Suchergebnisse

THE ARGUMENT OF THIS ARTICLE IS THAT, AFTER ABOUT A HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF SECULAR DECLINE, BARBARISM HAS BEEN ON THE INCREASE FOR MOST OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, AND THERE IS NO SIGN THAT THIS INCREASE IS AT AN END. THE AUTHOR OUTLINES THE TWO THINGS HE UNDERSTANDS BARBARISM TO MEAN. FIRST, THE DISRUPTION AND BREAKDOWN OF THE SYSTEM OF RULES AND MORAL BEHAVIOR BY WHICH ALL SOCIETIES REGULATE THE REALTIONS AMONG THEIR MEMBERS AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT, BETWEEN THEIR MEMBERS AND THOSE OF OTHER SOCIETIES. SECOND, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE REVERSAL OF WHAT MAY BE CALLED THE PROJECT OF THE EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY ENLIGHTENMENT, NAMELY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIVERSAL SYSTEM OF SUCH RULES AND STANDARDS OF MORAL BEHAVIOUR, EMBODIED IN THE INSTITUTIONS OF STATES DEDICATED TO THE RATIONAL PROGRESS OF HUMANITY. BOTH ARE NOW TAKING PLACE AND REINFORCE EACH OTHER'S NEGATIVE EFFECT ON OUR LIVES.