Can Field Theory Be Applied to Ethics?
(Wade's summary of Doctoral Dissertation written by Robert S. Hartman in 1946)
Field theory originated when Michael Faraday tried to explain the observation of
field lines between two poles of a magnet. Faraday said that a “field” is caused
by the tension that exists between the two poles.
Field theory has been applied in many diverse areas from gravity (Einstein) to personality
theory (Lewin). In Hartman’s book, he tries to apply field theory to ethics.
Hartman says that the two poles in ethics are the “actual” and the “ideal.” There
is always a “tension” that exists between the actual and the ideal. According to
Hartman, the ethical course of action is simply to attempt to transform the actual
into the ideal. For example, whenever we are experiencing tension in dealing with
a problem or a person, the ethical course of action is to seek the ideal state.
When the actual is transformed into the ideal, the tension no longer exists. This
shows me that I should not dread having problems, as each problem gives me the opportunity
to exercise the mental and physical muscles needed to transform a situation from
one state into the other. This is also how we create who we are.
Hartman says there has been much debate down through the centuries about whether
Providence exists. However, he says there can be no doubt about the fact that providence
does exist within each one of us. When we wrestle with a tough problem and transform
a bad situation into a good one, we have a first-hand experience of the providence
that exists within. We have turned the water into wine.
When applied to the life of ordinary individuals, field theory shows that we should
strive to transform our actual selves into our ideal selves. The amount of tension
that we experience in our daily lives will be lessened by the extent to which we
achieve that goal of transforming the actual into the ideal. Talk about stress-free
living – that is the path to it!
What is the first step on the path? First, clearly define what one ideally wants
to be. And what is the second step? Work on becoming that. When progress is made,
the pleasure will surpass all others – or at least be comparable to them!
Hartman looked at the history of the life on earth to try to see where it was heading.
He seemed deeply impressed with Bergson’s philosophy of élan vital. Elan vital is
a life force that has been in existence since life came into being. When life first
arose, the organisms then in existence formed the cells of the fetus of this life
force. All the organisms throughout history that have lived and died can just be
thought of as the cells of this slowly maturing life force. We form the cells of
the current body of this spirit, but we will soon be replaced by other cells and
so on.
According to Bergson, the Mystic is a leader that changes the course of history
by expanding the reach of this living spirit. Metaphorically speaking, the reach
of this spirit can thought of as being like the ocean. Every time any of the cells
of the Spirit performs some moral act, the little ripples on the ocean wash a little
higher up on the beach. The Mystic’s actions are like a tidal wave, or tsunami,
that drastically alters the coastline forever. Another metaphor Bergson used to
describe the Mystic was to say that the Mystic is like a ball that floats on the
top of a water fountain. No matter how high the fountain shoots, the ball rises
ahead of it and leads it. This is the Mystic – always out front, leading others,
and showing the way.
Hartman says Prometheus was a Mystic. He says that Prometheus brought civilization
into a new age by discovering the power of fire. When coal was discovered, we entered
another new age called the industrial age because of the power it unleashed. Hartman
believed that we need a new moral leader on the order of Prometheus to steer us
away from the potential dangers that we face in the industrial world today. He was
writing in 1946 so he was well aware of the problems that we face. One of the major
problems we face is that we have divided the human race up into various “closed
societies” called nations. Hartman believed that the new Prometheus would lead us
into an “open society” where all nations would consider themselves as just parts
of the larger human race.