Traditions, tyranny and Utopias

Occident is an accident. For the first time in human history, since what the occidentals call their 'renaissance'-that is, the simultaneous birth of capitalism and colonialism science has been separated from wisdom and a technique has been devel oped for techniques.

Science has been separated from wisdom in the sense that the organization of means has become independent of the reflection on ends. In all other cultures, for example in those of India, China, Islam (so far as Asia is concerned), one recognized two uses of reason: one proceeded from cause to effect and permitted adaptation to nature, and the other proceeded from ends to ends, from intermediate ends to higher ends, and gave direction to life. Western thought has let the second use of reason atrophy. Cut off from wisdom, occidental reason has become infirm, mutilated and monstrous, indifferent to all human finality.

That which the West calls 'progress' is the hypertrophy of the first use of reason, which, as Descartes wrote, 'makes us masters and possessors of nature'. The only criterion and only value are those of 'efficacy'. Linear progress, as conceived in the West, is growing efficacy in the destruction of nature and of people.