Murtaza’s review of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution > Likes and Comments

92 likes · 
Comments Showing 1-10 of 10 (10 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Ismo (new)

Ismo Thanks for another great review! It reminded me of this short clip I came across yesterday, in which Sheikh Murad discusses the modern conception of the self: https://youtu.be/9U8sVZmSB6c


message 2: by Murtaza (new)

Murtaza Ismo wrote: "Thanks for another great review! It reminded me of this short clip I came across yesterday, in which Sheikh Murad discusses the modern conception of the self: https://youtu.be/9U8sVZmSB6c"

Thank you, will watch I love AHM.


message 3: by Haad (new)

Haad Thanks a lot.


message 4: by Murtaza (new)

Murtaza Haad wrote: "Thanks a lot."

Thanks!


message 5: by Murtaza (new)

Murtaza Eric wrote: "Interesting, especially since I’m currently 2/3 way through After Virtue. I’ve also been looking for sociological (and ontological) accounts of time and place, e.g. this first, second, third world ..."

After Virtue is vital!


message 6: by Sandra (new)

Sandra Great summary, thank you!


message 7: by Murtaza (new)

Murtaza Sandra wrote: "Great summary, thank you!"

Thank you!


message 8: by Clif (last edited Dec 22, 2020 04:11PM) (new)

Clif A great review.

I think we complicate things for ourselves. Our minds delight in complexity, we get carried away with our mental constructs, invest them with incredible power and then go at each other over them when they are not surprisingly seen with skepticism and even disdain by others off on a different tangent who understandably see noting sacred in an alien belief.

There is a basic rule, the golden rule, that could not be simpler, is self evident, absolutely natural and is all one needs in charting a course in relation to other people. No privileged characters such as Jesus or Mohammed or the Buddha are needed, so no sense of insult can be felt over how any of these are seen by others. No scriptures, sacred sites or even history are involved. We can universally agree that we can feel physical and psychological pain, know we can inflict both on others and resolve to avoid doing so. It's only common sense independent of culture (with the Aztecs a possible exception!)

I have been touring the cathedrals of Europe (online) and am astounded at the elaboration and complexity literally encrusted upon the simple life that Jesus lived. In the wars of religion in Europe the very antithesis of what Jesus taught was responsible for death and destruction claimed to be based on variations of "Christian" belief that would have baffled the man called Christ.

Intolerance is a hallmark of the major religions, because doubt is so threatening to any belief that seems obvious to those that have it inculcated from birth but can easily be seen as nonsense to those who haven't. Freud and Marx offer no improvement. Keep it simple is a rule that humanity seems unable to follow, instead taking the ball and running with it as THE answer.


message 9: by Murtaza (last edited Dec 23, 2020 07:33AM) (new)

Murtaza Clif wrote: "A great review.

I think we complicate things for ourselves. Our minds delight in complexity, we get carried away with our mental constructs, invest them with incredible power and then go at each o..."


Thoughtful comment. Suffice to say I feel that I do not know the answer but I am trying to venture as best an attempt as I can :)

One thing I would add is that I think that everyone has a religion, in the sense that they have a deep set of beliefs that structure their understanding of the world and that they are unwilling to be parted with easily. Even the belief that everything is relative is a belief not easy dispensed with.


message 10: by Liquidlasagna (new)

Liquidlasagna The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.
Bertrand Russell


back to top