In the last 2,500 years, Philosophy seeks the end that could give “meaning” to human life. Although we perceive that it can be an exercise without results or without end, I believe that this work is absolutely necessary.

But it would not be bad if this test were accompanied by other exercises. For example, it is very enriching to look at the people, the groups and the cultures that have preceded us, because the way for our species to come alive so far has not been easy. What tricks, tools or supports did they have to get creatures as crazy as we did to this day?

Extended Family

One of the tools of most cultures in the world is the Extended Family. Let us not think that the Extended Family means many children joining the world. Although this organizational model is mainly based on kinship, its characteristics are much more complex. The Extended Family was often composed of members united by symbolic kinship, creating a nearby community, creating a sustainable network and sharing responsibility for collective custody.

There are two main areas: Intimate space and effective network of the Extended Family. Both spaces are absolutely necessary to meet the material, social, cultural and psychological circumstances of life for all people. In the intimate space are all the members of the house, parents, uncles, grandparents, close friends; in the effective network, other relatives, friends and neighbors. These communities were responsible for quality of life, joy, caring for the sick, protecting the elderly, educating children, managing conflicts properly.

But this model was crushed by various agents. Jauntxos, kings, church, etc., for centuries resorted to the elimination of these networks among equals. All structures should be crushed and rebuilt for the benefit of the authorities and the dependence of the humble people.

The last big indent has been given by corporate capitalism, with the total destruction of social networks, proposing that each one should only look at his navel and feed an insatiable hedonism.

Monitoring

Today, fortunately, “care at the center” is the central motto of the sociopolitical agenda and in the mouths of many cynical agents who want to turn care into business.

However, many of the demands that take the look of the new labels, as is the case with many others, are long-standing historic requests.

The main objective of the organization of all people is the monitoring of the group. At all stages of life, individuals need the help of the group. If the protection network of the closest ones is broken and emptied, our dependence is total. According to some models, states or other public institutions have an obligation to fill these gaps. Although this claim is correct, if the individualism model is not chosen it will not be sufficient. We must also rebuild the social networks and the closest collective subjects.

General Feminist Strike

On the 30th, the Feminist Movement called for a general strike. It is an appeal to public custody and collective custody.

I believe that the heart of the call has been right. In the face of the fall of the network of Extended Families, which are weakening the social structure, in the face of the aggression of corporate capitalism that wants to commercialize everything, once again they want to “cast” care on the backs of women. This serious structural problem can only be channelled from two points. In other words, as the callers for strike say, demanding strict public protection and entangled collective surveillance.

We got a wedge. The bourgeois who were bored in the alley asked to go to work, forgetting that most of the women of the world, including Euskal Herria, spent their whole lives working. Convinced that the myth of romantic love can be the central axis of life, that the nuclear family can be autonomous, that housing, instead of being a primary right, can be a huge business.

Today, trapped by our demographic pyramid, by the fictional needs generated by corporate capitalism, coupled with the medications recommended by the psychiatrist who has represented the union, convinced that we can satisfy what we do not achieve at home through the new challenges of the gym, we suffer a serious crisis of care.

As Josebe Iturrioz says, surely heterosexual men (especially those who have grown up last century) cannot be feminists. Even if we go to eleven courses, trials and dozens of sessions on the new masculinity, we won't rule out all our privileges. But at the very least, let's make an honest attempt, let's get really into the collective care work. On the 30th we joined the general feminist strike.

Perhaps the enigma that philosophers want to liberate, the mission of life, we will never liberate it, but we will focus on the main challenge, mutual care, the most important challenge that can be understandable and tangible.

Patxi Azparren, Bachelor of Social and Cultural Anthropology