ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The New American Dream: From Either/Or Western Dualism to Bharat’s Both/And-Also Destiny — A Study in Dominion and Dharma
The New American Dream, if it is to survive the challenges of the 21st century, must transcend the rigid dualism of its past
-
Vivek Singhal - Fri, 03, Jul 2026
- 01:40 EDT
- 36
Dominion and Dharma book cover / Courtesy photo
The "American Dream" has long been tethered to the binary logic of Western thought—the either/or trap. We are conditioned to categorize leaders and innovators as heroes or villains, capitalists or humanitarians, dreamers or profit-seekers. Nowhere is this dualism more evident today than in the rise of Elon Musk and the unprecedented privatization of our cosmos.
As we look toward the heavens, where SpaceX now holds sway over the vast majority of human activity in orbit, the West asks: Is Musk a savior destined to transport human consciousness to Mars, or is he merely the ultimate capitalist seizing the most valuable real estate in history?
Western frameworks demand we choose one. We struggle to accept that a man can be a ruthless tycoon and a visionary pioneer simultaneously. We feel a deep, gnawing unease because we have outsourced the future of our species to a single, unaccountable actor, yet we remain transfixed by the technological leaps he has initiated.
This is where the wisdom of Bharat offers a necessary, evolutionary shift: the philosophy of both/and-also.
Connecting Dominion and Dharma
In my previous exploration of Dominion and Dharma, I discussed how the Western impulse—rooted in the concept of Dominion—often seeks to conquer, own, and control. It is a linear drive that views the world (and now the stars) as resources to be mastered.
Conversely, the concept of Dharma—the universal law of order, duty, and interconnectedness—reminds us that power is not a possession but a responsibility. It teaches us that our actions must align with the flourishing of the whole, not just the expansion of the self.
When we apply the both/and-also lens, we reconcile these two forces. Musk is not either a practitioner of absolute dominion or a servant of a higher dharma; he is both. He utilizes the raw, expansionist drive of Dominion to build his empire, while simultaneously invoking the language of Dharma—the survival of human consciousness—to justify his mission.
The trouble, however, is that without the stabilizing presence of true Dharma, the exercise of pure Dominion inevitably leads to the privatization of our global commons. We are seeing the geopolitics of the planet being re-written by private mandate, without a single vote cast by the public.
A New Destiny
The New American Dream, if it is to survive the challenges of the 21st century, must transcend the rigid dualism of its past. As Bharat rises as a global intellectual and strategic leader, it brings with it the ability to hold multiple, seemingly contradictory truths in one hand. We need not fear these paradoxes; we must manage them.
By adopting this both/and-also destiny, we move past the paralyzing frustration of trying to label the titans of industry. We can acknowledge the brilliance of human ingenuity while simultaneously demanding the democratic oversight required to ensure that the sky remains a shared inheritance rather than a private fiefdom.
The sky is no longer just a destination; it is a mirror reflecting our own internal development. It is time we view the future with the clarity of a civilization that understands the beauty of non-binary, infinite possibilities—balancing the reach of our Dominion with the enduring, grounding pull of our Dharma.
Vivek Singhal is a columnist for The New India Abroad. His AI collaborator, Saarthi, assists in weaving these threads of thought.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Leave A Comment
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login