Trinity Forum Conversations
The Decadent Society with Ross Douthat
Sep 5, 2023
Ross Douthat, author and columnist, discusses the concept of decadence in American culture. He explores how technology, politics, and religion play a role in escaping societal stagnation. Topics discussed include the history of innovation, cultural repetitiveness in movies, the impact of the sexual revolution, and favorite movies and books.
47:01
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Quick takeaways
- Decadence in modern society refers to a stage in a civilization's history when it has achieved a certain level of wealth, power, and cultural achievement, but starts to stall out, characterized by economic stagnation, political decay, and cultural repetition and exhaustion.
- Technological progress in modern times has become more mono-dimensional, primarily focused on tech advancements, with limited transformative breakthroughs, leading to a sense of plateauing and a lack of major innovations that can drive society forward.
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Defining Decadence in Modern Society
Decadence in modern society refers to a stage in a civilization's history when it has achieved a certain level of wealth, power, and cultural achievement, but starts to stall out. This includes economic stagnation, political decay, and cultural repetition and exhaustion. It is not just about immorality or indulgence, but rather a feeling of futility and disappointment with a sense that the future is not what was promised. Decadence is characterized by a lack of innovation, entrenched political stalemates, and repetitive cultural and intellectual arguments. Successful societies are more prone to decadence as they reach a peak and struggle to find new frontiers or breakthroughs.
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