Decadence by Arthur James Balfour
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"Decadence" by Arthur James Balfour is an exploratory philosophical essay delivered as a lecture at Newnham College in the early 20th century. This thoughtful treatment delves into the concept of decadence, focusing not on its artistic or literary manifestations, which are often discussed, but rather its implications for political and national decline. Balfour's discussion is framed within the context of historic civilizations and the greater questions of societal evolution, stability, and potential
decay. In the essay, Balfour presents a series of reflections on the nature of civilizational history through the lens of decadence, pondering whether it is an inevitable part of the life cycle of nations, akin to aging in individuals. He investigates the factors that may contribute to the decline of great empires, specifically referencing the Roman Empire as a case study to illustrate the complexities inherent in identifying the reasons behind such profound shifts. He contemplates the nuances between decadence as a discrete process versus more apparent misfortunes like war or famine that often accompany societal downfalls. Ultimately, Balfour invites readers to consider the intricate interplay of historical, cultural, and social elements that contribute to the rise and fall of civilizations, leaving them with a sense of caution about the future trajectory of societies as they navigate the currents of progress and potential decline. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Balfour, Arthur James, 1848-1930 |
|---|---|
| LoC No. | 08019225 |
| Title |
Decadence Henry Sidgwick memorial lecture, 1908 |
| Original Publication | United Kingdom: The University Press,1908. |
| Credits | Thomas Frost and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 42.6 (College-level). Difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | HM: Social sciences: Sociology |
| Subject | Political science |
| Subject | Nationalism |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 68219 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-68219-8 |
| Release Date | Jun 1, 2022 |
| Last Update | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 407 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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