Part of me suspects that existentialism and the views of Nietzsche and the like are the main 'philosophy' behind various degeneracies today:
From the 'loud and proud' gays and transgenders; the social justice movement, the various loser 'subcultures' whether HS 'goth' or 'emo' cliques or the "S&M or alternative sex lifestyles", or simply nihilistic millennials loudly broadcasting selfies or what they had for dinner on FB or Twitter under the illusion that anyone cares.
At the root of all of this seems to be a loser existentialist mindset, where "life is meaningless", people should just do "whatever they want" because they feel like it, and loudly broadcasting your "individuality" to the entire world is the only "purpose their is".
As for the legacy of men who gave us everything we take for granted, from the American Founders, to the WWII generation - screw them, you only live once so just 'be whoever you want to be'.
Take some stupid "FB" personality test, some internet "IQ" or "psychology test", or some "what Final Fantasy character are you test" and loudly proclaim it to your internet friends just to give yourself the illusion of 'individuality' - when in reality you're actually just conforming to exactly what all of your millennial FB buddies or your loser HS social circle also do.
As far as what has brought it on, I can't say for certain; but I strongly believe modern consumerism has played the biggest influences by inundating us with frivolous pleasures, whether food, drinks, vacations, or false Enlightenment inspired promises of looking to "science" or "techology" to save us and give us the answer as to why we're secretly miserable in spite of our excess.
Many today would rather spend $50 on a new Xbox game or hairstyle than $3 on a used self-help book, and spend more time planning what to wear in their selfie than they do in their marriage, careers, or entire lives.
And this isn't the perspective of some grumpy old man, as a millennial myself I'm digusted by the nihilistic sentiments I see of millenials and older baby boomers, not to mention the nihilism spoon fed by the modern media.
I'm sure this isn't something exclusive to the modern world, but I believe in many ways today it is worse than in past eras; namely thanks to the consumer economy and media industries that followed WWII which have no historical precedent on such a great scale.
With no purpose in life either than to satiatiate our lusts or find someone to blame for why our lives are so utterly shitty (something which has been turned into an industry in itself due to modern 'angry' politics and 'social justice'), we take for granted pleasures foreign to most people on the planet looking to external things to save of from our misery; becoming a slave to them in the process.
Whether a new car or gadget, the idea that 'science' will eventually let us live forever, or the illusion of a "happily ever after" Disney-manufactured relationship.
And in spite of having all of the world's knowlede available at our fingertips thanks to the internet, you'll find more people using it to watch cat videos on YT or play Farmville than you will people learning about history, self-development, and philosophy.
I suppose I used to be willingly naive and assume that it was only the people I'd grown up around who were like this, whether parents, classmates, or relatives; but now that I begin to see that this IS the norm for many people, with even older generations who I used to admire succumbing to this; I'm left with an empty feeling of nihilism and a desire to simply withdraw from society as much as possible, living a contemplative life of philosophy and occasional moderated pleasure as Aristotle prescribed for a happy life.
Things that many people view as biological or cultural imperatives; such as marriage, kids, or busting one's butt to "get ahead" in a job they hate just to afford things they don't need, now seem mere afterthoughts rather than "no brainers"; a life of philosophy, purpose, and studying and preserving timeless wisdom being lost in a generation of Iphones and selifes is far more desirable.
From the 'loud and proud' gays and transgenders; the social justice movement, the various loser 'subcultures' whether HS 'goth' or 'emo' cliques or the "S&M or alternative sex lifestyles", or simply nihilistic millennials loudly broadcasting selfies or what they had for dinner on FB or Twitter under the illusion that anyone cares.
At the root of all of this seems to be a loser existentialist mindset, where "life is meaningless", people should just do "whatever they want" because they feel like it, and loudly broadcasting your "individuality" to the entire world is the only "purpose their is".
As for the legacy of men who gave us everything we take for granted, from the American Founders, to the WWII generation - screw them, you only live once so just 'be whoever you want to be'.
Take some stupid "FB" personality test, some internet "IQ" or "psychology test", or some "what Final Fantasy character are you test" and loudly proclaim it to your internet friends just to give yourself the illusion of 'individuality' - when in reality you're actually just conforming to exactly what all of your millennial FB buddies or your loser HS social circle also do.
As far as what has brought it on, I can't say for certain; but I strongly believe modern consumerism has played the biggest influences by inundating us with frivolous pleasures, whether food, drinks, vacations, or false Enlightenment inspired promises of looking to "science" or "techology" to save us and give us the answer as to why we're secretly miserable in spite of our excess.
Many today would rather spend $50 on a new Xbox game or hairstyle than $3 on a used self-help book, and spend more time planning what to wear in their selfie than they do in their marriage, careers, or entire lives.
And this isn't the perspective of some grumpy old man, as a millennial myself I'm digusted by the nihilistic sentiments I see of millenials and older baby boomers, not to mention the nihilism spoon fed by the modern media.
I'm sure this isn't something exclusive to the modern world, but I believe in many ways today it is worse than in past eras; namely thanks to the consumer economy and media industries that followed WWII which have no historical precedent on such a great scale.
With no purpose in life either than to satiatiate our lusts or find someone to blame for why our lives are so utterly shitty (something which has been turned into an industry in itself due to modern 'angry' politics and 'social justice'), we take for granted pleasures foreign to most people on the planet looking to external things to save of from our misery; becoming a slave to them in the process.
Whether a new car or gadget, the idea that 'science' will eventually let us live forever, or the illusion of a "happily ever after" Disney-manufactured relationship.
And in spite of having all of the world's knowlede available at our fingertips thanks to the internet, you'll find more people using it to watch cat videos on YT or play Farmville than you will people learning about history, self-development, and philosophy.
I suppose I used to be willingly naive and assume that it was only the people I'd grown up around who were like this, whether parents, classmates, or relatives; but now that I begin to see that this IS the norm for many people, with even older generations who I used to admire succumbing to this; I'm left with an empty feeling of nihilism and a desire to simply withdraw from society as much as possible, living a contemplative life of philosophy and occasional moderated pleasure as Aristotle prescribed for a happy life.
Things that many people view as biological or cultural imperatives; such as marriage, kids, or busting one's butt to "get ahead" in a job they hate just to afford things they don't need, now seem mere afterthoughts rather than "no brainers"; a life of philosophy, purpose, and studying and preserving timeless wisdom being lost in a generation of Iphones and selifes is far more desirable.
