An H of G

2022-03-29 · letter vlog · John · 4:00 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Philosophy & meaning · mode: Personal essay · tags: timely hook, self correction, self promotion

John explains Dr. Paul Farmer's phrase 'H of G', a hermeneutics of generosity: assume others are good and read what they do in a favorable light. It is hard in practice, but it turns injustice into addressable failures of empathy, resource allocation and will, so a better world becomes possible.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — Paul Farmer's phrase 'H of G' and what hermeneutics means

★★ John notes that Dr. Paul Farmer, co-founder of Partners In Health, died last month (February 2022) at the age of 62. — 00:00:00 · Partners In Health
★★ John says 'H of G', short for a hermeneutics of generosity, is maybe his very favorite of Paul Farmer's many sayings. (hedged) — 00:00:00
★ As a double major in English and Religious Studies, John had been 'hermeneuted half to death' by graduation, until he heard Farmer's phrase. (playful) — 00:00:29
★★ John explains that hermeneutics means interpretation: the interpretive lens one brings to a text, especially a sacred text. — 00:00:29

“A hermeneutics is like the interpretive lens you bring to looking at a text, especially a sacred text.”

00:00:58 — The H of G defined; the grocery-store coupon example and why it gets harder

★★★ Paul Farmer (quoted): John quotes how Farmer once defined the H of G: I know you are a good guy, so I will interpret what you say and do in a favorable light. — 00:00:58

“I know you’re a good guy. Therefore, I will interpret the things you say and do in a favorable light.”
★★★ John restates it: even with strangers he assumes goodness unless strongly shown otherwise, because almost everyone is trying their best and sees their own actions generously. — 00:00:58
★★ John says the H of G is hard in practice: easy with a slow coupon-user in a grocery line, much harder if they have a $4,000 designer purse or are yelling. — 00:01:27
★★ John says that in such cases the H of G is harder but, Farmer would argue, not impossible: people yell because they are afraid or angry. — 00:01:56

00:02:26 — Anger at injustice; problems as addressable failures; Farmer's legacy; sign-off

★★★ John finds that when he can deploy an H of G, which is not always, he is more empathetic, curious and engaged, and less judgmental, angry and miserable. — 00:02:26 · empathy
★★★ John does not minimize the role of anger and disgust in bringing about change: we should be angry about injustice, and the world's apathy to the poorest should bother us. — 00:02:26
★★★ Seen through generosity and presumed good faith, John says, injustice and inequity are not about terrible people or crappy systems but failures of empathy, resource allocation and will. — 00:02:55
★★★ John says those failures can be addressed: they are not inevitable or necessary. — 00:02:55
★★★ So progress feels possible, John says, and injustice becomes even more horrific because we know that together we can choose a better world. — 00:03:24 · progress
★★ John says the H of G is hard work precisely because it asks us to believe that together we can address our shared problems. — 00:03:24
★★ Farmer left many legacies; the H of G is one John is trying to hold on to in these difficult days. — 00:03:24

In the description and comments

★★ The description adds that seeing others generously does not mean accepting injustice or oppression but believing they are addressable, not caused by inherent evil or corrupt systems. — video description
★ The description corrects John's wording: he should have said 'a hermeneutic of generosity' wherever he said 'a hermeneutics', and asks viewers to read the mistake favorably. — video description
★★ The description says Awesome Coffee is almost sold out: great coffee with 100% of profits to charity. — video description · Awesome Coffee Club

Threads in this video

mentioned · John's time as a student chaplain at a children's hospital (c. 2000) — John recalls choosing not to go to divinity school after working as a hospital chaplain, the word hermeneutics being one reason. (00:00:00)
restate · Can we imagine other people complexly, and what stops us? — John restates it: even with strangers he assumes goodness unless strongly shown otherwise, because almost everyone is trying their best and sees their own actions generously. (00:00:58)
restate · Is outrage useful? — John does not minimize the role of anger and disgust in bringing about change: we should be angry about injustice, and the world's apathy to the poorest should bother us. (00:02:26)
restate · Is evil found only in certain people, or in all of us? — Seen through generosity and presumed good faith, John says, injustice and inequity are not about terrible people or crappy systems but failures of empathy, resource allocation and will. (00:02:55)
restate · Is it reasonable to be hopeful about the future? — So progress feels possible, John says, and injustice becomes even more horrific because we know that together we can choose a better world. (00:03:24)
restate · Should people trust others by default, even at the risk of being taken advantage of? — John restates it: even with strangers he assumes goodness unless strongly shown otherwise, because almost everyone is trying their best and sees their own actions generously. (00:00:58)
milestone · Awesome Coffee Club: the brothers' coffee subscription for charity (2022) — The description says Awesome Coffee is almost sold out: great coffee with 100% of profits to charity. (video description)

Where the stories that moved here went next

Awesome Coffee Club: the brothers' coffee subscription for charity (2022) — completed; last: looked back, 2024-10-30

Mentioned

Central: Paul Farmer · principle of charity

Also: empathy · hermeneutics · Partners In Health · progress

Only in the description or credits: Awesome Coffee Club

Also centred on Paul Farmer: On the Death of My Hero

Also centred on principle of charity: Beckoning Lovely · Ending The Great Airplane Seat Debate

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