The Tragedy of Modernity
I am not sure how we got to this point in time. If you really process the idea of a ‘cityscape’ or ‘metropolis’, it seems rather foreign and unintuitive. More space for cars than people; large, soulless buildings towering over us; millions of anxious people densely packed into linear, crowded streets.
With modernity came significant and highly beneficial changes, such as the freedom to travel, the ability to obtain food conveniently, and much greater access to education and information. However, what came about as a byproduct is a culture of competition, anxiety, and tribal alienation. The possibility of self-realization has become synonymous with being wealthy, famous, and completely devoid of negative thoughts. Fundamentally, this is a materialist ideal, one which disregards any ideas of personhood, mental health, peace of mind, or even the subjectivity of people. The virtues of the ancients are being forgotten day by day, for we have always been told to love one another, to be cooperative rather than competitive, to embrace selfless love and devotion to something higher than ourselves. And yet, we still focus on the egoic version of things.
There is a tyranny to democracy, and it is the tyranny of the people. The people get in their own way, because they still visualize an enemy, an Other, in people with the same circumstances as themselves. The enemy is sin! The enemy is conscious human evil! So why do we attack our fellow man?
It would seem that we are liberated, independent entities, yet we are constantly pressured by societal expectations, family expectations, and life expectations.
It would seem that we’re reaching the limit of our cultural progression. We have everything we could need to survive, a bit too much entertainment, and a lacking interest in philosophy, history, or religion. There is no limit to the amount of political discourse we have, though it is one-sided and has no focus on progressing knowledge. Societies that lack a unifying, productive goal are easily compromised, and lost to the whims of corruption. The unified will of the people has always driven social change, but we must emphasize positive change, change which helps future generations feel reassured.
The lack of a unified teleology has made it such that everyone has to forge their own, and this disconnect makes a cultural enlightenment impossible.
To-wit, if there were to be a revolution of spirit, a collective self-liberation, then there at least could be some chance of better things. In my opinion, the people cannot tolerate the state of affairs for much longer, and will inevitably fight back against the abuses of powerful people. We are tired of being told how we must live and conduct ourselves, since being able to define ourselves is one of the greatest freedoms owed to us. Most people just want to live a meaningful life.
Why do we need to be at war? Why do we need to lock people down? And most importantly, why do we need to police one another’s actions? Are we so depraved, so hungry for power, that we would destroy one another?
This must be addressed if we are to conquer the tendrils of modernity.
Thank you.
