It is an undeniable fact that the growth of materialism has surpassed all known limits and the present century is the age of greed. Just as there were previous periods which were known for different characteristics, like the stone age, the bronze age and also the age of faith, the age of reason and enlightenment, our century is the age of greed. The source for this, perhaps, is the growing industrialization and urbanization. Rural society is in many ways conducive to close personal relations while urban society is not. People in over-crowded cities are more than ever-conscious of keeping up with the Joneses whether they do it on bank loans or hire- purchase systems. Every one seems to be caught in the rat-race.
In today's world, heart attacks, psychological problems and the increased number of people who are victims of high tension are a standing testimony to our greed. Often one wonders why this has happened. There is a strong nostalgia for the peace and leisure of the bygone ages; but man feels helpless in the present set up. It is difficult to he a loner when so much importance is attached to the rank and status which money brings. How did it all come about'? I suspect that the growth of individualism which has on the one hand led to freedom and personal development, on the other, has led to an increased concern with the self and personal glory. Another reason which has contributed to this sense of greed is the increased mechanization of the age.
With better and still better gadgets available, men long to possess them and are led to work for these. One major factor has also been the political history of the present century. The two World Wars demonstrated the fragility of human existence. In fact the Second World War, with the use of the atom bomb, brought a finality to it. Ever since then, men have been constantly living under the shadow of a nuclear war. The glaring lack of spirituality and the large- scale displacement of religious faith have also led to this growth of greed. We are a generation condemned to our fat with nothing to look forward to.
This greed is by no means a by-product of the affluence of the developed nations and it has made its presence felt in the developing countries. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that corruption seems to have infiltrated all sides of life in the developing countries. Patriotism, national interest - all seem to have been pushed into the background. Armaments, airplanes and other similar products are also ordered because of the money which is exchanged and not because of their mechanical soundness. Expediency has become a byword in political life. A code of conduct is entirely absent from public life. The motto seems to he "Each one for himself and no one for others".
The twentieth century has been labeled in various ways - the age of affluence, the age of illusion, the age of atrocity. The age of greed is perhaps as good a label as any other.
It is an undeniable fact that the growth of materialism has surpassed all known limits and the present century is the
age
of
greed
.
Just
as there were previous periods which
were known
for
different
characteristics, like the stone
age
, the bronze
age
and
also
the
age
of faith, the
age
of reason and enlightenment, our century is the
age
of
greed
. The source for this, perhaps, is the growing industrialization and urbanization. Rural society is in
many
ways conducive to close personal relations while urban society is not.
People
in over-crowded cities are more than ever-conscious of keeping up with the
Joneses
whether they do it on bank loans or hire-
purchase
systems. Every one
seems
to
be caught
in the rat-race.
In
today
's world, heart attacks, psychological problems and the increased number of
people
who are victims of high tension are a standing testimony to our
greed
.
Often
one wonders why this has happened. There is a strong nostalgia for the peace and leisure of the bygone
ages
;
but
man
feels helpless in the present set up. It is
difficult to he
a loner when
so
much importance
is attached
to the rank and status which money brings. How did it all
come
about'? I suspect that the growth of individualism which has on the one hand
led
to freedom and personal development, on the other, has
led
to an increased concern with the self and personal glory. Another reason which has contributed to this sense of
greed
is the increased mechanization of the age.
With better and
still
better gadgets available,
men
long to possess them and are
led
to work for these. One major factor has
also
been the political history of the present century. The two World Wars demonstrated the fragility of human existence. In fact the Second World War, with the
use
of the atom bomb, brought a finality to it. Ever since then,
men
have been
constantly
living under the shadow of a nuclear war. The glaring lack of spirituality and the large- scale displacement of religious faith have
also
led
to this growth of
greed
. We are a generation condemned to our
fat
with nothing to look forward to.
This
greed
is by no means a by-product of the affluence of the developed nations and it has made its presence felt in the
developing countries
. In fact, it would not be
wrong
to say that corruption
seems
to have infiltrated all sides of life in the
developing countries
. Patriotism, national interest
-
all
seem
to have
been pushed
into the background. Armaments, airplanes and other similar products are
also
ordered
because
of the money which
is exchanged
and not
because
of their mechanical soundness. Expediency has become a byword in political life. A code of conduct is
entirely
absent from public life. The motto
seems
to he
"
Each one for himself and no one for others
"
.
The twentieth century has
been labeled
in various ways
-
the
age
of affluence, the
age
of illusion, the
age
of atrocity.
The
age
of
greed
is perhaps as
good
a label as any other.
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