2. how did Modernity emerge in Europe
Why
is understanding the emergence of Modernity so important ? Well, in
order to survive in the 20th century, all countries on earth were forced
to convert to the quasi-worldview of Modernity and to the reason that
is at work within capital. What ensued was a radical departure from the
past that thoroughly impacted the ways of thinking and the behaviors of
the individuals in all third-world nations. And this resulted in a
blow-back of monumental proportion on their worldviews, culture, art,
and societal governance.
I observed first hand how –
the art world in Beijing during the eighties was mesmerized to ape
Western productions, rock and punk music, the modernist avant-garde
painting, – and how this resulted in three decades of
sheer insanity. Things have certainly evolved since then but the
blow-back resulting from aping the first world has still not been
completely digested...
Having
said that the fact of the matter is that the blow-back on the 3rd world
is nothing compared to the chaos that was unleashed on the first world.
Today we come to suspect
that Modernity and capitalism have cursed humanity. And nothing could
liberate us more thoroughly from this curse than by gaining a clear
comprehension of why and how Modernity emerged in Western Europe in the
first place and how things then evolved toward Late-Modernity.