The Dilemma of Old Wine in New Bottles

Socratic Dialogue

By Plutonix

The bustling market of Port Louis sets the stage for an age-old debate revisited. Here, our venerable philosopher Socrates encounters his friend Cephalus, an elder grappling with the curious paradoxes of Mauritius’s new government. Having swept to power on promises of radical change and fresh faces, the administration now faces public discontent over the reappointment of many “old hands.” In this humorous Socratic dialogue, Socrates playfully prods Cephalus to unravel the complexities behind this “politique de rupture” that seems to have resulted in a surprising “reunion,” exploring the practicalities of governance versus the idealism of public expectation.

Characters:

* Socrates: The wise, eternally questioning philosopher.

* Cephalus: A well-meaning but somewhat traditional elder, lately preoccupied with the state of Mauritian politics.

Setting: A quiet corner of a bustling Port Louis market, the scent of spices and fresh produce mingling with the murmur of conversation.

Socrates, adjusting his simple toga, gestures towards a stall selling dholl puri. Cephalus, looking a touch frazzled, is attempting to count change.

Socrates: Ah, Cephalus, my esteemed friend! You seem to be wrestling with numbers more vigorously than a wrestler with his opponent. Is it the price of lentils that vexes you so, or perhaps a more profound mathematical conundrum of the soul?

Cephalus: (Sighs, runs a hand over his brow) Socrates, my dear philosopher, it is not the lentils, though their rising price is a philosophy lesson in itself. No, my mind is troubled by the perplexing arithmetic of governance, a puzzle far more intricate than any Pythagoras could conceive.

Socrates: Indeed? And what grand sum or baffling fraction has entangled your thoughts this sunny morn? Lay it bare, for the market, like the agora, is a fine place for the unravelling of complex matters.

Cephalus: It is this new government, Socrates! They swept into power on a tide of promise, a grand “politique de rupture,” they called it. A break from the past, a fresh start, new blood to lead our beloved institutions. The people, myself included, clapped with joyous abandon! We pictured vibrant youths, brimming with innovative ideas, ascending to every office, like fresh shoots after a cleansing rain.

Socrates: A delightful image, Cephalus, worthy of a poet! And has this vision blossomed as beautifully as you imagined? Are the new shoots now bearing the fruit of novel policies and untainted administration?

Cephalus: (A sardonic chuckle escapes him) Alas, Socrates, it seems the garden of governance has been replanted, but with a surprising number of familiar, shall we say, “recycled” shrubs! We expected a rupture, but what we observe is, dare I say, a rather robust reunion! The same ‘old hands,’ the ‘dinosaurs’ as some call them, are back! CEOs, ambassadors, heads of state-owned enterprises – faces we thought long retired to their memoirs are now back at the helm!

Socrates: “Dinosaurs,” you say? A fascinating zoological analogy! Do these creatures, then, still possess the mighty roar of youthful vigour, or do they merely lumber with the weary gait of ages past?

Cephalus: Some still roar, Socrates, perhaps louder than before! But the roar, to the public’s ear, often sounds like the echo of old mistakes, rather than the fresh cry of innovation. The very people who promised a “departure” now seem to be conducting a grand “re-entry” concert!

Socrates: And this dismays the populace, you say? Why, if these ‘dinosaurs’ possess wisdom from their long years, and institutional memory, surely that is a virtue? Or do the people demand mere novelty for novelty’s sake, like a child demanding a new toy every week?

Cephalus: Ah, there’s the rub, Socrates! Some of the loudest critics are, in fact, disappointed aspirants! Those who campaigned tirelessly, polishing their resumes in anticipation of a grand appointment, now find themselves still polishing, but with a distinctly bitter sheen! They expected their new blood, not that old blood!

Socrates: So, the cry for “new blood” is, at times, merely a cry for “my blood,” or “my friend’s blood,” rather than a detached assessment of competence? This sounds less like a quest for the ideal public servant and more like a jostling for position at the feast.

Cephalus: (Nods vigorously) Precisely! And the public, hearing these frustrated voices, echoes them, not fully understanding the government’s predicament. After all, if you’re suddenly tasked with steering the ship of state, do you throw overboard all who know how to read the stars, merely because they’ve read them before?

Socrates: A valid point, Cephalus. Pray tell, what exactly is this “predicament” that forces the new leaders to resurrect these venerable ‘dinosaurs’? Is it that the pool of fresh, untainted talent is as dry as a desert well?

Cephalus: It could be, Socrates! Perhaps the new government genuinely struggles to identify truly capable ‘new blood.’ Finding individuals with both energy and the specific skills for, say, managing our national airline or negotiating international treaties, is no simple feat. They might not even know who is out there, quietly competent in the private sector, away from the political limelight. It’s like searching for a philosopher in a crowded market – one might be right next to you but obscured by the clamour!

Socrates: So, the problem is not a lack of suitable individuals, but a lack of knowledge about their existence, or perhaps a lack of trust in those unknown quantities? If the ‘old hands’ are known quantities, even if somewhat dusty, they offer a certain predictability. Is this what you mean by ‘difficult’?

Cephalus: Yes, Socrates! And then there’s the institutional memory! These ‘old chaps,’ as I call them, know where the proverbial bodies are buried, how the labyrinthine bureaucracy functions, and who holds the keys to which ancient cupboards. To replace them all instantly is to invite chaos, a governmental paralysis born of sheer inexperience!

Socrates: Ah, so the “politique de rupture” must be tempered by the “politique de retention,” for the sake of continuity and, dare I say, efficiency? It seems the art of governance is not merely about having noble intentions, but also about the practical handling of human limitations and the vast complexity of the state.

Cephalus: Exactly! So, the ideal, as I now see it, is a delicate balance. You need the ‘old chaps’ for their wisdom and institutional memory, but you also desperately need the ‘young blood’ for their energy, their fresh perspectives, and their ability to embrace change without the baggage of past battles. The challenge is not just finding them but also training the young ones so they can eventually, and gracefully, take the reins from the older generation. A smooth transition, Socrates, that’s the aim!

Socrates: A smooth transition indeed, Cephalus! It sounds less like a political rupture and more like a carefully orchestrated relay race, where the baton of governance is passed from experienced hands to eager, well-prepared new ones. The lament of the ‘dinosaurs’ and the frustrated aspirants, it seems, is but the background music to this difficult, yet vital, societal evolution. So, the lesson is not to discard experience, but to cultivate new talent with equal fervour, ensuring the future leadership is both wise and invigorated. A truth as old as the art of living itself, wouldn’t you agree?

Cephalus: (Smiling, a measure of peace returning to his face) You have untangled my thoughts, Socrates, as deftly as a fisherman untangles his net. The wisdom is in the balance, not in the absolute. Now, about those lentils… perhaps a balanced diet is also a philosophy lesson?

Socrates: Indeed, my friend! All of life, if examined, is a lesson. And sometimes, the most profound truths are found right here, amidst the market’s hustle and bustle. Now, tell me more about the price of dholl puri… is it truly reflective of its intrinsic value, or merely the whims of demand?

Socrates winks as Cephalus chuckles, momentarily forgetting the woes of governance in the face of a new philosophical inquiry.

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Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 25 July 2025