View the original post on Musing.io
If you believe that people were born in tabula rasa (meaning people were born with a blank state without any idea of rules) then it is socialization within society that promotes decadence.
If you believe that humans were born innately with a set of processes that are passed down through evolution that give us a hardwired sense of right from wrong, then I would say that we choose decadence.
There is scientific research supporting both theories.
Either way I don't believe anyone is to blame.
I believe this question isn't quite complete, as the next thing that i would as before answering this is: What do you see as moral decadence? (would be awesome if you would actually answer that too :) )
I see it as something probably less obvious that it might seem, while I mostly come across opinions that "moral decadence" is something related to sexuality I done't see it that way at all. The fact that sexuality has become a more open topic is a good thing (the world is driven by sex in one way or the other and that's no secret) and the fact that people can express their views on it and find other people who feel the same way, "decadence" would be to suppress yourself just because someone else wants you to.
The other side of things, however is that your freedom ends where my freedom starts and it is a very thin line which causes a lot of controversy that would be too much to go into.
Answering the question itself now :) - I don't think there is a point to find who to blame, because that never helps really. "Moral decadence" for me is the fact that things that should ideally disappear all at once are being made "cool" and accepted. There may be 1000s examples here, I would just give the most obvious one which is alcohol. A lot of people would argue with that saying that there's nothing wrong with a can of beer in the evening, but there really is a lot wrong with that because half of the world is abusing alcohol. And now one would say: well I'm, not responsible for everyone and that is the main issue here. Everyone is responsible for everyone,and that's not communism or anything like that, it's not political in any way it is just common sense that I came to at one point.
Well, that's just a bit of what the whole topic can reveal, but the comment is already to long to read :)
Hey not sure if you meant to answer to my post or to the question itself. But, yes I agree with you. It does depend on how the author defines "decadence" but as a concept I think it boils down to questions about morality and freewill.
I think there were some authors/artist back in the day that associated with the decadent movement because they ascribed to a new aesthetic that the mainstream "good society" was not promoting. There was experimentation in art forms that display sexuality, grotesques figures, morbid things (think Edgar Allan Poe) and it was looked down upon. For me personally, I think discord creates more creativity and is definitely influential. So yes, I think there is a fine line, especially, in how we judge what is and what is not decadence. To each their own?
Congratulations @elehcim8! You have completed the following achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on the badge to view your Board of Honor.
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOP