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I would find it hard to draw a line from classical Epicureanism towards social decline or simply map some hedonistic periods of the 20th century onto it.
by RandomLensman 3y ago
I would find it hard to draw a line from classical Epicureanism towards social decline or simply map some hedonistic periods of the 20th century onto it.
- cheeseomlit 3y agoThe line would be overly broad and blurry, to be sure. But I think Voltaire's maxim has some sense to it- "History is only the pattern of silken slippers descending the stairs to the thunder of hobnailed boots climbing upward from below." The rise and fall of great societies frequently parallel this general difference in temperament- The prosperous fruits of stoic labor create a lavish environment for their successors, in which they languish in indolence and allow the foundations built by their ancestors to crumble for want of diligence and prudence.
- RandomLensman 3y agoThe problem is, that it is so much in the interest of those in power and with means to promote "stoic labor".
- rayiner 3y agoMaybe, but it’s also in the interest of ordinary people. Look what that attitude did for countries like Singapore, Korea, and Japan. It’s easy to rile people up for redistribution. It’s much harder to create a culture oriented towards building.
- RandomLensman 3y agoI am not talking about redistribution or riling people up, but I don't see building and some forms of hedonism as fundamentally incompatible.