoint is much more individualistic. I would say that it is a responsibility to care about others, while I think Ayn Rand would consider what is in your best interest REGARDLESS of whether it harms someone or helps someone – as long as it benefits you in the end. I’m not sure I was referring to her at all? I don’t have a good understanding of her philosophy – maybe you can enlighten me!

http://www.citydictionary.com Thomas

Enlightenment isn’t a service I can provide. However, I will say that The “Virtue of Selfishness” was a central philosophical work of Rand’s. I thought you were making reference to it, or at least making a loose reference to Rand. I can’t speak for the deceased, but if I were a betting man I’d say that she would agree that we are being rightly selfish when we help out those who are likely to reciprocate in some way that pleases us. However, she might think your example about an entrepreneur from Mali goes a bit overboard. On the other hand, if you help that entrepreneur and feel good about doing so, that might be all the reciprocation you need. Rand would probably think it’s goofy, but we’re not here to please her, right?

By the way, I think it’s wild that your guest poster (that doesn’t sound right) has lived in Ibarra. People used to always ask me why I live in some of the most obscure corners of the globe. I must admit that I had a similar reaction when I read ‘Ibarra’. It’s funny how the tables can turn. I’m usually quick to defend the honor of small towns, but my first reaction was, “what on earth would you ever do in Ibarra?” I went there for a party once. That might be the answer to my question.

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

Thanks, I actually wasn’t making a reference to her, and apparently accidentally stole that phrase from her! Actually, my mother used this phrase at one point, and it’s stuck with me ever since. My aunt loves Ayn Rand – maybe that’s why.

But that’s beside the point: what you say about her philosophy makes complete sense. She’d probably consider it the ‘virtue of selfishness’ if we did whatever made us happy and what was for our benefit, but I would question whether charity or altruism would be considered all right by her. It seemed to me as if she would be against altruism, or at least against having to give up something for the good of someone else – even if it is does make you happy.

http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/ Matt Cheuvront

Akhila – thank you again, so much, for adding your voice to this discussion. The entire series has been eye-opening and enlightening for me personally – and it has been amazing to see SO many people get involved. My hope is that it’s illustrated the ability of one person to bring many together for a common cause.

I’m sure some may think it’s been a little overkill, talking about change for an entire month, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised that we’ve been able to add fresh and unique perspectives in each article posted.

Thank you again – as always, I remain an avid reader on your blog here, and love your informative and awareness-raising writing style. Cheers to you!

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

Thanks so much, Matt, for allowing me to be a part of this! It’s been an amazing series and great to hear each person’s viewpoint of change and what it means. And I agree, it’s been great to see a different perspective in each post – not overkill, at all.

http://www.lifewithoutpants.com Matt Cheuvront

Akhila – thank you again, so much, for adding your voice to this discussion. The entire series has been eye-opening and enlightening for me personally – and it has been amazing to see SO many people get involved. My hope is that it’s illustrated the ability of one person to bring many together for a common cause.

I’m sure some may think it’s been a little overkill, talking about change for an entire month, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised that we’ve been able to add fresh and unique perspectives in each article posted.

Thank you again – as always, I remain an avid reader on your blog here, and love your informative and awareness-raising writing style. Cheers to you!

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

Thanks so much, Matt, for allowing me to be a part of this! It’s been an amazing series and great to hear each person’s viewpoint of change and what it means. And I agree, it’s been great to see a different perspective in each post – not overkill, at all.

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