When reason declines — in a person, or in a culture — then emotions and subjectivity fill the void. At first, emotions are all about kindness, peace, tolerance. We might label this the “hippie” phase. But because man cannot live by emotions alone — and, in fact, must possess rational thought in order to function, cope and survive — the era of brotherly love all starts to fall apart. The individual (or the culture), at this point has two options. One, the restoration of reason above unfettered emotion. Or two, living under the tyranny of others, since he’s now unable to think for himself.
I have watched this process thousands of times in my years as a psychotherapist. And now I am watching it with our entire culture.
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