Monday, March 15, 2010

"Optimism is cowardice": Oswald Spengler

Re reading Spengler I was struck by this passage:

"The degree of piety of which a period is capable is revealed in its attitude towards toleration. One tolerates something either because it seems to have some relation to what according to one's experience is the divine or else because one is no longer capable of such experience and is indifferent."

Is our current Canadian toleration built on respect for others -- seeing the divine in each other's faith -- or rather on a weary indifference? If the latter then does "tomorrow belong" to those of stronger faith/will?

In fairness, while Spengler was pretty accurate about some things he was not exactly progressive (he didn't like Hitler much but that's a low standard to meet); some might say Spengler is a poor source for an analysis of toleration.
On the other hand, insight is insightful no matter who sees it first.
James Morton
1100-5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
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