Category : Concepts
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When the Economy Becomes a Value: The Turning Point of the Italian Renaissance
At the turn from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, the northern Italian city-states usher in a decisive shift: the economy is no longer merely a means of subsistence but becomes a value in political and moral terms. Florence and Venice, governed by oligarchies blending nobility and bourgeoisie, stand out for systems of government markedly…
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At the Origins of the Valorisation of the Economy (15th–19th Centuries)
The pre-eminence of the economy in contemporary societies has become commonplace: the commodification of most goods and services; advertisements that punctuate television programmes, are plastered across screens, films and series, and even on athletes; the stakes around purchasing power and social inequalities; work itself, increasingly rivalled by AI and robots; the associated international tensions, such…
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Accepting That Others, Including Our Closed Relationships, May Be Heading Toward Their Downfall
In the previous article, we saw that the trend toward authoritarianism in the West is not new. It is linked to the erosion of values like prosperity and work under the pressures of globalization and digitalization. This deep-seated trend signals dark times ahead in the coming years and decades, and the recent election of Trump…
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Western Authoritarianisms or the Denial of a Global Evolution
Protectionist vs. Neoliberal Authoritarianisms Since his second inauguration as President of the United States, D. Trump has dominated the news, particularly due to his brutal attitude and arbitrary decisions that endanger American democracy, which is based on the existence of checks and balances. In this context, it is ironic to hear Vice President J.D. Vance…
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On the Role of Technical Culture in Innovation and the Limits of Innovation Today
Technical Culture as a Factor in the First Industrial Revolution In Power and Progress, Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson provide a detailed account of how technological advancements have rarely benefited the entire population. Their fascinating investigation, spanning from the Neolithic era to the present day, supports the idea—dating back at least to Rousseau—that inequalities increased…
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Attachment, a vital emotional bond that can stifle psychological distancing
Since November 2023, several articles have highlighted constraints that limit the ability to achieve psychological distancing and, consequently, to gain freedom of thought and peace of mind: oppositions, idealizations (particularly the pursuit of moral truths), conformity, psychological projection, and the desire for recognition. Here, we will focus on the emotional bond of attachment. While essential…
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Authoritarianism: An Expression of Blindness and Structural Chaos
The reelection of Donald Trump as the leader of the world’s foremost power demonstrates that the authoritarian trend across the globe is not a fleeting, circumstantial anomaly that can be resolved with a handful of reforms. This trend reflects a boundless blindness that accompanies the desire to reinforce or redraw borders. The real estate magnate…
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The correlated evolution of privacy, freedom of thought, and idealizations
By studying the evolution of freedom of thought from the 16th to the 18th century,1 we highlighted how its expansion was stimulated by the growth of knowledge and techniques. Here, we will first emphasize another determining factor: the development of privacy. Once again, we will take the example of Montaigne, who will help us identify…
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These Individualisms, which are Based on Idealizations and Hinder the Freedom of Thought
The notion of individualism has been at the center of numerous debates over the past two centuries.1 It came out of controversies surrounding emerging democracies, and its various interpretations made it difficult to grasp. Rather than focusing on its definition, we will turn our attention to its historical and philosophical origins, with the aim of…
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Dangers of Unbounded Freedom of Thought and Expression
George Washington said:1 “if Men are to be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter, which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences, that can invite the consideration of Mankind; reason is of no use to us—the freedom of Speech may be taken away—and, dumb & silent we may be led, like sheep,…