26 – A Mythological Ship of State?
Could our American society by discussing as if it were a large ocean liner carrying thousands of imperfect passengers governed by a political system much like the one we attempt to use to govern ourselves? Such a mythical ship would continually travel through an endless ocean, not arriving at dry land or navigate into a drydock for repair and change. Any changes would be made as the ship moves across a global sea.
The direction of the ship’s travel, its policies, its remodeling, and decisions made would be determined through a governance system influenced by some passengers that devote greater amounts of time and energy to acquire more knowledge and political influence than others. Ability to achieve such influence will be enhanced by family backgrounds based on wealth and/or intellect, knowledge and experience. Children learn and develop knowledge, character, and skills based on observing their parents. They also inherit wealth from them.
Everyone has an opportunity to participate in ship discussion and decision making, but the system assumes “silence-is-concurrence” for those that choose to not take part. The message from their non-involvement is that they will allow their lives to be influenced by decisions made by others.
All “ship of state” power comes from the economy as produced by passengers’ efforts. Passengers’ creative thinking can enhance ship work-redesign for better human utilization. Work design will be continually changing based on new technologies and new ideas. But work design will ensure individuals will be able to provide for basic survival and psychological needs through their own efforts. Passengers will have the freedom and liberty to try new things and be recognized for their accomplishments but allowed to fail and learn from their own experiences and mistakes. Passengers will develop self-respect and respect of others based on their personal accomplishments.
The ship will be influenced by many factors, including continuing application of old ideas and adoption of new ones. The ship can be damaged by wrongful approaches for redesigning passengers’ work and adoption of harmful technologies. Adoption of new approaches may be beneficial in the beginning but become harmful later. Passengers continually assess their social, work, and governance systems and be willing to recognize harmful approaches and make corrections.
Major factors in decisions made by passengers may be based on different frameworks of thinking about how society should be structured.
For example, prior to the Enlightenment social structures involved concentrations of power in the hands of a few, limited individual rights, along with power rooted in tradition, religion, or military might. This type of social structure dates back thousands of years and commonly involved slavery and other forms of human bondage. This type of ancient social, governmental structure strongly influenced early American colonies, particularly in some colonies.

Ideas for a different social structure were developed during the 17th century Enlightenment that also influenced thinking during the American colonial period. It promoted concepts such as individual liberty, natural and civil rights, religious tolerance, separation of church and state, the consent of the governed, and the right of the people to overthrow government, and retention of power among the people to do so.
Is it possible challenges associated with these different frameworks of thinking continue to foster conflict and sometimes hostility among our citizens? What might be our current social goal reflects enlightenment thinking. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all women and men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.”
But does our national history reflect social struggles rooted in attempting to move from a pre-enlightenment social structure toward an enlightened structure?
Might it be helpful to discuss the history of challenges involved with moving from the ancient social structure to an enlightened one?
Joseph L. Bass, 12/10/25