"The Virus in the Age of Madness" (Bernard-Henri Lévy)

TITLE: The Virus in The Age of Madness
AUTHOR: Bernard-Henri Lévy
PUBLISHER: New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2020, (128 pages).

If we look at the year 2020, most people around the world would agree that life has changed forever. Social distancing is everywhere. People wear masks when they venture outdoors. A lot of people work from home. Air travel has been curtailed. More people are buying take-out instead of dining in. Schools are operating at less than normal capacity. Universities shift classes to online platforms. Welcome to the new normal. For some, this is a crazy phenomeon where entire lifestyles need to change because of a microscopic virus. With keen observation, author Bernard-Henri Lévy notes that the madness is not the virus but the reactions caused. Busy cities emptied out into ghost towns. Popular restaurants shut down. Pollution decreased as the number of stay-home workers increased. Violent demonstrations in HK and terrorism in other parts of the world too seem to have disappeared overnight. Most interestingly, we see how the little virus brings out the behaviours rarely seen under normal circumstances. They also bring out our appreciation for "invisible" group of workers such as caregivers, delivery personnel, garbage collectors, freight shippers, online workers, and so on. In a world that is shivering with fear, how about taking time to deal with the "innermost metaphysics" within us? There are a lot of things to be concerned. What we take at face value is often something that is deeply troubling. The author offers this book as a way to question conventional wisdom and the uncritical acceptance of top-down advice, especially from the politicians and the newly elevated social status of medical or health experts. 

Lévy explains that the virus has elevated five things into prominence.  First, it is the rise of "medical power." People trust the medical professionals more than ever to give them advice, guidance, and all kinds of wisdom with regard to living with the virus or how to avoid it altogether.  Medical professionals stand alongside powerful politicians in their regular updates. Lévy cautions us from giving them too much credit. Like scientific research, the medical fraternity don't have all the answers. At the same time, no two medical researchers adopt the same strategy or philosophy of treatment. Their opinions differ greatly and often contradict. Do we believe the first medical advice or do we opt for the one that matches our own views? One wonders how the fear of the virus has also given rise to irrational focus on hygiene. According to French philosopher, Michael Foucault, there is always a risk of social control, and in this context of virus, the marriage of medicine and politics would be fatal. Second, the frivolous justification of the virus as either good from above or evil created from below. The author takes issue with glib remarks about "hidden virtue" of the virus or the presence of the virus as some kind of punishment from the gods above. The trouble with such thinking is that it makes the virus into some kind of a living force that unleashes evil and good on mankind. Such rationalization of good and bad is mad thinking. He also warns us against two other erroneous thoughts: 1) Virus a creation of human activity like what some environmentalists and conspiracy theorists tend to say; 2) Religious judgment. He also attacks "secular religiosity" for trying to put life into something that is not. He sees virus basically as dumb and by our reactions, we have magnified the virus into a godzilla! Third, in "bask in confinement," the author critiques the argument that those forced into confinement are given a chance to put first things first, like family, appreciation, etc. Why was this so-called good thing not appreciated? That is because not everyone has a home and such delight in confinement humiliates the homeless and the displaced in society. Moreover, it is not an intentional exercise but a helpless surrender to circumstances. Lévy also notes that "social distancing" only goes against our very need of humanity: Community and togetherness. He warns that it might only feed the negative tendencies of human beings: Individualism. The fourth kind of madness that the virus unwittingly raises is that of exalting doctors as the know-all and heal-all. The trouble with modern faith in medical practitioners is the same as the famous saying: "One man's meat is another man's poison." The problem is made worse when we let these medical experts (or politicians as advised by health experts) define what is essential and what is not. Aren't books essential? Why are online merchants deemed essential even when they sell non-essential goods? Such blunt tools of advice oversimplifies the meaning of essentials. It is absurd to see how a virus could transform a organizational villain into some kind of a virtuous hero overnight. The fifth issue with modern (and oversimplistic) rationalization over the virus is that of "stay-at-home orders." Who are the authorities trying to protect in the first place? The people or themselves? It might very well become a tool for further social isolation of the marginalized! Lévy scans the troubled spots in the world and laments that the virus have not solved the past problems, only delayed the troubles. Old issues are simply swept under the carpet under the guise of social distancing. These matters are not resolved. They have only hibernated during this pandemic. 

My Thoughts

This book is essentially a push back against the uncritical acceptance of world experts, especially the healthcare professionals and political forces. This is especially when they speak so forcefully as if they had all the right answers when they still do not understand the nature of the virus itself. Policies continue to be shaped and reshaped when new evidence is uncovered. How then are we to live? For Lévy, it appears to be a literary resistance fighter. Fight against conventional wisdom. Fight against the unholy alliance of medicine and politics. Fight against the continued marginalization of the impoverished and the vulnerable. Learn to question the "expert advice" that only provides a partial solution while at the same time dumbing down other legitimate voices. Using philosophy and perspectives of social justice, Lévy warns us that there is more than meets the eye. Things are often not what they claim to be. We need to stand up to make space for the other voices so that we can see the full picture, not just the ones the top ranks want us to hear. 

Readers would sense the anger in the writings of Lévy as he probes deep and hard using his knowledge of philosophy and justice. In fact, much of his arguments are driven from key philosopher thoughts. For instance, in criticizing the rise of medical power, he quotes Michael Foucault's warning of the "medical glaze" that exalts medical knowledge to the level of power over people. He also uses religious literature, in particular Jewish writings to describe his disdain for medical power. He also uses lessons from Greek, Roman, and Latin culture as well as other disciplines in a way to remind us to give voice not only to the medical fraternity, but to the humanities as well. Do not listen only to people with specialist skills. Listen to human voices crying out to be heard. I would say Lévy's warnings are most apt and thought provoking. This is especially so in a world of social media and mass availability of all kinds of news and information. I think he has an important reminder for the rest of us, that we need to bring back sanity beginning with how we trust. Perhaps, I would say this book does best to give us the other perspective from the oft-unheard voices. We need to be vigilant against erroneous thinking and not to place our faith in humans more than what they deserve. Do not mute the ordinary. Neither should we glorify those with extraordinary status given them due to irrational fear of the virus. 

This book offers a powerful call to correct our mental stances from the five flaws of modern thinking over the virus. If we are able to do that, we will bring back some semblance of sanity and rationality toward what it means to be human. In summary, whatever we hear on TV, radio, or on social media, give a 50% discount. For the other 50%, start thinking critically and constructively toward true goodness of humanity that is not skewed only toward medical knowledge. Life is much more than fighting the virus. Perhaps, this book helps us fill in the other half. I like to end with the words of David Katz article which aptly describes the problem: "Is Our Fight against Coronavirus Worse than the Disease?"

 

Bernard-Henri Lévy or BHL is a French philosopher , activist, and filmmaker often known for bucking the trend and offering alternative positions to conventional wisdom. He is one of France's most prominent intellectuals today.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Yale University Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.