As I was approaching the gate for my end-of-year flight to Montevideo, I could clearly see ahead of me Matthew Arnold and Canaletto. What I couldn’t see was a painting that Matthew Arnold was showing to Canaletto. As it has been happening for the last ten years in these end-of-year flights, I knew that I was about to witness again (undeservingly), another wonderful conversation among great minds. As I took my seat, I met the rest of the group: Lord Acton, John Lukacs, and Angelo Roncalli (a.k.a. Pope John XXIII).
“Matthew, don’t you think that philistinism is the word that marked and characterized our world this past year?” Angelo Roncalli asked. That was it: The dialogue was on, and the subject was none other but the hideous, dismal, and unenviable aspects of life in 2022 which make a predictable tragedy anything but inevitable.
Matthew Arnold started the dialogue by arguing that in a society in which the means are increasing, people have lost sight of the ends that those means ought to serve. “We have been confusing the agglomeration of means with the ends of life, and the increase of material wealth with moral improvement,” Arnold argued.
“That is so right,” Lord Acton stated, to continue: “Philistinism has taught us to treat liberty as a good in itself instead of asking what purpose that liberty serves. The beginning of personal and collective betterment always starts with self-dissatisfaction that emanates from recognizing the gap between what is and what ought to be.”
“The purpose of history is the reduction of untruth,” John Lukacs added, and continued: “Lord Acton knows that better than us, as his life has been a constant struggle to reconcile his liberalism with his Catholicism. He has been unalterably opposed to absolute power given to a state, king, and any head of state including the pope. Philistinism indeed might be the main cause of Putin’s madness in Ukraine. Lord Acton may have never finished the history of liberty because that history is nothing but the philosophy of history which opposes philistinism.”
All eyes now were on Angelo Roncalli. “Mr. Lukacs, as the Pope who initiated Vatican II, allow me to say that my goal was exactly that: To get rid of philistinism within the Catholic church. Vatican II has been known as the only council that was ever called in order not to combat an opposing theology (like Trent did in condemning Luther and the Reformation) but on the contrary to advance the idea that the Church must not seek to maintain its authority by weapons of repression but rather by the medicine of mercy. Such medicine becomes more effective when society gets rid of its philistinism.”
“Gentlemen, I am the only one who has lived in a city – my beloved Venice – where Angelo Roncalli was the spiritual leader,” Canaletto stated and continued: “Angelo Roncalli’s tenure in Bulgaria, was astonishing. He befriended non-Catholics and Muslims, and while in Turkey he helped rescue and provide for Jews escaping from Nazi Germany. Angelo Roncalli is the foreman in my painting known as The Stonemason’s Yard.”
“That’s exactly what Canaletto and I were discussing as we were boarding the plane,” Matthew Arnold said, only to let Canaletto continue: “That painting symbolizes the spirit of anti-philistinism. It shows a makeshift shed and scattered Istrian marble that are part of an ongoing project. That project is the building of an anti-philistinism cathedral where culture, paideia, debate, arguments, tasks, and dialogues are constant and animated, all in an effort to advance truth, knowledge, self-awareness, humility, and democratic values. Through the centuries, the canvas has puzzled observers as no notable architectural subject is evident in the picture or is ever known to have been built at that site. The church shown is Santa Maria della Carita, and to its right is the scuola which today houses the Art Academy.”
“Philistinism is indeed a pejorative term that reflects today’s mentality which, in turn, provides the tone of government and society. Through the years, philistinism has been led by dark religious and governmental minds. Nowadays is led by bonehead leaders in governments, business, and modern ‘evangelicals’ circles (those whose politics inform their faith rather than the other way around), all of whom know the price of everything and the value of nothing. These dark minds understand the bottom line but are oblivious to the line about moral development through culture and paideia. The alienation and ostracism of those who care for the truth, the intellect, and the spirit, reflects a dynamic of malnutrition and impoverishment by those dark minds who have no use of those vital qualities that make a society whole,” Matthew Arnold stated.
“You know, speaking of a cathedral dedicated to anti-philistinism, it reminds me of Jan Cardinal Alfrink who led the progressives during Vatican II. He was known as an anti-Roman due to his close affiliations in Holland with Protestants. As Vatican II started on October 11th, 1962, you had Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani who was a prisoner of his function as his only concern was to keep watch over the purity of empty dogmas that know no love except for one’s self. He represented those who wanted to keep power for power’s sake, representing the spirit of philistinism where the means are confused as ends. On the other hand, you had the progressives who were a group of cardinals from Germany, Austria, France, and the Low Countries. Jan Cardinal Alfrink could be thought of as their leader. Vatican I during 1869-70, proclaimed the infallibility and the primacy of the pope. During Vatican II, the progressives and myself wanted a church that will be a servant for all the world. After all, we are all resident aliens on this planet which has been entrusted to us. By caring only for ourselves, we betray our mission and our fiduciary responsibility to take care of what has been entrusted to us. My goal was to change the regime of a papacy with absolute authority – I had read after all Lord Acton’s writings – and to support Cardinal Suenens’ position during Vatican II, who was calling for an end to the medieval authoritarianism in the church. As you know, I died during Vatican II and things did not go exactly as I intended when I proclaimed that the purpose of Vatican II was aggiornamento, a.k.a. bringing up to date antiquated dogmas and practices. I am sorry for speaking too long. John Lukacs, what do you think?”
“As you know, during the 1950s I called Senator Joseph McCarthy a vulgar demagogue,” John Lukacs stated, only to continue: “Philistinism is present at all times, and that’s why the workshops and makeshift shed are still there in Canaletto’s painting. The cathedral of anti-philistinism is a work in progress, like Vatican II. In my writings since the 1950s, I have been arguing that populism is the primary threat to modern civilization. Unless we all become reactionaries to the spirit of philistinism that marks businesses, all kinds of governments, all churches, and several non-governmental global organizations, civilization as we know it may die. There is no such thing as generic fascism. Fascism can exist even in a democratic state as long as appeals to the masses and obtains power. In my 2002 book titled At the End of Age, I argued that the modern bourgeois age that started at the time of the Renaissance is coming to an end. Whether you like it or not, the degradation of the elites gives rise to barbaric vulgar populism of mass culture advanced by modern media. This is 21st philistinism and unless we act now, the consequences will be dire.”
“Indiscriminate tolerance is not liberty. It is fascism that leads to moral nihilism,” Lord Acton said and continued: “We need to distinguish between primary and secondary moral rules. A primary moral rule is universal and irremovable. For example, rules related to cruelty and false witness are not subjects for debate and reform. Secondary rules such as those related to competition, particular government authority, and others, are subject to experimentation and innovation. If liberalism tolerates the abolition of primary rules advocated by the spirit of philistinism, then its amoral skepticism would be fatal to its survival.”
“Aristotle taught us that the difficulty for democracy is how to find and keep high ideals. A shrinking middle class in terms of ideals and not necessarily of income, is an ideal goal of fascists and demagogues. If money satisfies them, give them more using the machinery of central banks and deficit spending, but deprive them of paideia and culture. Philistinism would be triumphant as a mindless middle class will vote in power kleptocrats and egotistical liars, who, in turn, will advance their vulgarity and retardedness,” Matthew Arnold stated.
“I apologize for interrupting such a wonderful conversation,” the ever-eavesdropping pilot said. I just wanted to let you know that as we are getting ready to land in Montevideo, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has died. He and our own passenger, John XXIII, didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye during Vatican II. Enjoy your stay in Uruguay.”
The Inevitability of the Predictable Tragedy: A Conversation Among Matthew Arnold, Lord Acton, Canaletto, John Lukacs, and Angelo Roncalli
Author : John E. Charalambakis
Date : December 31, 2022
As I was approaching the gate for my end-of-year flight to Montevideo, I could clearly see ahead of me Matthew Arnold and Canaletto. What I couldn’t see was a painting that Matthew Arnold was showing to Canaletto. As it has been happening for the last ten years in these end-of-year flights, I knew that I was about to witness again (undeservingly), another wonderful conversation among great minds. As I took my seat, I met the rest of the group: Lord Acton, John Lukacs, and Angelo Roncalli (a.k.a. Pope John XXIII).
“Matthew, don’t you think that philistinism is the word that marked and characterized our world this past year?” Angelo Roncalli asked. That was it: The dialogue was on, and the subject was none other but the hideous, dismal, and unenviable aspects of life in 2022 which make a predictable tragedy anything but inevitable.
Matthew Arnold started the dialogue by arguing that in a society in which the means are increasing, people have lost sight of the ends that those means ought to serve. “We have been confusing the agglomeration of means with the ends of life, and the increase of material wealth with moral improvement,” Arnold argued.
“That is so right,” Lord Acton stated, to continue: “Philistinism has taught us to treat liberty as a good in itself instead of asking what purpose that liberty serves. The beginning of personal and collective betterment always starts with self-dissatisfaction that emanates from recognizing the gap between what is and what ought to be.”
“The purpose of history is the reduction of untruth,” John Lukacs added, and continued: “Lord Acton knows that better than us, as his life has been a constant struggle to reconcile his liberalism with his Catholicism. He has been unalterably opposed to absolute power given to a state, king, and any head of state including the pope. Philistinism indeed might be the main cause of Putin’s madness in Ukraine. Lord Acton may have never finished the history of liberty because that history is nothing but the philosophy of history which opposes philistinism.”
All eyes now were on Angelo Roncalli. “Mr. Lukacs, as the Pope who initiated Vatican II, allow me to say that my goal was exactly that: To get rid of philistinism within the Catholic church. Vatican II has been known as the only council that was ever called in order not to combat an opposing theology (like Trent did in condemning Luther and the Reformation) but on the contrary to advance the idea that the Church must not seek to maintain its authority by weapons of repression but rather by the medicine of mercy. Such medicine becomes more effective when society gets rid of its philistinism.”
“Gentlemen, I am the only one who has lived in a city – my beloved Venice – where Angelo Roncalli was the spiritual leader,” Canaletto stated and continued: “Angelo Roncalli’s tenure in Bulgaria, was astonishing. He befriended non-Catholics and Muslims, and while in Turkey he helped rescue and provide for Jews escaping from Nazi Germany. Angelo Roncalli is the foreman in my painting known as The Stonemason’s Yard.”
“That’s exactly what Canaletto and I were discussing as we were boarding the plane,” Matthew Arnold said, only to let Canaletto continue: “That painting symbolizes the spirit of anti-philistinism. It shows a makeshift shed and scattered Istrian marble that are part of an ongoing project. That project is the building of an anti-philistinism cathedral where culture, paideia, debate, arguments, tasks, and dialogues are constant and animated, all in an effort to advance truth, knowledge, self-awareness, humility, and democratic values. Through the centuries, the canvas has puzzled observers as no notable architectural subject is evident in the picture or is ever known to have been built at that site. The church shown is Santa Maria della Carita, and to its right is the scuola which today houses the Art Academy.”
“Philistinism is indeed a pejorative term that reflects today’s mentality which, in turn, provides the tone of government and society. Through the years, philistinism has been led by dark religious and governmental minds. Nowadays is led by bonehead leaders in governments, business, and modern ‘evangelicals’ circles (those whose politics inform their faith rather than the other way around), all of whom know the price of everything and the value of nothing. These dark minds understand the bottom line but are oblivious to the line about moral development through culture and paideia. The alienation and ostracism of those who care for the truth, the intellect, and the spirit, reflects a dynamic of malnutrition and impoverishment by those dark minds who have no use of those vital qualities that make a society whole,” Matthew Arnold stated.
“You know, speaking of a cathedral dedicated to anti-philistinism, it reminds me of Jan Cardinal Alfrink who led the progressives during Vatican II. He was known as an anti-Roman due to his close affiliations in Holland with Protestants. As Vatican II started on October 11th, 1962, you had Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani who was a prisoner of his function as his only concern was to keep watch over the purity of empty dogmas that know no love except for one’s self. He represented those who wanted to keep power for power’s sake, representing the spirit of philistinism where the means are confused as ends. On the other hand, you had the progressives who were a group of cardinals from Germany, Austria, France, and the Low Countries. Jan Cardinal Alfrink could be thought of as their leader. Vatican I during 1869-70, proclaimed the infallibility and the primacy of the pope. During Vatican II, the progressives and myself wanted a church that will be a servant for all the world. After all, we are all resident aliens on this planet which has been entrusted to us. By caring only for ourselves, we betray our mission and our fiduciary responsibility to take care of what has been entrusted to us. My goal was to change the regime of a papacy with absolute authority – I had read after all Lord Acton’s writings – and to support Cardinal Suenens’ position during Vatican II, who was calling for an end to the medieval authoritarianism in the church. As you know, I died during Vatican II and things did not go exactly as I intended when I proclaimed that the purpose of Vatican II was aggiornamento, a.k.a. bringing up to date antiquated dogmas and practices. I am sorry for speaking too long. John Lukacs, what do you think?”
“As you know, during the 1950s I called Senator Joseph McCarthy a vulgar demagogue,” John Lukacs stated, only to continue: “Philistinism is present at all times, and that’s why the workshops and makeshift shed are still there in Canaletto’s painting. The cathedral of anti-philistinism is a work in progress, like Vatican II. In my writings since the 1950s, I have been arguing that populism is the primary threat to modern civilization. Unless we all become reactionaries to the spirit of philistinism that marks businesses, all kinds of governments, all churches, and several non-governmental global organizations, civilization as we know it may die. There is no such thing as generic fascism. Fascism can exist even in a democratic state as long as appeals to the masses and obtains power. In my 2002 book titled At the End of Age, I argued that the modern bourgeois age that started at the time of the Renaissance is coming to an end. Whether you like it or not, the degradation of the elites gives rise to barbaric vulgar populism of mass culture advanced by modern media. This is 21st philistinism and unless we act now, the consequences will be dire.”
“Indiscriminate tolerance is not liberty. It is fascism that leads to moral nihilism,” Lord Acton said and continued: “We need to distinguish between primary and secondary moral rules. A primary moral rule is universal and irremovable. For example, rules related to cruelty and false witness are not subjects for debate and reform. Secondary rules such as those related to competition, particular government authority, and others, are subject to experimentation and innovation. If liberalism tolerates the abolition of primary rules advocated by the spirit of philistinism, then its amoral skepticism would be fatal to its survival.”
“Aristotle taught us that the difficulty for democracy is how to find and keep high ideals. A shrinking middle class in terms of ideals and not necessarily of income, is an ideal goal of fascists and demagogues. If money satisfies them, give them more using the machinery of central banks and deficit spending, but deprive them of paideia and culture. Philistinism would be triumphant as a mindless middle class will vote in power kleptocrats and egotistical liars, who, in turn, will advance their vulgarity and retardedness,” Matthew Arnold stated.
“I apologize for interrupting such a wonderful conversation,” the ever-eavesdropping pilot said. I just wanted to let you know that as we are getting ready to land in Montevideo, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has died. He and our own passenger, John XXIII, didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye during Vatican II. Enjoy your stay in Uruguay.”
Happy New Year!