The Triumvirate of Western Civilization

The triumvirate of science, capitalism and democracy currently leads Western Civilization as a collective surrogate for the usual and classic role of religion. 

In Western Civilization science is taken to be the truth; capitalism is the primary method by which we conduct our work and allocate resources; and democracy is our governmental structure.  All three work in a system of checks, balances, and cooperation not unlike the judiciary, legislative and executive branches of the US government.  The American Revolution is largely responsible for setting up the relationships between capitalism and democracy – science has taken on a life of its own and has become integrated with the other two.   The world is currently experiencing and reaping benefits from the US-lead Western Civilization – the current pinnacle of human ability to harness the planet’s resources to our benefit.

Science is responsible for exploring and answering questions about the “world”.  Science is guided by the truth.  Science is like the judiciary – it is largely independent of outside influence.  Neither capitalism nor democracy exerts much control, if any, over the direction of science. Science is driven to reveal the truth about Nature. Capitalism doesn’t innately care about the truth.  Science is also largely not guided by democracy - science is not necessarily democratic.  The truth must be and is its guiding principle.  Science is largely independent of control by capitalism or democracy.  However, the amount of scientific inquiry is influenced by both capitalism and democracy, because most science is dependent upon either business or government for its funding.

Figure.  The current Western Civilization, showing addition of capitalism to the earlier Western diagram.

Capitalism  is characterized by creating a free and open market so that efforts, goods and pleasure can be properly valued and exchanged.  However, capitalism has no inherent sense of truth, fairness, or morality.  Capitalism is good at developing the truths discovered by science and implementing them for group development.  Capitalism is a tool that, when properly used, can very effectively harness the resources of the planet for group and individual economic success.  By its very nature, capitalism creates competition among individuals and can therefore create disharmony among people.  Capitalism must be properly controlled by democracy to make sure it does not transgress that which is fair to individuals.  Capitalism is largely driven by satisfaction of individual self-desires.

Democracy  is our form of government and has the responsibility of structuring the group.  Democracy structures groups with governmental structure and with the controls it exerts over capitalism.  Democracy establishes rules and alters capitalistic exchange values when needed for the good of the people.  Democracy does not usually (and should not) meddle in science, but should provide an environment for the advancement of science. 

Science and capitalism are both functions of our left brain. Democracy, by letting individuals vote their preferences, includes input from both the left-brain reasoning and right brain feelings.  Democracy is the only right brain group contribution in the triumvirate of Western Civilization.

Summary

Western Civilization is a unique form of civilization in which religion plays little if any role in societal governance.  By this characteristic alone it is highly unusual compared to previous and other current civilizations.  Instead, Western Civilization is primarily based upon three institutions: science, capitalism, and democracy that work together in a system of checks and balances.  Western Civilization has strong roots in the Judeo-Christian God, but religion currently serves as a conscience rather than a central role. (More later on the role of religion in Western Civilization.)

Footnote definitions:

Capitalism n: an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state control, and by prices, production and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly in a free market.
Democracy n: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation.