azoulay
04-02-2012, 06:42 PM
Hi to the community,
I'm searching for a book that would give examples and explain how people at each period of history thinks that they live in the "best/most advanced/ultimate" society since the dawn of time.
For example, Americans think they live in the best/free society that ever existed. But the French's thought the same thing of their society in the 18th century. Probably the Romans thought also the same thing about their society.
Another example, (I don't remember the author of that citation) someone said that he couldn't see how technology could improve because it was so much advanced, this citation was recorded in 1870.
Another example, I just read in Jared Diamond book, The third chimpanzee: (p.318) "Even now, the days of classical Greece and Rome are widely considered to be the Golden Age of Western civilization. Ironically, the Greeks and Romans also saw themselves as degenerates from a past golden age"
It seems to me that at each and every period of history people thinks the same way about themselves, their society and their technology. I guess that maybe the Romans also thought they were technologically advanced, perhaps I'm wrong thinking this way.
Thanks for suggesting any books,
Jonathan (montreal, quebec)
I'm searching for a book that would give examples and explain how people at each period of history thinks that they live in the "best/most advanced/ultimate" society since the dawn of time.
For example, Americans think they live in the best/free society that ever existed. But the French's thought the same thing of their society in the 18th century. Probably the Romans thought also the same thing about their society.
Another example, (I don't remember the author of that citation) someone said that he couldn't see how technology could improve because it was so much advanced, this citation was recorded in 1870.
Another example, I just read in Jared Diamond book, The third chimpanzee: (p.318) "Even now, the days of classical Greece and Rome are widely considered to be the Golden Age of Western civilization. Ironically, the Greeks and Romans also saw themselves as degenerates from a past golden age"
It seems to me that at each and every period of history people thinks the same way about themselves, their society and their technology. I guess that maybe the Romans also thought they were technologically advanced, perhaps I'm wrong thinking this way.
Thanks for suggesting any books,
Jonathan (montreal, quebec)