Decadence: a review

by James Paterson on November 15, 2011

In Decadence: Decline of the Western World (trailer here) Australian journalist and television presenter Pria Viswalingam does an excellent job at identifying the symptoms of Western decline. The breakdown of the family unit, the degradation of public debate and national service, declining standards in education and collapsing faith in previously vital public institutions like the church are all illustrations of civilisational decline that few would disagree with.

Decadence and Viswalingam are on weaker ground when they attempt to identify the causes of this decline. The film’s central thesis is that “rampant individualism” and consumer capitalism are largely to blame for the West’s impending collapse. Whilst acknowledging that capitalism and the protestant ethic are largely responsible for the West’s unparalleled wealth today, the film suggests that modern capitalism is insufficiently regulated and has many negative consequences. [click to continue…]

Decadence: Decline of the Western World

by Chris Berg on November 9, 2011

This interesting looking documentary is being released in Australia in December – Decadence: Decline of the Western World. Based on the trailer – which is certainly not a good way to assess a film! – it is more pessimistic about the prospects of Western Civilisation than I would be, but it seems like a must-see.

Pessimism is as much a strand in Western thought as optimism and progress. No society has been without artists, intellectuals, and thinkers who struck notes about decline – cultural, spiritual, moral. And pessimism is important for optimists too: every change brings challenges, and those challenges cannot be dismissed. Michael Duffy’s presentation at the Genius of Western Civilisation symposium emphasised one change – communications technology – that brings potentially momentous disruption. Even the most implacable optimist about the future would be ill-advised to ignore the challenges of change.

Videos from the Genius of Western Civilisation symposium now available

by Institute of Public Affairs on October 25, 2011

Andrew Roberts: The legacy of the English-speaking peoples

by Institute of Public Affairs on October 18, 2011

Andrew Roberts’ keynote address at the Genius of Western Civilisation conference in June 2011, on the legacy of the English-speaking peoples.

100 years of the Loeb Classical Library

by Chris Berg on October 18, 2011

The Loeb Classical Library turns one hundred this year. It has been a staple of classics education since its first volume was published in 1911. It celebrated its 500th volume in 2006 and the total is currently 518. All together – from Homer to Bede – the Loeb library is the classical canon.

The instantly recognisable design of the Loeb books are unique – the original text and its English language translation are presented to the reader on facing pages. That this seems anachronistic should remind us what has changed as our society has moved away from careful study of the Western intellectual tradition.

This column in Salon looks at the library and specifically how Socrates is depicted in the collection. Most lay readers know Socrates from Plato’s dialogues, where the older philosopher is shown as a wise and enigmatic thinker who undermined previously unexamined absolutes. But this is not the only evidence we have about Socrates. He shows up in the work of both Xenophon and Aristophanes, and there his profile is much more worldly – even, as a “mere peddler of useless intellectual tricks”.

Australian school children will be lucky to read one classical text. (If that. Shakespeare has pretty much cornered the pre-19th century market for education.) The subtler, more interesting history we get from complete collections like Loeb library shows the virtue of a deeper understanding of the classics. It does not end with Homer, it begins there.

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