When I was in primary school, I heard from my history teacher that society of ancient Egypt can be shown as pyramid - slaves at the bottom, then soldiers, then priests and pharaoh at the very top (if I remember correctly). Lower classes were bigger and had to work for those above them (that scheme seems to endure tests of time much better than real pyramids). I think it can be useful for description of individual traits - we all know that anger (for example) can be powered by fear (n that case anger is a pharaoh - element that is easiest to spot, but there is something working underneath...that can be also caused by something that's even lower...). Hierarchy of needs...I agree that we shouldn't treat that like ultimate truth, but Maslow's pyramid can be useful - in most cases it's impossible to think about religion or art when you have empty stomach. It's true that some people sacrifice physiological needs for ''greater good'' but to do that, they first have to know basic satisfaction and decide to want something more - you won't turn a regular guy into saint by locking him up and not giving him food.
About symbols and their influence on us...I love conspiracy theories surrounding all-seeing eye. I don't know if it's all true, partially true or not true at all...but it's definitely interesting. Explain some things quite well...and help to make people suspicious of their government, which is always a good thing.
RE: The Magic of Pyramids
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The Magic of Pyramids
Thank you for your well reasoned response.
If you look closely, all civilizations are pyramids. Western civilization has the seeing-eye shadow government at the top, the political class, the military class and then the working classes that form the base.
Anger is the pro-active form of fear. They are two faces of the same emotion. Fear is incapacitating while anger is empowering. Governments walk this tightrope to keep the people in line. They instigate just enough fear to keep us supporting them but try not to push hard enough to make the people angry. Angry people revolt. Fearful people comply.
Maslow's pyramid might be a useful tool for children as they develop. They need the basics of survival, they need to feel secure and loved, they need to feel good about themselves and to seek higher aspirations, but once they are on their own, the pyramid often doesn't apply. It certainly doesn't apply to me. And sometimes when some of the needs aren't met, it motivates them to seek self-actualization. That is why some of the most famous and talented people arise out of the most unfortunate of childhoods.
I also love conspiracy theories, and don't discount any unless I've personally examined them. The term "conspiracy theory" is not unlike a symbol; it is designed to initiate a programmed response in the individual, that of discounting the validity of the issue in question. It is quite effective on the vast majority of the people who never question authority.
Symbols do have power, and until we all recognize that and can see what each symbol represents and what message it is trying to convey, that message can blast past our critical faculties and trigger an unconscious response. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
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