From Balance to Harmony — A Philosophical Approach
Nowadays, we try to adhere to a personal philosophy that helps us live more efficiently and effectively. We seek balance and harmony in our lives.
From a practical point of view, these concepts might not seem very different from each other; however, on a philosophical level, they have marked differences.
Most of the time, we are not aware of the importance of “personal semantics” in our life. As a result, we do not consider the multiple contradictions in the definitions of the goals we pursue.
This article delves into the importance of these distinctions in our pursuit of wellbeing.
Balance — Equilibrium
The term defines a static, immobile structure — a concept derived from geometry and physics, with practical application in the construction sector.
The central idea behind the concept is stability.
This idea was the mainstay of Newtonian physics, which is valid in practically all our daily life activities, from constructing buildings to sending a rocket to the moon.
Intuitively, the term evokes images of weights, counterweights, and supports that allow a structure to remain without moving.
The aforementioned explains why we refer to our mental processes with phrases like:
- I have taken a “weight” off my shoulders.
- I have a large “load” of work.
- I need to “compensate” my weaknesses with my strengths.
- It is necessary to maintain “the balance” between the different spheres of life.
As human beings, the idea of keeping ourselves in balance is an extension of the mechanistic ideology spread during the industrial revolution and the enlightenment, in which we were conceived as machines.
Along this historical period, the features of what we now call science rose to the canon level. That is to say, the supremacy of the intellect and reason over the rest of the human characteristics.
We saw human existence through a cold, mechanical, static vision. We tried to reduce it to equations and computations.
Human behavior was as predictable as natural phenomena, the seasons of the year, and the movement of celestial bodies. In turn, it could be built and modified like industrial machines.
That is why in our daily speech, we use expressions such as:
- Everything “can be fixed.”
- People in life “come and go.”
- We all have our “pluses” and our “minuses.”
- Walking away is a defense “mechanism.”
- I need more “psychological tools” to deal with what happens to me.
- My family is the “fuel” of my life.
Inside mathematics, statistics arose, and with it, the concept of “normality.” With the goal of measure the “ideal” within the “real.”
Normality refers to the characteristics most frequently found within a set, be it objects or living beings. It refers to a “normal distribution.”
We derived the statistical concept of normality from the physical concept of equilibrium; this, in turn, has its basis from the geometric concept of symmetry.
- Symmetry refers to the exact correspondence of an object’s shape, size, and position.
- In a symmetrical object, the equilibrium point is in the center.
- In a normal statistical distribution, most features are in the center of the curve.
These three terms: symmetry, balance, and normality, have sculpted the ideology on which humanity is judged and measured.
Symmetry is the current canon of beauty. Millions of people undergo cosmetic surgery each year; most of these procedures pursue symmetry.
Balance is the current canon of human behavior. An “ideal” person behaves in a “balanced,” moderate, respectful of the rules, and harmless against the “status quo.”
Normality is the gold standard against which we compare each other. Frequent is ideal. Any weird or “rare” feature deserves special attention, both considered positive and negative.
This predominance of structure over function is characteristic of pure mathematics and “hard” sciences such as physics.
The illustration and the industrial revolution spread this paradigm in the world through the development of economic theory. Concepts like “market” or “economic equilibrium” entrenched the structuralist philosophy in our heads.
The obsession with structure has produced something I call “the cult of etiquette.” To fit into society, we have created a series of categories to make distinctions and groupings.
A glaring example is “intelligence.” In which people are stratified based on their ability to process information. Qualifiers include descriptions such as “genius,” “asshole,” or “severe retardation.”
Everything is subject to classification and stratification.
- Education level.
- Purchasing power.
- Job title.
- Skills, abilities, and knowledge.
Technological development has only made the situation worse. The arrival of “Big Data” and artificial intelligence has deepened these distinctions and classifications.
Today’s society is obsessed with “metrics.” Which could well be called the “cult of quantification.”
We live in an age where we measure everything to give it a name and create categories to disintegrate society until it is entirely isolated.
The resulting dissatisfaction becomes evident when the following fundamental contradiction appears:
We pursue symmetry, balance, and normality while simultaneously pretending to be different, unique, and original.
Symmetry, equilibrium, and normality are binding terms. Categories, stratifications, and labels are distinguishing terms; they are separators.
From a philosophical point of view, they are contradictory and mutually exclusive. That is, you cannot have both at the same time.
Symmetry, equilibrium, and normality are static terms. However, humans are living, dynamic, and constantly changing beings. These concepts work very well in ideas and objects, but they do not apply to the world of people.
We would do well to look for concepts more representative of human nature as goals to achieve.
Harmony
Unlike the previous one, this concept implies movement; it is a dynamic and flexible term.
We recognize this idea better in music — where harmony is the union and simultaneous combination of different sounds, but chords.
From a philosophical perspective, it refers to a series of terms that describe a central idea: proportion, combination, congruence, correspondence, connection, link, etc.
Harmony contains three fundamental characteristics:
- Variability.
- Simultaneity.
- Subjectivity.
It is the confluence of different features (variability) in the same place and time (simultaneity); from we derive a qualitative experience (subjectivity).
It is far from the central characteristics of balance, order, and stability.
Another fundamental difference is its origin. The current concept of equilibrium is strongly influenced by Western rational and realistic thinking. On the other hand, the contemporary idea of harmony has influences from Eastern philosophy.
Eastern beliefs and practices emphasize more the importance of function over structure. Responds predominantly to “how and why” questions about “what and where.”
Because of this, we ask ourselves questions such as:
- Because I’m so?
- Why do I feel this way?
- How can I change and be better?
- How do I apply what I know to what I do?
The humanities and the arts have benefited substantially from this way of seeing reality.
Human beings are a cluster of contradictions, a continuous and random cascade of changes. We edit our features continuously. Our beliefs, thoughts, feelings, emotions, moods, behaviors, and circumstances; change constantly.
In response to the excessive rationality and structure of the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, Romanticism emerged, conferring central importance to the subjective aspects of human existence.
This philosophical and cultural movement focuses on the intangible, non-measurable, everything that cannot be rigidly quantified and stratified by definition.
A human being is a product of his passions, ideals, and decisions and not only as the conditional product of his circumstances.
This perspective is oriented more towards what we feel than towards what we know.
- “Studying and knowing feels good,” instead of: “I’m smart, and I know a lot.”
- “It hurts to make sacrifices,” instead of: “acts have consequences.”
- “I feel that my emotions dominate me,” instead of: “the circumstances that surround me are not very favorable.”
This clash of philosophies persists today. On the one hand, there is an obsession with metrics and categories; on the other, an ongoing search for individuality and identity.
We need to transform the confluence of our characteristics and circumstances into a pleasant subjective experience — that internal feeling of unity, peace, tranquility, and well-being.
The search for balance (or balance) in our lives is cognitive, rational, and oriented to reality (objectivity). On the other hand, the search for harmony is affective, visceral, and oriented to experience (subjectivity).
Harmony is a more complete and malleable concept than balance. As a result, it provides greater flexibility and adaptability.
Maintaining harmony is more practical and valuable than trying to achieve balance. Since changing and variable beings, in constant movement, pursuing the idea of balance is impossible.
Harmony is more inclusive and oriented to the reality perceived by us.
- You do not need symmetry to perceive beauty.
- It does not need balance to judge behavior.
- You do not need normality to perform measurements; you do not intend to measure anything.
Human ideals such as peace, wholeness, well-being, wisdom, and happiness are subjective experiences. Therefore, philosophically it is more constructive to seek internal harmony.
This feeling of harmony comes from accepting ourselves as we are, here and now. It implies both what we perceive as positive and negative about ourselves simultaneously.
- Our capacities and defects.
- Our knowledge and deficiencies.
- Our skills and mistakes.
- Our strengths and weaknesses.
- What we are proud of and what we are ashamed of.
- What we boast about and what we regret.
Self-acceptance is the acceptance of human nature. We can build a harmonious inner subjective experience from it, providing tranquility, well-being, and peace.
We will stop feeling wrong about our deficiencies; they are part of who we are. They are notes and chords that contribute to the harmony of the melody of our existence.
Summary
The terms balance and harmony appear in different cultures, at other times and contexts throughout the history of human thought, to serve as a guide to living better.
Concerning “Balance — Equilibrium”
- It is a static concept.
- Transmits the fundamental ideas of order and stability.
- It is oriented towards reality.
- It is based on geometry, mathematics, and physics.
- It consolidated during the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution.
- The development of modern economic theory favored its diffusion.
- It appeals to thought and reason.
Regarding “Harmony”
- It is a dynamic and flexible concept.
- It transmits the fundamental ideas of variability, simultaneity, and subjectivity.
- It orients towards experience.
- It is based on Eastern thought.
- It is represented in the arts and humanities.
- It spreads thanks to the philosophical and cultural movement of Romanticism.
- It appeals to emotion, will, and behavior.
Modern society’s obsession with measuring and quantifying everything has eroded the fundamental principle of human existence, subjective experience.
The misrepresented diffusion of ideas like symmetry, balance, and normality has tried (unsuccessfully) to reduce human complexity to a mechanical model.
The external objective reality exists; however, we do not have access to it. The only thing we access is our internal, individual, and collective subjective experience.
Therefore, for us as humans, achieving balance is not only physically impossible but philosophically undesirable.
On the other hand, Harmony depends entirely on our experience, being materially achievable and subjectively desirable.
The path to such a pleasant experience begins with the complete acceptance of all our characteristics and circumstances.
Brainularity is an initiative to make our lives better by understanding how our brains work.
