IS MODERN CIVILIZATION A SUCCESS OR FAILURE?
Or
THE VERDICT ON MODERN CIVILIZATION:
TRIUMPH OR TRAGEDY?
Or
MODERN CIVILIZATION: TRIUMPHS VERSUS
TRIBULATIONS
Or
ASSESSING MODERN CIVILIZATION:
VICTORY OR DEFEAT?
Or
UNPACKING MODERNITY: SUCCESSES AND SHORTCOMINGS
OF CIVILIZATION
Outline:
1.
Introduction
Thesis: Although modern civilization
is a success on certain counts-, but comparative appraisal of its pros and cons
leads to the conclusion that it is a sheer failure on major fronts.
2.
How has modern civilization affected the personal
lives of humans
I.
Rise of mental issues
II.
Breach of privacy
III.
Surge in a sedentary lifestyle
3.
How has modern civilization transformed social life?
I.
Increase in social inequalities
II.
Lack of social interaction and socialization
4.
Impact on Morality
I.
Disturbed moral values
II.
Precedence of science over conscience
5.
Impact of modem civilization on the intellectual
aspect of human life '
I.
Intellectual backwardness
II.
Disparity between ideology and technology
6.
Impact on politics
I.
More confrontation among nations
II.
Globalization, clash of civilizations, and Western
global hegemony
7.
Conclusion:
Sovereign machines sound the death
knell for the heart Tools crush empathic feelings (of humans) - (Iqbal)
Modem civilization is analogous to the scientific and the
technological development. Scientific progress has shaped a life of leisure and
luxury for humankind. Modes of transportation have been revolutionized which has
resulted in the “death of distance." Life has become faster too.
Astoundingly rapid modes of communication like the telephone and the internet
have turned traditional life upside down. The health conditions of humans have
improved too. Mortality rates have dropped and deaths due to contagious
diseases have slumped in number too. Energy resources have transformed lives
too. Electricity and petroleum products are fueling newer inventions. To sum
up, modem civilization due to the incredible development in human life seems to
be a success. But the reality is diametrically opposite as it has contributed
more to the degradation of immaterial aspects of human life Heaps of wealth and
a plethora of gadgets have contributed to the mental depression of humans
rather than providing them self-satisfaction. Scientific development in modern
civilization endangered human lives more than it has saved due to the development
of nuclear weapons. Moral perversion now prevails across the globe and
apathetic behavior has supplanted sympathy. Although modern civilization is a
success on certain counts but comparative appraisal of its pros and cons leads
to the conclusion that it is a sheer failure on major fronts.
Modem civilization has transformed the personal lives of
human beings for the worse. Depression, hypertension, and a frenzied mentality
are causing acute problems. Machines and gadgets have reduced human involvement
in his activities. Man is no more involved in his works. Gadgets have not only
taken his place but have made them a necessity for humans. Marx called it “Commodity
Fetishism” in which people consider commodities more important than themselves.
Products have become more important than human personalities. Alienation from
this world is a direct consequence of rapid industrialization. Man becomes
alienated from industrialization and industrial products. Frenzy takes over him
and finally, he becomes mentally ill. Modem civilization is synonymous with
scientific development. Scientific development is interlinked with
industrialization and industrialization has proven repercussions for human
mentality. Therefore, modem civilization has contributed to the mental problems
of humans.
The privacy of human beings is jeopardized as a result of modern
civilization. Like the industrial revolution, the information revolution is
also a key aspect of modern civilization. Mobile telecommunication, cable
television, and the internet are components of the information revolution. They
are used to transfer information across the globe but there is another dark
side of it. Private life has become public due to social media. Personal
pictures and videos are circulated all over the planet without any regulation. The
hacking of computers puts sensitive and private material at risk. Hackers can
hack private details and can publish them online. Many sensitive teenagers have
committed suicide after such acts of breach. The breach is not limited to
hawkers but governments are also employing similar tactics. Secret programs
like “PRISM" are designed to keep an eye on the private lives of citizens
of every country. No information can be kept private now. George Orwell
predicted this in his novel “1984" in which governments had unhindered
access to private information.
Modem civilization has made humans lethargic. Laziness and
lethargy are a direct result of leisure and luxury provided by modem
civilization. There is no need to find food, no difficulty in covering
distances, and no trouble in performing daily chores. Humans have become
mentally and physically dependent upon machines. This has shaped a sedentary lifestyle.
Therefore, humans of the modern day are more prone to disease and ailments.
Men of the modern day are replete with money and wealth. But
this money is not properly distributed. Capitalism is a characteristic of modem
civilization. A major pitfall of capitalism is the inequality produced by it.
It is a fact that the more a country is capitalist or industrialist, the more
will be inequality. The disparity between the rich and the poor craves mere
bread for their subsistence. Despite finding solutions for the curse of
inequality, modem civilization contributes to inequality. This is because modem
civilization and capitalism are based on the premise that inequality is
inevitable.
Socialization is a prerequisite for promoting plurality and
harmony in a society. People of divergent backgrounds socialize to form a
coherent and integrated structure of a society. Socialization promotes social
order and social cohesion. Unfortunately, modem civilization ignores it in its
entirety. Ceremonial debates and dialogues are arranged but without purpose.
Moreover, the technology of modern civilization has decreased inter-city
distances but has increased inter personal distances. Children use their
mobile phones while ignoring what parents are saying to them. People don’t
bother to interact face to face They prefer electronic and virtual means. The
warmth of direct talk is unfelt by the modem generation. Therefore, the institution
of family is weakening, society is faltering and global peace is becoming more
and more vulnerable.
“Wilderness is calling us because the jungle of concrete is
worse than the jungle of nature. We are so far away from each other despite
being so close."
Jack London in his novel “Call of Wild"
Civilization is supported to promote civility. The civilized
personality of a human being should be a direct consequence of civilization.
Morality is appended to civility. Sympathy is related to morality. Modem
civilization, unfortunately, neither promotes civility nor encourages morality,
modem civilization only targets the physical and material well-being of humans.
It forsakes moral consideration. It promotes competition, not compassion. It does
not ask humans to care for each other without securing personal gains. Charity
with selfless altitude is unfound. Nobody takes risks for others. Nobody wants
to put his life in danger to save the life of another. Nobody now cares for his
hungry neighbor. Nobody dares to stand up and help the oppressed and the
persecuted ones. All consider deceit, lies, and fraud as legitimate means to
gain material success. In short Durkheim’s dilemma is true. Emile Durkheim
rightly pointed out that Modernity brings a lot of material positives for us
but after making us amoral.
Science has taken precedence over conscience in modern times.
Modem civilization has given a verdict in favor of science. It has kept
conscience and morality on the back burner. Science and materialism have come
to the fore and have taken control of the driving seat Human personality and
character are driven and by his conscience but by the desire for material
gains. Scientific progress continuously supplies those material gains. Science,
which should be complemented by conscience, has been let loose by modem
civilization. This immoral aspect of science has overshadowed conscience. Modem
civilization is wrongfully promoting artificial intelligence and artificial
products while ignoring the human intellect that has produced those products.
Man has been left alone to lurch among the creations of his intelligence. No
moral and spiritual guidance is available for him and his conscience is in a state
of shambles.
“Our scientific power has overturned
our spiritual power. We have guided missiles but misguided men.”
Martin Luther King
In modem civilization, technological progress has outpaced
ideological and intellectual development. Historically, civilizations have been
defined based on their prevalent ideologies and popular ideologues. Greek
civilization is incomplete without Plato and Aristotle. Roman civilization is
colorless and without stoicism. Hindu civilization is hollow without the Ramayana,
Parana, and Vedas. Chinese civilization, until recent history, was based on
Taoism and Confucianism. In contrast, modern civilization has produced no
ideology or intellectual movement that can drive forward the collective wisdom
of the world. Unfortunately, it has not only failed to produce new ideologies,
it has also devoured upon ancient ideologies. Modem civilization is
antagonistic toward the intellectual development of humans. Capitalism and
communism are such ideologies, produced in modem times that only target material
aspects of human life. Furthermore, modern civilization discourages these
intellectuals who propose an alternative to the modem day capitalism. Those intellectuals
are being labeled as radicals. So, modem civilization is inherently averse to the
spiritual and intellectual upbringing of humankind
New ideas make a new world
Mere stones and bricks are of no use
On the political front, modem civilization is a sheer failure
too. It is based on a dichotomous agenda. On one side it purportedly supports
democracy across the globe, on the other side; it extends the hegemonic and
neo-colonial designs of the West. Governments are toppled on the whims and the
wishes of the West. Low-income and less-developed countries are being
exploited, Political and economic order of the world favors the West.
The Western economies are allowed to leech off the Eastern
nations. A clash of civilizations is in the making and is used as an excuse by
the West to attack Muslim countries. Noam Chomsky has rightly pointed out:
“Modem civilization and new world
order complement each other. Both work in tandem to solidify hegemony of the
West or the USA more specifically.”
(Hegemony or Survival: American quest for global empire” by Noam
Chomsky)
To conclude, modern civilization is a sheer failure It has
failed to meet the overall demands and needs of humankind Though, it has
contributed to the physical or mental well-being of humans, it has ignored
mental and moral features. Today, man is devoid of feelings of care,
compassion, affection, and love. He is becoming more and more like a robot. He
has explored the far stretches of the sky but cannot plunge deep into his inner
self. Man is more vulnerable in the modern civilization. Global peace is more
endangered and social life is completely ignored. In short, modern civilization
has torn apart the mental fabric of the man and the social fabric of the
society.
One who has trekked the path of the
stare
He could not explore the depth of his
ideas
He has captured rays from the sun
But he could not illuminate his dark-like
(Allama Iqbal)
