Civilization's Illusion

Author: Shi Yishi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: In today's era of economic globalization, as the information age's magic hand increasingly squeezes and condenses humanity's living space into a "global village," when the dawn and dusk lines of human destiny waver between the paradise of high technology and mushroom clouds, connecting an already hollowed ozone layer, and in an age where the knowledge explosion and competition can either lead to the madness after human civilization or guide humanity to jointly create an eternal paradise of freedom and happiness, our review of history can no longer be limited to objective records and generalized comments. The tragic fate that chokes humanity stems from the fact that previous generations never truly demonstrated the ability to penetrate the fog of history with independent and powerful discernment and deeper critical insight. We urgently need to find a new and crucial cultural perspective to seek a hopeful and never extinguishing guiding light for humanity's seemingly chaotic and bewildered future.
I particularly hope that all people around the world who are striving to achieve the ideal of a modernized strong nation: when learning from the Western world, might ask the following century-old question: Is Western civilization a huge trap in the process of social development? Does Western culture resemble a lush, colossal, and beautiful opium poppy? Does Western culture resemble an unsteered, nuclear-armed behemoth that, while displaying immense power, also terrifyingly threatens the vibrant and hopeful green wilderness of world civilization? Will the Western world decline as predicted by Spengler? I enjoy Sartre's contemplation, I praise Kierkegaard's challenges, and I marvel at Toynbee's vastness—Western culture is not a panacea and holds no special privilege, nor does it have any inherent advantage—even when facing "paradise," we must pour into our contemplation, skepticism, and challenges!