Sárospataki Füzetek 20. (2016)
2016 / 2. szám - ARTICLES / STUDIEN - Henk E. S. Woldring: Comenius' Search for Conditions of Peace set against the Perspective of Shalom
Comenius' Search for Conditions of Peace set against the Perspective of Shalom the order of society, so that citizens voluntarily obey the government and its laws. Comparison of the mentioned phenomena also points to an analogy of the intended results: all phenomena lead to growth or progress that produces joy for everyone. Applied to the situation of enduring peace, the syncritic method shows that this situation, based on bringing into practice justice, righteousness and other moral virtues, promotes material prosperity, and the moral level of concord of society — in short, a situation of general welfare or happiness. Within the framework of Comenius’ pansophy the knowledge obtained by the syncritic method serves to expand on a situation of enduring peace by also renewing human behaviour, in order to achieve a higher moral level, and to promote a situation of shalom — a joyful peace. 7. The Subject of Shalom Finally, I will ask one more question: what is the subject of shalom?. By this I mean the following: the word ‘subject’ comes from the Greek hypokeimenon that means underlying ... or submitted to ..., not only in the sense of being subject to laws, but also in the meaning of: foundation of... or ... receptive to ... So, the human being as a subject may have the meaning of: to be open to ..., to be responsible for ..., to be inclined to ... Thus, the question of the subject of shalom may be answered as follows: what people are receptive and responsible to understand and to experience a joyful peace? Comenius believed the answer would be as follows: those who have the wisdom or insight into the ontological order of reality (or the original harmonious order of nature and society), and into man’s place in this order, and also insight into and experience with bringing into practice justice, righteousness and other moral virtues. They will not be happy without a reason, but they have reason to be delighted in an enduring peace in a situation of shalom. Also those who believe that shalom will eventually be promoted by a divine blessing, will strive ceaselessly for general welfare in order to be worthy to receive this blessing. Those who have insight into, and have experience of situations of violence, oppression and other forms of injustice, and with practising moral virtues, are receptible to arguments to remain hopeful for shalom for mankind. 8. Conclusions A situation of enduring peace forms the basis from which to strive for general welfare. This situation may achieve its destination in general welfare as well. However, an enduring peace will not be possible if a breakdown of fundamental justice exists within or between nations. In this case not only is the social and political order violated but the underlying ontological order of reality as well, which, according to Comenius, is characterized by an all-embracing and essential (metaphysical) order of harmony. The social and political order that should lead to this ontological order of harmony, is characterized by the concord of a nation. Such concord may result in a widely-shared insight of citizens to accept and to obey their government and its laws. 2016-2 Sárospataki Füzetek 20. Évfolyam 73
