Burroughs and Societal Morality

Some Advice For Young People From William Burroughs:

- Never interfere in a boy-and-girl fight.
- Beware of whores who say they don't want money.
- If you're doing business with a religious son-of-a-bitch, get it in writing.
- Avoid fuck-ups.
- Do not offer sympathy to the mentally ill.

            Even in his late seventies, Burroughs disregards the boundaries of morality, perhaps more than ever. Unconcerned with being politically correct, Burroughs continues to make remarks that make most Americans cringe. As learned through his works, his philosophy is to key into desire, eliminating values, fear, emotional ties, or any social construct that stands in the way of that desire. This perspective is evidently opposed to institutionalization, government intervention, religious influence, traditional family values, and general concern for others. Although one could argue that Burroughs' beliefs, if being held true to the majority of a population, would likely demolish all benefits from societal ties, I can see why Burroughs would choose this lifestyle in the context of American society.

            If everyone in a society acted only with concern for themselves as Burroughs apparently does, there would be no societal benefit. According to Rousseau's "Social Contract Theory", that societal benefit is the singular reason for morality. I doubt that Burroughs, in his elderly state and still preaching this advice, would survive in an animalistic society based on the survival of the fittest. However, Burroughs is giving advice to young people at this point, perhaps lacking concern for himself in his assistance to others, and therefore contradicting himself. Despite the slight contradiction, it is evident that no philosophy is solid.

            In Burroughs' short story, "The Twilight's Last Gleaming", the morality of America is questioned considerably. Each character represents the struggle of the survival of the fittest, and the fittest are those who are the most vile and manipulative. Those on the sinking S.S. America, are American citizens who have concealed their desires in order to reach them. Their indifference for one another has possibly lead to the sinking of the ship. Because this parallels with Burroughs' view of America as it is formed by societal construction, it is imperative to take note that all of the characters are represented as being innately self-concerned, rather than momentarily. One could argue that Burroughs contradicts himself once again in that the ship is sinking, and so, perhaps we should be honest with each other and ourselves in order to keep it afloat.

            However, I believe that Burroughs hopes for the ship to sink, as he would anticipate that in the abolishment of all social constructions, Burroughs would benefit the most. I do not believe Burroughs is correct, though. Although I do see some dark honesty in his beliefs, I can see his methods working much more successfully on a naïve society. As can be observed in the video as well as in his writing, Burroughs simply uses those who are of slight use to him until they aren't any longer, and he ignores those who he sees as being useless, such as the mentally ill. He is only concerned for himself, and he would not be able to take advantage of others in a country with no societal norms or moral boundaries.