Christianity's influence on modern society has brought progress in protecting victims and valuing truth, but love can be distorted and instrumentalized for personal or political gain.
Christianity played a crucial role in dispelling myths, allowing reason and truth to flourish, but science should not be deified and is susceptible to biases and societal trends.
Meaningful innovation relies on imitating and building upon the knowledge and success of the past, striking a balance between tradition and embracing new ideas.
Deep dives
The Forces of Modernity: Love and Truth
This lecture explores how the concepts in Girard's previous lectures manifest in modern society. The forces of mimises, metaphysical desire, resentment, and scapegoating are still present today, as evidenced by conflicts in literature, history, and our world. Girard asserts that while we have made great strides in technological advancements and understanding of the world, human nature remains stubborn and resistant to change. Christianity, with its values of love and truth, has unleashed powerful forces within history. Love, characterized by agape, seeks to be unconditional, indiscriminate, and equalizing. It has brought about progress in how we protect victims and value truth. However, Girard also warns about hypocrisy and theatrical love, where actions are motivated by vanity and self-interest. The force of truth, intertwined with love, has flourished in modernity due to Christianity's dispelling of myths and the relationship between love and accessing truth. Despite the achievements of science and reason, Girard cautions against deifying science, as it is still susceptible to narratives and societal trends, leading to harmful political agendas and atrocities.
The Ambivalence of Love
Girard explores the concept of love within Christianity and its impact on modern society. Christian love, agape, is central to the faith and stands in contrast to Greek notions of arrows, which is self-focused and limited. Modern expressions of love, while influenced by Christian values, can sometimes be hypocritical or theatrical, driven by vanity and personal gain. Girard discusses the growth of love in society, where social roles and arbitrary distinctions have been broken down, emphasizing equality and a concern for victims. The influence of Christian love can be found in various aspects of modern culture, such as human rights, compassion, and protection of victims. However, Girard warns that love can be distorted and instrumentalized for personal or political ends, leading to hypocrisy and danger.
The Power of Truth
This lecture highlights the significance of truth in Christianity and its impact on modern society. Girard asserts that Christianity played a crucial role in dispelling myths, allowing reason and truth to flourish. Christianity's rejection of false religions paved the way for scientific advancements and rational inquiry. The relationship between truth and love is explored, with Girard arguing that love is a necessary precondition for accessing truth. Genuine love, free from resentment and excessive admiration, allows individuals to pursue truth objectively. However, Girard cautions against the deification of science, as it can be influenced by narratives and societal trends, leading to unquestionable doctrines and the justification of atrocities. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the limitations and potential distortions of science in order to maintain a balanced perspective.
The Dangers of Deifying Science
Girard raises concerns about the deification of science and its potential consequences. He warns that science is not immune to narratives and mimetic influence, referencing historical instances such as eugenics to illustrate how scientific concepts can be manipulated for political agendas. Girard emphasizes that science should not be considered infallible or unquestionable, as it is susceptible to biases and societal trends. He cautions against the ideological appropriation of science, urging critical examination of scientific claims and narratives. Girard encourages a balanced approach that respects the achievements of science while acknowledging its limitations and potential for misuse.
Deification of Science and its Dangers
The podcast episode discusses the dangers of deifying science and the limitations and biases that can arise from it. It emphasizes that while science has made significant advancements and achievements, it is essential to recognize that scientific facts are often limited and open to various interpretations. The episode highlights how narratives, prestige, grants, and political agendas can influence the selection of certain scientific narratives, undermining objectivity. The deification of science can lead to subjective opinions and mere narratives being disguised as objective truths. The episode argues that this deification can hinder genuine inquiry and truth-seeking, posing dangers similar to the deification of religious institutions in the past.
Innovation and the Value of Imagination
The podcast explores the interconnectedness of innovation and imitation, challenging the notion that these concepts are polar opposites. It argues that meaningful innovation is dependent on a minimal respect for the past and the mastery of its achievements. By imitating and building upon the knowledge and successes of the past, individuals and societies can foster genuine innovation. The episode illustrates that historical examples, such as the developments in the automotive and technology industries, reveal how innovation often stems from imitating and adapting existing ideas, rather than purely originating from a vacuum. However, the obsession with originality and the rejection of imitation, prevalent in modern society, can lead to superficial and derivative innovations. The episode highlights the importance of striking a balance between respecting tradition and embracing innovation.
Rescued by Christianity, modernity is distinctly different than the violent, deceitful, and stagnant societies of yore. We are the most loving, truthful, and innovative culture ever to exist. Resting uneasily alongside this fundamental affirmation of modernity, however, is Girard’s puzzling insistence that things have barely changed at all: we now simply persecute victims under the banner of love, rigidly adhere to scientific dogmas under the guise of free inquiry, and package trivialities as radical innovations. Despite our high-minded ideals, stubborn human nature refuses to budge and, so, the perversions of modernity take on the shape of hypocrisy. Even humanity’s greatest triumph is terribly ambivalent and limited.Some links to further guide your study:
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