Why do all internal standards ultimately collapse? — Standards must exist outside of oneself.
Why do all internal standards ultimately collapse? — Standards must exist outside of oneself.
We examined this in Advanced Level 4. To become an unchanging standard, five conditions must be met simultaneously. It must be unchanging, above emotions, above evaluations, above failure, and greater than oneself. So now a more direct question remains. Do the things Jihoon, Soojin, and Jaehyun have used as standards so far meet these conditions?
Summary.
All human internal standards change. What changes cannot be a standard. A standard must be above humans.
The four limitations of internal standards.
Limitation 1: Self — Depends on condition.
“I believe in myself.” Jaehyun lived by this standard. It was fine until the team disbanded. Jaehyun believed himself to be a capable person. That belief drove him. But then the team disbanded. A huge shock hit him. “I guess I wasn't capable after all.” “I guess I wasn't strong.” “I can't do this.” Jaehyun couldn't get up from the couch. Why? The self depends on energy. When tired, it weakens. The self depends on experience. When failing, it collapses. The self depends on success. Without results, it wavers. The self-standard is a slave to the self's condition. When Jaehyun is strong, his self is strong. When Jaehyun weakens, his self weakens. Because the self is not greater than Jaehyun.
Limitation 2: Philosophy — Depends on changes in thinking.
“My philosophy is the standard.” Soo-jin tried this standard. Soo-jin's philosophy in her 20s: “Success is most important. I must be recognized.” Soo-jin's philosophy in her 30s: “Relationships are most important. I need genuine connection.” By her 40s, her philosophy will change again. Her philosophy changed. Why? Philosophy depends on information. It changes when new experiences arise. Philosophy depends on the times. It changes when the environment shifts. Philosophy depends on reasoning. It changes when stronger logic emerges. Thoughts from ten years ago differ from thoughts now. A changing system of reasoning cannot be a permanent standard. Jaehyun tried to establish a new philosophy after his team disbanded. But when a similar situation arose again, he wavered. Because that philosophy was also something Jaehyun had created. When Jaehyun wavered, his philosophy wavered too.
Limit 3: Morality — Depends on the relativity of the times.
“Just live morally.” But morality is a social consensus. When society changes, morality changes too. A hundred years ago, it was immoral for women to vote. Now, it is immoral for women not to vote. Morality has changed. Let's look at a closer example. Su-jin's mother fell seriously ill. The doctor said, “She has six months left.” Su-jin told her mother, “You'll get better.” She lied. But is this immoral? Most people would say “no.” Morality changes with the situation. Morality depends on society, depends on the situation, depends on consensus. A relative standard cannot be an absolute anchor.
Limit 4: Performance — Depends on variables.
“Performance is the standard.” Jihoon lived by this standard. Project success: “I am competent. I am valuable.” Project failure: “I am incompetent. I am worthless.” Did Jihoon change? No. The result changed. Yet Jihoon's value changed. Performance depends on results. If results are bad, it collapses. Performance depends on variables. Things beyond control alter outcomes. Performance depends on external factors. Others' evaluations determine performance. When performance becomes the standard, life becomes an exam hall. If you succeed, you have value; if you fail, you have no value. And performance always changes.
Structural Conclusion.
Self, philosophy, morality, and performance. Do you see the commonality among these four? They all originate within the human being. And they all change. They all depend on something. The self depends on energy, experience, and success. Philosophy depends on information, the times, and reasoning. Morality depends on society, circumstances, and consensus. Performance depends on results, variables, and the external world. What depends changes. What changes cannot be a standard.
Here the core problem is revealed. As long as the standard lies within humans, humans must keep holding onto themselves. But that is not sustainable. Jihun doesn't always have energy. Sujin doesn't always succeed. Jaehyun isn't always strong. When tired, when failing, when weak, what do you hold onto? Do you hold onto the self? The self is also weak. Do you hold onto philosophy? Philosophy is also shaky. Do you hold onto morality? Morality also changes depending on the situation. Do you hold onto achievements? Achievements also falter. If you can hold onto nothing, you collapse. This is why Jae-hyun couldn't get up from the sofa the day he heard about the team disbanding. Because he had nothing to hold onto.
Logical necessity.
The standard must be “above oneself,” not “within oneself.” Why? What is within oneself depends on oneself. It changes with oneself. It collapses with oneself. What is above oneself does not depend on oneself. It remains independent of oneself. It stands independent of oneself. Let's look at an analogy. Jihoon is drowning. Person A grasps a branch floating on the water. That branch is on the water with Jihoon. If Jihoon sinks, the branch sinks too. Person B grasps a rock outside the water. That rock stands independently of Jihoon. Even if Jihoon sinks, the rock does not sink. Who is safe? Person B. Because the rock is above B. Self, philosophy, morality, and achievement are all like the tree branch. They float on the water with Jihoon. If Jihoon sinks, they sink with him. To be a standard, you must be like the rock. You must be something that does not sink even if you yourself sink.
Three Questions.
Now three questions remain.
Question 1: Does a standard above humans exist? This is not an emotional question. It is a structural question. If there is no unchanging standard above humans, humans must forever hold onto themselves. They must forever evaluate themselves. They must forever justify themselves. And that is unsustainable. Therefore, a standard above humans is logically necessary.
Question 2: If it exists, what is it? That standard must satisfy five conditions: It must be unchanging, above emotion, above evaluation, above failure, and greater than oneself. Is what satisfies these conditions merely a concept? Or has it already been presented in history?
Question 3: Can that standard actually connect with oneself? Even if a standard exists, it is meaningless if it is unrelated to oneself. Can that standard truly hold onto you? Can it grasp your hand when you are sinking?
Honest Self-Reflection.
Review the four internal standards examined today. Which of these do you use as your standard? And did it hold onto you when you wavered? Or did you have to hold onto it? If the latter, it is not a standard. A standard must stand above you. You should not be holding onto it; it should be holding onto you.
Next step.
Advanced 5-5 answers these questions. No longer theory. Structure. History. Reality.
👉 [Advanced 5-5: “Without Standards, Life is a Lifelong Exam Room” View]
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