December 24, 1990, Athens, Greece “The Fall of Greece” from DODO: The European Notebooks July 1990-January 1991

Published in the Dodo: The European Notebooks: 1990-1991, Journal

THE FALL OF GREECE:[1]

      Science became more costly, its rewards more ephemeral and contradictory, vaguer, of less obvious practical use.  As scientific principals, “Chaos” and “Chance” became popular, especially appealing to those who were frustrated by science and felt its conclusions were refined out of existence. 

      Politicians were seen as corruptible and contemptible.   Even the best were demagogues, appealing to popular opinion, and dumber than the average citizen.  It was not uncommon for popular actors to become politicians.  International politics were often built around face-saving extra-national battles, often under multi-national command, against “infidels.” 

      On the home front, actors and athletes, and anyone involved in popular entertainment, received prodigious sums, and the productions themselves became increasingly elaborate and costly.

      Philosophically there was a reaction against Platonism.  Any philosopher who preached a higher order of values and morals was instantly suspect.  Life had become practical, and Platonism was obsolete. 

      A plague decimated the population, one in which medicinal, scientific, and political action proved ineffectual.  An upsurge of non-rational beliefs filled the gap, including channelling, astrology, sympathetic magic, crystal powers, and magical medicine.

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    [1].  The facts are drawn from The Greeks and the Irrational, by E.R. Dodds.