Philosophy Discussion Forums | A Humans-Only Club for Open-Minded Discussion & Debate

[Waechter418]

Occidental civilization cultivates the myth that it is indefinitely progressing, but - in face of the increasing paranoia, avarice, corruption & disorientation of its subjects – it is definitely declining.

All civilizations do eventually disappear, be it through inner corruption, outer pressure or suicide. Corruption is foremost powered by ambition, envy & greed and manifests in the Occident and its dependencies as turbulent changes of personal & collective parameters, intoxication & consumption frenzies, sexual abbreviations, media saturations, political opportunism, escape cults and so on - as a matter of fact, most aspects of present Occidental civilizations can be seen as manifestations of weakness, disorientation and decay. And it seems to have suicidal tendencies as well, considering the zeal with which its citizens attack, rape, plunder & poison the organism that bears and feeds them.

There is little known about the causes of the disappearances of other civilizations, probably due to the collective amnesia that usually comes in the wake of a catastrophe. However, the reasons of the decline of the Occident are largely known, dynamics and details are well researched and recorded – yet, be it due to lack of common sense, simple stupidity or genetic ****-up, Sapiens carries on with business as usual attitude.
Nevertheless it would be unjust to blame Sapiens, after all he is but an epitome of Dualism and thus subject to a polarisation dynamic that increases (according to the dual-linear relativity of Dualism) at an exponential rate.

* more about in Waechter418 wordpress

[Good_Egg]

I was under the impression that

A) the decline of the Roman empire has been much-studied by historians and reluctant schoolboys

B) avarice, paranoia and corruption have been with us for a very long time and every royal court - east or west - has them to some degree.

So perhaps you could clarify what it is that is specific to the West, and when the decline started ?

[Waechter418]

For details see News-chanals and Social-media

[popeye1945]

I was under the impression that

A) the decline of the Roman empire has been much-studied by historians and reluctant schoolboys
B) avarice, paranoia and corruption have been with us for a very long time and every royal court - east or west - has them to some degree. So perhaps you could clarify what it is that is specific to the West, and when the decline started ?

What is particular to the West is its tradition of colonialism, basically the economic rape of much of the Eastern hemisphere. Subjugation through violence has been the pattern imposed by the West upon much of the world. This tradition began in the fifteenth century and is continued today by the American empire and much of Europe. America, seeking world domination, has been a cruel master, supported by the European countries, and it has been a powerful war machine. A power shift is occurring, moving from the Western hemisphere to the Eastern hemisphere or the old colonies of the West. They seek an end to empire, its colonialism, and a world of recognized interrelated and interdependent nations in cooperation. The name of this Eastern movement is called "The BRICS federation of nations," and the West is reacting in a violent, irrational manner at the thought of giving up its dominance over weaker nations. The transition, the fall of the American empire, is happening nonetheless, and if we do not destroy ourselves, perhaps we will live in a much saner world.

[Count Lucanor]

Occidental civilization cultivates the myth that it is indefinitely progressing, but - in face of the increasing paranoia, avarice, corruption & disorientation of its subjects – it is definitely declining.

There’s a scene in the comedy film I Love You Alice B. Toklas where Peter Sellers, as a lawyer turned to hippie, proclaims the decadence of capitalism and Western civilization (or so I believe I remember). The film is from 1968, so at least the talk about Western decline has been with us for 60 years, yet that has not meant apocalypse. Decline implies changing from good to bad, from better to worse, but depending on the point of view, we can say that from any period in history. It might be as questionable as the idea of progress. I’d rather talk about unfulfilled promises or unrealized potential of a given society. In that sense, capitalism, which has dominated the globe in the last centuries, has certainly not delivered. It appears to stay in a permanent state of mediocrity.