Ramesh N. Patel's Blog
February 24, 2025
Moderate Middle
In the current polarized world, the path of the moderate middle is likely to appear out of place. Yet, at least four influential thinkers have supported it: Aristotle, the Buddha, Confucius and ShriKrishna in the Bhagavad Gita. All of them at various points have praised the moderate middle which studiously avoids extremes on a spectrum and seeks a middle path of moderation.
Think of it another way. A mature society at a given time has a set of values that it endorses as having stood the test of time. At the same time, it also faces some voices in its midst that call for a change in some of the established values. They ask for a reform or replacement and a struggle is going on. While the conflict is live it is often hard to predict which way the society will finally settle, with how much of a change, for example.
Eventually, though, with or without some violence the conflict is resolved and the society finds itelf again, so to say. But in a while yet another conflict, large or small, emerges and the process repeats itself. The society's maturity ensures survival of the social unity on the whole, not making the society to fall apart and perish.
What is interesting is that as the pendulum keeps swinging between change and stability, between liberalism and conservatism, in other words, the society makes progress in the long run. This is the long historic path of moderation for the society. We psee here that the moderate middle is not a steady practice but a dynamic achievement. Yes, adjustments are made as necessary but the moderate middle ensures steady progress. Good job, society!
Think of it another way. A mature society at a given time has a set of values that it endorses as having stood the test of time. At the same time, it also faces some voices in its midst that call for a change in some of the established values. They ask for a reform or replacement and a struggle is going on. While the conflict is live it is often hard to predict which way the society will finally settle, with how much of a change, for example.
Eventually, though, with or without some violence the conflict is resolved and the society finds itelf again, so to say. But in a while yet another conflict, large or small, emerges and the process repeats itself. The society's maturity ensures survival of the social unity on the whole, not making the society to fall apart and perish.
What is interesting is that as the pendulum keeps swinging between change and stability, between liberalism and conservatism, in other words, the society makes progress in the long run. This is the long historic path of moderation for the society. We psee here that the moderate middle is not a steady practice but a dynamic achievement. Yes, adjustments are made as necessary but the moderate middle ensures steady progress. Good job, society!
