A Philosophy for Living Flexibly in the Modern Era: Shifting the Self from Ideology to Operation

A Philosophy for Living Flexibly in the Modern Era: Shifting the Self from Ideology to Operation Both modern and contemporary philosophy are philosophies of the "subject" (the self). However, their ideals for what the self should be are vastly different. Understanding this difference can serve as a powerful compass for navigating the complexities of our rapidly changing world. 1. The Modern Subject: The Paranoiac in the Fortress The subject envisioned by modern philosophy often tends to establish itself within a single, unshakeable ideology or worldview—a kind of "fortress." While this can manifest as the noble integrity of a craftsman with unwavering conviction, it also carries the risk of becoming rigid, believing that "only my way of thinking is correct." Borrowing a term from contemporary thought, this state can be metaphorically described as "paranoiac." This refers to a mental mode that, by treating a single value system as absolute, becomes excessively suspicious and aggressive toward different perspectives. To defend the righteousness of its own "fortress," it may view everything outside its walls as an enemy. It is perhaps no coincidence that the modern era was an age of war. 2. The Contemporary Subject: The Traveler with a Toolbox In contrast, the subject envisioned by contemporary thought does not possess a specific "fortress." Instead, it is more like a flexible traveler carrying a "toolbox of thought" filled with various tools. This traveler is said to "doubt everything," but this is not a nihilistic stance of negating all things. Rather, it is the attitude of understanding that "any ideology or idea is not absolute, but merely a tool that can be useful in a specific situation." As the French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard observed, now that the "grand narratives" (absolute ideologies) that once explained the entire world have lost their credibility, we are compelled to use various "little narratives" (effective ideas and know-how) as tools according to the situation at hand. This approach resonates with the Buddhist spirit of the "Middle Way"—the wisdom to avoid clinging to one extreme and instead find the optimal balance in response to each situation. 3. Contemporary Thought in Practice: Three Habits for "Using" Your Mind So, how can we cultivate this "traveler-like" sense of self? It begins with treating ideas not as objects of faith, but as "tools to be used," and by consciously practicing the following three habits: The Habit of Relativizing Understand that any idea, no matter how appealing, has both strengths and weaknesses (light and shadow). By assuming that "there is no absolute right answer," the mind is liberated from rigidity. The Habit of Distancing While cherishing your own "likes" and preferences, objectively observe whether these feelings are clouding your judgment. It is the sense of separating the self that "appreciates" an idea from the self that "operates" with it. The Habit of Updating and Switching When a certain way of thinking no longer fits the current situation, do not hesitate to switch to a different tool. The goal is not to search for a perfect, all-purpose tool, but to skillfully use the imperfect tools you have. Conclusion: From a Dominated Self to a Mastering Self To summarize the two images of the self: The Modern Subject: Establishes the self within a single idea (a fortress) and judges the world from that standpoint. The Contemporary Subject: Possesses many ideas (tools), and flexibly uses them according to the situation. Unconsciously, we are all influenced and sometimes dominated by certain ways of thinking. However, the practice is to notice this, consciously incorporate various perspectives, and continue the training of using them skillfully. This is the "subjectivity" shown by contemporary thought, and it is the most practical philosophy for living flexibly in an unpredictable age.