The Paradoxes of Modernity: Creating Belief through Art, Community, and Ritual

The paradox of modernity is the simultaneous demand to create ideas to make us better humans and communities and the contrary imperative that we criticize all ideals, especially the ones we have created. Zachary Simpson employs cognitive and social scientific research to explain how best to realize values that we know to be false through art, community, and ritual. He argues that the values we construct must conform to narrative, be reinforced through community, and habituated through ritual, but modernity has also undermined collectivity and ritual. The book makes three normative points regarding modernity: that the modern, individualist subject is insufficient to realize the values and aspirations of modernity; that values must arise in communities and be realized through narrative and ritual; and that if we are to live meaningful lives as contemporary meta-ethicists and positive psychologists argue, then such lives must include art, community, and ritual as a way to affirm and reinforce ones values.

Format: Hardback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

A paradox permeates the very fabric of modernity, intertwining the simultaneous urge to generate ideas aimed at improving ourselves and our communities with the contradictory requirement to critique all ideals, particularly those we ourselves have fashioned. This paradox manifests itself most prominently in the philosophical realm, with figures such as Immanuel Kant asserting that we cannot fully comprehend the essence of things yet must cling to outdated notions such as God, freedom, and the soul in our pursuit of becoming better and more ethical individuals. Similarly, Friedrich Nietzsche's concept of the eternal recurrence serves as a self-created myth designed to awaken us to the inherent value in the ordinary. This fundamental duality, belief and un-belief, serves as a cornerstone of modernity, evident in the philosophies of Herbert Marcuse, Michel Foucault, and the theologians of Blaise Pascal, C.S. Lewis, William James, Sallie McFague, and Philip Clayton.

How do we navigate the values we acknowledge as mere constructions while still striving to make our lives more meaningful? This question becomes a crucial obstacle to our ability to address public goods problems and find purpose. Instead of perceiving this paradox of modernity as a form of self-deception or bad faith, Zachary Simpson employs cognitive and social scientific research to explore the most effective means of realizing values that we inherently know to be false. According to Simpson's perspective, the values we construct must align with narratives, receive reinforcement through community, and be ingrained through ritual. However, modernity has also eroded collectivity and ritual, giving rise to the second paradox of modernity: the tools that are most conducive to realizing values simultaneously devalue the individual modern subject.

The final portion of the book aims to make three normative points regarding modernity. Firstly, it argues that the modern, individualist subject is insufficient on its own to fully actualize the values we seek. Secondly, it suggests that a collective and ritualistic approach is necessary to fully embrace and manifest these values. Lastly, it advocates for a harmonious balance between individualism and collectivism, recognizing the importance of both in shaping our lives and societies.

In conclusion, the paradox of modernity presents a complex and challenging dilemma. While we yearn to create and embrace ideas that can improve ourselves and our communities, we must simultaneously be critical of the ideals we have fashioned. By employing cognitive and social scientific research, Simpson offers valuable insights into how we can navigate this paradox and realize the values we know to be false through art, community, and ritual. However, it is important to recognize that modernity has also undermined collectivity and ritual, highlighting the need for a harmonious balance between individualism and collectivism. Through this exploration, we can strive to make our lives more meaningful and contribute to the betterment of society as a whole.

Weight: 452g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030990558
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022