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Castle of the Duc de Berry by the Limbourg Bros (15th c.) |
There is an idea that has emerged in recent years which holds that some Western nations will potentially evolve into societies dominated by billionaire elites and multinational corporations, and governed according to technocratic, rather than truly democratic, principles – thus the predilections of the majority will be relentlessly cowed by whatever “the experts” decree to be the wisest course of action. In a worst-case scenario we will live in an authoritarian, surveillance state, wherein free speech is demonised as nothing more than a despicable ruse to celebrate hate speech, censorship is widespread and widely tolerated (for the greater good), real property is so hideously expensive that large portions of the population never even try to acquire it, and so many people live in what feels like a profaned world devoid of spiritual aspiration that mental illness is commonplace. Due to living in an environment that is in many ways inhospitable to human happiness a great number of people will be reliant on taking prescription medication to ameliorate their consequent depression, anxiety and dysphoria. On the other hand, a smorgasbord of transitory pleasures will perpetually be within reach. Delicious food will be readily available and reasonably cheap – though not always healthful. Clean drinking water, daily hot showers, automatic washing machines, dishwashers and rice cookers will be taken for granted. Our various computers will offer video games, movies and mini-series on tap, a massive variety of music, documentaries and podcasts will be but a click away, and finding new friends and lovers will theoretically have never been easier – if one can manage the trick of transforming the digital to IRL. At this point Tacitus’ observations about the actions of the Governor of Roman Britain in the 1st century CE start to feel potentially relevant:
“Agricola … described his campaign … as ‘keeping a conquered people under control’ … His intention was … [that the native Britons] become accustomed to peace and quiet by the provisions of amenities. Hence he gave … assistance to communities to build temples, market-places, and town houses. He praised those that responded promptly [to Romanisation] and censured the dilatory. As a result they began to compete with one another for his approval, instead of having to be compelled … even our style of dress came into favour and the toga was everywhere to be seen. Gradually, too, they went astray into the allurements of evil ways, colonnades and warm baths and elegant banquets. The Britons … called it ‘civilisation’, although it was a part of their enslavement [Tacitus, Agricola and Germany, Oxford World’s Classics, Ch 18-21].”
Could it be that we are at risk of succumbing to the illusion of good living while in fact being profoundly unfree? In order to explore the possible answer to this question one first needs to understand what slavery actually is, as well as some of the other forms of bondage that have evolved over time.*