24 Responses (10 Discussion Threads) to “Is This the Age of Irresponsibility?”

1. 

   skylar

   11

   7th October 2009

   Wonderful article and wonderful comments from the readers. Thank you.
   I’ve been thinking about irresponsibility, how it relates to narcissism and the fall of the roman empire as well as our own. This problem, of narcissism, seems to be a result of a disconnection from reality. The reality of consequences. Then it occurred to me that wealth has created that disconnect. Our society and the Roman empire have this in common. We have technology to disconnect us from physical requirements and the Romans had slaves. I compare this to a child growing up wearing a rubber suit, so he never learns to equate action with painful consequences. You may be able to later teach him to respect reality, but if he didn’t learn it as a child it won’t be an automatic response. Suddenly, I was struck by an understanding of why Quakers choose to live how they do. They choose to live in close connection with the realities of the laws of nature, so that it doesn’t sneak up and bite them later. I believe the indigenous people of North and South America may have had the same idea, but it got lost in the translation.
   • 

     Dr George Simon, PhD

     11.1

     7th October 2009

     Thanks for the comments, Skylar. In my first book, I briefly addressed the factors that promote such a malignant narcissism. I give it much more attention in my upcoming book. Basically, there are two factors that lead people to all to impressed with themselves (which in turn leads to a myriad of other problems). First, there’s the failure to genuinely recognize a “higher power” or creative force at work in the universe (this does NOT necessarily have to be rooted in a traditional recognition of “God”). Second, there’s the tendency of individuals as well as society (even parents) to heap praise and recognition on people for their talents, gifts, looks, etc. as opposed to what good they do in the world with the gifts they’ve been given and how they conduct themselves. It’s not so much that people aren’t aware of or are “disconnected” from consequences. It’s that they’re either convinced of their power to be impervious to “the rules” or they’re determined to have what they want despite the possible consequences. And, the more they appear to get away with things, the more their heads get further bent out of shape.

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