The meaning of political science is often restricted to the state, government, and everyday politics. However, it goes beyond that. We as humans share various relationships. What do we do when conflicts arise in these relationships? How do we resolve them? The Socratic dialectical method or Habermas’ idea of deliberation provides a solution. It says conflicts are better resolved through dialogue rather than domination. Hence, it tells us how to talk in a dialectical manner. It is the process of reasoning together. For instance, when your father asks you to aim for a government job, but you want to become a content creator, you do not totally oppose each other. Instead, you engage rationally: Why is a government job important? Maybe because it provides security and financial stability. But being a content creator might give you creative freedom. So you decide to take a government job but also start your creator journey simultaneously — maybe by vlogging your day as a government employee...
The word escape doesn’t seem to have a very negative origin. It originally meant to set oneself free. It should not be seen as an act of cowardice. The qualitative aspect of escape should inform our judgment. In moments of mental crisis, someone’s escape might be spirituality; for someone else, it could be alcohol. These patterns of escape slowly become habits. With repeated events, our body naturally starts craving the same escape in moments of discomfort.
For instance, if someone has chosen isolation as an escape, then whenever a crisis occurs, the body automatically starts demanding isolation. This is why such patterns are difficult to break–because escape sets one free. It provides an alternative way out. The body doesn’t perceive escape as an end in itself; it sees it merely as a means to get away from the current situation.
I believe this is the reason behind large-scale alcohol addiction in Indian villages. Based on my limited understanding of Indian villages–especially those in Uttar Pradesh–I feel this widespread addiction stems from the escape that alcohol provides. India suffers massively from poverty, hunger, malnutrition, relationship crises, and discrimination. These problems are more prominent in rural areas than in urban ones. What is the immediate way out? That’s where alcohol comes into the picture.
Alcohol slows down the brain’s functioning. All narcotic substances do that. That’s why there is a narcotic test during investigations–because these substances dull thinking to the extent that the person can’t even fabricate a story or lie. In short, alcohol is a cheap but harmful way to escape.
For creative people, it’s art. I still remember a line once said by an Italian painter when he was asked why he paints. He replied, “I paint in order not to cry.” Hence, art is an escape for the artist. I’ve rarely seen verses born in moments of pure joy; most come from suffering, deprivation, longing, and injustice.
Therefore, escape is not necessarily a bad thing. What would you do if a lion appeared in front of you? Would you fight? I doubt that. Similarly, if something overwhelming comes our way, maybe we should take a back seat rather than charge through it head-on. Therefore, escape isn't always running away from the problem rather provides an alternative solution.
Moreover, Sun Tzu also says, “The best way to win a war is not to fight it.”
Comments
Post a Comment