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Merton on the Problem of Democracy

Merton on the Problem of Democracy

Last updated on: June 17, 2007 at 8:38 am by voxnovablog

Merton on the Problem of Democracy 2007-06-17T08:38:00-05:00 voxnovablog

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Sources – The Problem of Democracy in One American Catholic’s Thought

It is no exaggeration to say that democratic society is founded on a kind of faith: on the conviction that each citizen is capable of, and assumes, complete political responsibility. Each one not only broadly understands the problems of government but is willing and ready to take part in their solution. In a word, democracy assumes that the citizen knows what is going on, understands the difficulties of the situation, and has worked out for himself an answer that can help him to contribute, intelligently and constructively, to the common work (or “liturgy”) of running his society.

For this to be true, there must be a considerable amount of solid educational preparation. A real training of the mind. A genuine formation in those intellectual and spiritual disciplines without which freedom is impossible.

There must be a completely free exchange of ideas. Minority opinions, even opinions which may appear to be dangerous, must be given a hearing, clearly understood and seriously evaluated on their own merits, not merely suppressed. Religious beliefs and disciplines must be respected. The rights of the individual conscious must be protected against every kind of open or occult encroachment.

Democracy cannot exist when men prefer ideas and opinions that are fabricated for them. The actions and statements of the citizen must not be mere automatic “reactions”—mere mechanical salutes, gesticulations signifying passive conformity with the dictates of those in power.

To be truthful, we will have to admit that one cannot expect this to be realized in all the citizens of democracy. But if it is not realized in a significant proportion to them, democracy ceases to be an objective fact and becomes nothing but an emotionally loaded word.

What is the situation in the United States today?[1]

—

Some Reactions

What I appreciate about Fr. Merton’s thought is the emotion of it; the random nature with which it was written[2], as opposed to the traditional appeal to syllogism:

1. Democracy is the rule of the masses
2. The masses are stupid
3. Democracy can not work

I also appreciate the fact that his entry ends without a conventional conclusion. He simply asks, “What is the situation in the United States today?”

One could argue that he didn’t finish his thought; that his critique demands a proportionate conclusion. Another could argue that Fr. Merton has done well in proposing a problem, but has yet to offer a solution.

I find little value with either complaint.

Fr. Merton’s concerns should be self-evident—or so it seems to me. Today, even more than forty years ago, the “masses” are uneducated in both American and Global social-political concerns; they seem less inclined to education, which enables them to separate the wheat from the chaff in cultural dialogue; they appear to be more concerned with Paris Hilton’s jail sentence than who the Candidates for the 2008 elections are; and they seem oblivious to the fact that we are at war—forget which side of the debate they are on with regard to its justice or lack thereof.

And yet, these are the people that are—supposedly—running the Country?

While it is true that we are more or less a Representative Republic, our convictions are inherently democratic and it is through a public vote—not the crowning of a “philosopher king”—that we decide who makes ultimate decisions in this Country.

Is there a “free exchange of ideas”? Are minority opinions “given a hearing, clearly understood and seriously evaluated on their own merits…”? Are religious beliefs respected, and are the rights of individual conscience protected?[3]

Thus, as his concerns seem “self-evident”, his question remains his conclusion. We respond to his question with a groaning sorrow… the realization that things seem worse than they were in the 60’s and, if worse, we realize even more that the “great idea” of Democracy is not able to achieve its own proper end in a fallen world.

Does Fr. Merton fail to follow his critique with a solution? Sure, in a sense. But the real question should be: “what solution could he, or anyone, possibly offer?”

In reality, there is no solution if by “solution” one means a “Governing Idea”. All forms of government—some more than others—have shown their failure, in and of themselves, to meet their own lofty goals, let alone the precepts of Divine Law (be it Natural or fulfilled with Revelation).

Fr. Merton feels no need to offer a dramatic “Governing Idea”. No need at all. All answers, in a fallen world, fail.

The only hope that we have is to propose a governing principle that, at least, does not explicitly impede man’s longing to find and follow God, man’s final End.[4] And when struck by the Divine, our prayer is that man can use whatever freedom he has in the temporal realm to be a Light to the poor, to the oppressed, to the sick… to his neighbor.

Other than that we remain, and will always be, strangers and sojourners in this world until the coming of Christ—regardless of Nationality or the form of Government we are subject to.

—

NOTES:

[1]

Merton, Thomas. Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander. New York: Image, Doubleday, 1965 (100-101). Elsewhere, Merton offers the following:

“Gandhi saw that Western democracy was on trial. On trial for what? On trial to be judged b y its own claims to be the rule of the people by themselves. Not realizing itself to be on trial, assuming its own infallibility and perfection, Western democracy has resented every attempt to question these things. The mere idea that it might come under judgment has seemed absurd, unjust, diabolical. Our democracy is not being judged, not by man but by God. It is not simply being judged by the enemies of the West and of ‘democracy.’ When anyone is judged by God, he receives, in the very hour of judgment, a gift from God. The gift that is offered him, in his judgment, is truth. He can receive the truth or reject it; but in any case truth is being offered silently, mercifully, in the very crisis by which democracy is put to the test. For instance, the problem of integration.

“When one is on trial in this life, he is at the same time receiving mercy: the merciful opportunity to anticipate God’s decision by receiving the light of truth, judging himself, changing his life. Democracy has been on trial in Berlin, in Alabama, in Hiroshima. In World War II. In World War II. In the Boer War. In the American Civil War. In the Opium War. What have we learned about ourselves? What have we seen? What have we admitted? What is the truth about us? Perhaps we still have time, still have a little light to see by. But the judgment is getting very dark… The truth is too enormous, too ominous, to be seen in comfort. Yet it is a great mercy of God that so many of us can recognize this fact, and that we are still allowed to say it” (80-81). See also 79.

[2]

Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander is more or less a “notebook”, containing his thoughts on contemporary social, political and religious issues facing the world today. Though written in the 1960’s, his concerns are as relative today as they were forty years ago—if not more relevant today.

[3]

While the knee-jerk Nationalist may respond with a hearty “yes!” to all these questions, he would fail to realize that the questions are really not meant to be answered at all. It should be obvious that the “American Idea” begins to loose its Form when it meets the “Average Joe” (even politicians themselves) in the “real world”. Was not equality a basic principle of the American Idea? Yet how have the poor, women, Native Americans, Blacks and other minority groups, etc. been treated since the conception of this County? Is this not a problem that we are still facing today? Is not the free exchange of ideas part of the American Idea? Sure, but have you been a Catholic in a secular (or non-secular!) University lately?

[4] I will leave the debate as to whether a “failing Democracy” is the “best that we can do” for another post on another day (perhaps discussed by another person). Aquinas says that our proper End is Happiness, “…the vision of the Divine Essence”, (ST I-II, Q3 Art.8). Based on the writings of John Locke, Adam Smith coined the phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”, and it eventually found its “final placement” in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” (http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/). While I take for granted that all forms of Government fail to achieve their proper end, I do feel that legitimate debate can take place with regard to what form of Government best provides the People with the opportunity to pursue Happiness, our Ultimate End. I think that such a discussion would be worthwhile on this humble weblog.

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