Part 189. Karl Popper. A significant influence in my life.

My father was a Cambridge University history graduate and taught at a state grammar school. He had an extensive  book collection including Karl Popper's Poverty of Historicism.

I read the book prior to reading for a law degree. The book has been an influence on my political, legal, social and theological mindset all my adult life. I like to think of it as a positive influence for good, it is for others to judge. 

Below is an extract from another Karl Popper work.

“Work for the elimination of concrete evils rather than for the realization of abstract goods. Do not aim at establishing happiness by political means. Rather aim at the elimination of concrete miseries. Or, in more practical terms: fight for the elimination of poverty by direct means--for example, by making sure that everybody has a minimum income. Or fight against epidemics and disease by erecting hospitals and schools of medicine. Fight illiteracy as you fight criminality. But do all this by direct means. Choose what you consider the most urgent evil of the society in which you live, and try patiently to convince people that we can get rid of it. 

But do not try to realize these aims indirectly by designing and working for a distant ideal of a society which is wholly good. However deeply you may feel indebted to its inspiring vision, do not think that you are obliged to work for its realization, or that it is your mission to open the eyes of others to its beauty. Do not allow your dreams of a beautiful world to lure you away from the claims of men who suffer here and now. Our fellow men have a claim to our help; no generation must be sacrificed for the sake of future generations, for the sake of an ideal of happiness that may never be realized. In brief, it is my thesis that human misery is the most urgent problem of a rational public policy and that happiness is not such a problem. The attainment of happiness should be left to our private endeavours.”

Karl Popper, 'Conjectures and Refutations'.

I concur with the thrust of the argument. It is for individuals, both individually and collectively, to demand social justice, to alleviate pain and suffering by direct support to deal with symptoms and more importantly to campaign for action to tackle causes. This is the theme of many of my posts. As progressive Christians assert, love your neighbour is not only about ambulance work but also campaigning vigorously for systemic change.

Christians have an ideal, a hope for a better world in the future, but that must not be the sole focus of faith. Piety, self satisfaction that one is saved, introspection, smug complacency to the exclusion of all else is not the message of Jesus. There is a song Happy to live for Jesus. Well yes, not for our own personal satisfaction, but to do His work on earth. Hope for his kingdom to come on earth must not blind us to the need for action now.