For the past couple of weeks now, I have been reading "Generation of Vipers" by Philip Wylie, in fluctuation. The book is Wylie's grimace towards American society. There are 13 chapters in the sermon, all of which attack and criticize the hypocrisies of our America. According to Wylie, nothing is completely genuine or unbiased. Business, Government, Sexual mores, Motherhood and Religion are all tainted with our instinctual human emotion.
Though i have yet to complete the book, Wylie made a statement that struck a chord. "There is no liberty for a man under any discipline except that which is self-imposed. The imposition of disciplines by the state is called fascism, or tyranny, by common man; and he hates it. By the same token, any nation which subscribes to liberty and then attempts to maintain a majority who have no discipline of themselves, is destined soon to be without freedom. Anarchy exists nowhere in nature. An asceticism, which is to say, a discipline, is imposed upon every living object by its environment and its instincts."
As human beings we may be conducting a vicious circle. One that allows us to instinctively discipline ourselves, but once that discipline becomes arbitrary, the inevitable war and conflict occurs. Wylie speaks of a self-imposed discipline, but does he realize that discipline is the catalyst for state discipline. The state is motored by common man, the only difference is, the men at the helm are those who yearn for extensive power and control, thus imposing their ideals upon us.
It is a lot to think about. I will definitely finish this book and further comment on it.
0 comments:
Post a Comment