Home > Arts & Humanities > Philosophy > Ethics
Created on: June 07, 2008
Adversity brings the best out of a person, and luxury may have an exactly opposite effect.
Rousseau is not alone in cautioning against the side-effects of luxury on human psyche, capacity and character. In fact, one look at the industry of mass fantasies, known as Hollywood will make you aware that a hero is always borne out of crisis and challenges. It is difficult to think of a movie wherein the main characters lived a life of luxury and abundance without any problems from the beginning to the end of the movie. The irony of human life is that it strives for wealth and luxury but is not fulfilled with wealth and luxury alone.
As civilization begins to take root, survival is the primary objective. Human values in such a civilization are geared towards ensuring survival. In a civilization which is not beyond the threat of destruction, there is very little scope for mistrust. People who do not believe and trust a person will not think twice to abandon him, and without the social support and protection of the civilization, a human being is as good as a lame duck in the vast expanse of nature. Thus the human values of truthfulness, honesty, fairness, sacrifice and compassion - the basic tenets of morality, are essential for survival of the group, and any deviation from these values is unlikely to be tolerated by the group as a whole.
Once the civilization gets established, it expands. There are more persons in the group. The security of the group is not under threat as during the initial phase. Specialization of functions gives rise to science and technology, as well as arts, with which the civilization is able to meet most of the challenges posed before it by nature.
As civilization grows further, individuals who are a part of it no more feel threatened. There are also too many people for everyone to know, and gradually, anonymity arrives. An anonymous individual in a sea of humanity is threatened not by nature but by fellow human beings, and the struggle for survival becomes a very individualistic phenomenon. In such a scenario, arts and sciences provide luxury, which becomes a status symbol - a symbol of strength and importance in the society. Individuals strive for luxury, which is valued much more than the values or morality practiced by an individual.
In a modern industrialized society, interactions between two individuals are usually in the nature of financial transactions. Once these impersonal interactions become the norm, every valuable becomes a commodity
Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy: How the advance of "civilization" leads to moral decline
by V. Kumar
Adversity brings the best out of a person, and luxury may have an exactly opposite effect.
Rousseau is not alone in cautioning
by A. South
Jean-Jacques Rousseau's work centers around the idea that civilization ultimately leads to moral decline. He states that
by Chris Finn
The advance of civilization does cause new problems, but to say it leads to moral decline is in my opinion, completely false.There's
According to Rousseau in his Discourse on the Sciences and Arts, the advancement of the science and arts leads to corruption
I can think of examples that are very apparent in my own American culture:
Celebrities - those viewed as high in society
Helium Debate
Cast your vote!
Do things happen by chance or is there a grand plan?
Click for your side.
Featured Partner
International Campaign for Tibet (ICT)
International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse ICT's featured titles, pick an issue and write! You can also donate your article earnings. Share what you...more