Quote by Walter Lippmann

The decay of decency in the modern age, the rebellion against law and good faith, the treatment of human beings as things, as the mere instruments of power and ambition, is without a doubt the consequence of the decay of the belief in man as something more than an animal animated by highly conditioned reflexes and chemical reactions. For, unless man is something more than that, he has no rights that anyone is bound to respect, and there are no limitations upon his conduct which he is bound to obey.

The decay of decency in the modern age, the rebellion agains

Summary

This quote highlights the idea that the erosion of moral values and the disregard for law and empathy in our society can be attributed to the loss of belief in the inherent worth and dignity of human beings. It suggests that if humans are viewed merely as highly conditioned animals driven by instinct, there are no inherent rights or moral obligations that others should recognize or uphold. Consequently, societal decency and respect for one another are undermined, allowing power and ambition to prevail over empathy and ethical behavior.

Topics

Man Mankind

By Walter Lippmann

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