#1 ·
The great Czech thinker, humanist, educator, theologian, and reformer—one of the true founding fathers of the modern school system and contemporary teaching methods—Jan Amos Komenský (1592-1670), described the current state of human affairs several centuries ago in his seminal work "Didactica Magna." Here is a fragment from a rather archaic, yet incredibly fluid and soulful American translation published by the American Educational Research Association back in 1871:
If we look at civilization in terms of technology, the sheer volume and application of scientific knowledge, or even the organization of societies, human rights, and human dignity, there has been massive progress in the Western world since the days of Jan Amos Komenský. But when it comes to actual human decency, it feels like there has been almost zero progress since then—and perhaps, as many prominent modern thinkers warn, we are actually sliding backward.
Humanitas community*
*Recently established in New York, the Humanitas community aims to be a national association that connects and gathers people who care about the values inherent in the "humanitas" ideal of Western civilization. This high ideal was first articulated and affirmed during the era of the brilliant Roman thinker, statesman, and orator Cicero (106-43 BC). The "humanitas" ideal represents a synthesis of two earlier Greek ideals: the education of mind and body—"paideia"—and philanthropy, or love for humanity and humane behavior. It encompasses civility, enlightenment, humanity, gentleness, friendship, peaceableness, tolerance, kindness, grace, good taste, and a sense for science, culture, and the arts.
How do people actually stand compared to how they ought to be? Where is everyone’s rightful place? Nowhere. Everything is upside down, everything is backward, everything is in total disarray; because all order, all governance, and all our nobility have been scattered to the winds. Instead of the reason that should have allowed us to become like angels, many—through sheer laziness and negligence—are so foolish and dull that they know less about the most fundamental truths in the world than a common beast does*. Instead of being cautious, knowing we were created for eternity and should prepare for it, people not only forget about eternity but completely ignore mortality itself, throwing themselves solely into earthly, physical matters alongside their worldly wealth. Instead of heavenly wisdom, which consists in knowing God, the creator of all things, and seeking His favor, there is a spiteful turning away from that very God in whom we live, move, and exist, acting in opposition to Him. Instead of universal honesty and innocence, there is deceit, cunning, and insincerity toward everyone. Instead of a natural inclination toward kindness, there is envy and hatred; instead of trust, there is suspicion, judgment, and mutual gossip. Instead of harmony, there is discord; instead of justice, there is passion; instead of courage, there is secret envy and open hostility, fights, and wars. Instead of righteousness, there is oppression, guilt, enslavement, and theft; everyone acts only for their own benefit, scheming wherever possible. And those who are meant to lead others? They lead them toward evil. Those who should be a light for others, lacking any light themselves, are nothing but darkness. When even the realm of good is corrupted and unstable, it becomes merely a shadow or an illusion of what should truly be. If you cannot see this, know that it is darkness clouding your eyes, preventing you from seeing what is perfectly obvious. All wise people, looking not through the lens of delusion but through the clear sight of reason at themselves and others, see and know that it is no different. Since there is nothing harder in this world than breaking a habit, realize there is nothing harder than trying to guide and educate a human being who has been conditioned toward evil and misery. (* livestock)
If we look at civilization in terms of technology, the sheer volume and application of scientific knowledge, or even the organization of societies, human rights, and human dignity, there has been massive progress in the Western world since the days of Jan Amos Komenský. But when it comes to actual human decency, it feels like there has been almost zero progress since then—and perhaps, as many prominent modern thinkers warn, we are actually sliding backward.
Humanitas community*
*Recently established in New York, the Humanitas community aims to be a national association that connects and gathers people who care about the values inherent in the "humanitas" ideal of Western civilization. This high ideal was first articulated and affirmed during the era of the brilliant Roman thinker, statesman, and orator Cicero (106-43 BC). The "humanitas" ideal represents a synthesis of two earlier Greek ideals: the education of mind and body—"paideia"—and philanthropy, or love for humanity and humane behavior. It encompasses civility, enlightenment, humanity, gentleness, friendship, peaceableness, tolerance, kindness, grace, good taste, and a sense for science, culture, and the arts.