Alexandru R

The concept can be understood through the lenses of philosophical theories such as absurdism, the philosophical understanding of miracles, and the concept of courage as a form of madness.

Absurdism, a philosophical theory, suggests that the universe is irrational and meaningless, and that attempts to find meaning often lead to conflict. This conflict can be between rational humans and an irrational universe, or between intention and outcome. The absurd arises when human aspirations for a higher form of meaning in life are ignored by an indifferent world. This implies that the absurd is not in humans or the world, but in their presence together. Therefore, the nature of humanity can be seen as absurd due to the inherent conflict between our desire for meaning and the indifference of the universe. It also calls upon the duality of life, a belief held by eastern philosophies, in which two opposing elements can be true at the same time.

The existence of humanity can be viewed as a miracle, a concept often associated with violations of the laws of nature. The usual theistic view of the world presumes the existence of an omnipotent God who, while transcending nature, is able to act within the natural world. This view suggests that the existence of humanity, with its complex biological, psychological, and social structures, could be seen as a chance happening, an exception to the ordinary course of nature.

Courage, in this context, can be seen as an act of madness. This perspective is rooted in the idea that courage often involves going against our basic survival instincts, which can be seen as a form of madness. Courage is often associated with selflessness and sacrifice, which can involve walking towards a personal loss or away from a personal gain in favor of doing the right thing. This act of going against our survival instincts for the greater good can be seen as a form of madness, thus framing courage as an act of madness.

The philosophical concept is rooted in the idea that peacemakers, by their very nature, seek to find common ground and reconcile differences. This is often associated with the political philosophy of centrism, which emphasises compromise, balance, and pragmatism.

Centrism is arguably not a conventional ideology with specific political goals, but rather a process or activity that seeks to broker deals and compromises that satisfy both sides of a conflict. This approach is often seen as a commitment to process, facilitating structured dialogue among polarised groups with the goal of enabling participants to come up with new perspectives and solutions that address everyone’s core interests.

The concept of peacemaking as a centrist activity is also reflected in the idea that peacemakers do not commit to one side of a conflict, but rather work to understand and reconcile the perspectives of all parties involved. However, it’s important to note that this concept does not imply that peacemakers or centrists are neutral or passive. On the contrary, they are actively engaged in the struggle to understand and reconstruct the perspectives of opposing camps, and to find a middle ground that can hold the body politic together. This is a dynamic process that requires overcoming cognitive and emotional conflicts between opposing sides to reach a state of justice and peace.

Critics of centrism argue that it can enable extremist and polarised status-quos, and they (centrists) refuse to make radical changes that could benefit the masses. However, proponents argue that without peace, other values – including justice – cannot be realised, wealth and prosperity cannot be achieved, and most personal endeavours cannot be pursued.