The Old Fears

摘要: The idea of living in a period political and cultural decline did not originate the nineteenth century, but is as old recorded history. In early civilizations concept decadence was primarily view history formed after careful comparison between conditions past present; it would be more appropriate to call delusion or myth that found ready acceptance among men who were afraid resentful evil stupidity so often seemed preside over wordly affairs. This mythical character, which still partly retains scholarly studies modern times, especially pronounced many religious cosmologies notion made its first appearance. nearly all ancient believed an initial paradisiacal felicity innocence, man had lost his primeval virtues either result sudden fall process gradual degradation. Such presuppositions generally part cyclical philosophy assuming world doomed endless repetition same pattern degeneration. Sometimes apogee cycle placed beginning, middle; even this instance gloomy taken human destiny since present located downward swing curve.