by Ibon » Tue 23 Jul 2019, 18:49:06
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 't')he problem is humanity is veering along a dangerously us course.
On another thread we identified opulence as something humans can't handle well. This needs a bit of further clarification.
Opulence allows for excesses beyond the essentials for raw survival. A little bit of opulence allows you to enjoy a sunset without scrambling looking for food until dark.
A little bit of opulence creates a civilization that can dedicate human endeavors to art and music and literature.
Opulence allows for philosophy and religious rituals. The building of cathedrals. A bit of opulence in these examples enriches humanity.
So when exactly does opulence turn toxic?
This is a question that is at the heart of this thread, also the heart of the decadence we increasingly see dominating humanity
Just a few generations ago there was only just enough opulence in our civilization to allow for just a few to become artists, to become authors of books, to excel in science, to become mentors in the humanities. Because of this constraint in how much opulence was available we saw high quality science, art, music, philosophy. High quality isn't some trend or something subjective. Only the best rose to the surface.
Opulence became toxic when mediocre humans gained access to the free time to indulge in non essential pursuits. Instead of the constraints of opulence honing the few toward excellence we ended up getting consumption culture. Putting opulence in the hands of the mediocre is what gave us Facebook and shopping malls. That is the point when opulence became toxic, allowing mediocre humans access to indulgences. Allowing them to rise to the surface so that the signal to noise ratio between real integrity and indolence became lost.
We need to wind back opulence so that there is just enough to bring out the best in humans rather than what we have now which is opulence allowing the mediocre to indulge in a space that ends up setting the status quo.
Just look at the media, the news, the level of debate and dialogue. The status quo has turned primitive, there is little noble.
Why? Because we gave the mediocre a voice. Because opulence allowed the dumb to become empowered to rise to the surface.
Patiently awaiting the pathogens. Our resiliency resembles an invasive weed. We are the Kudzu Ape
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