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010 _a08019225
040 _aUtSlPG
041 7 _aen
_2iso639-1
050 4 _aHM
100 1 _aBalfour, Arthur James,
_d1848-1930
245 1 0 _aDecadence :
_bHenry Sidgwick memorial lecture, 1908
264 1 _aSalt Lake City, UT :
_bProject Gutenberg,
_c2022
300 _a1 online resource :
_bmultiple file formats
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _acomputer
_bc
_2rdamedia
338 _aonline resource
_bcr
_2rdacarrier
500 _aRelease date is 2022-06-01
508 _aThomas Frost and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
520 _a"Decadence" by Arthur James Balfour is an exploratory philosophical essay delivered as a lecture at Newnham College in the early 20th century. This thoughtful treatment delves into the concept of decadence, focusing not on its artistic or literary manifestations, which are often discussed, but rather its implications for political and national decline. Balfour's discussion is framed within the context of historic civilizations and the greater questions of societal evolution, stability, and potential decay. In the essay, Balfour presents a series of reflections on the nature of civilizational history through the lens of decadence, pondering whether it is an inevitable part of the life cycle of nations, akin to aging in individuals. He investigates the factors that may contribute to the decline of great empires, specifically referencing the Roman Empire as a case study to illustrate the complexities inherent in identifying the reasons behind such profound shifts. He contemplates the nuances between decadence as a discrete process versus more apparent misfortunes like war or famine that often accompany societal downfalls. Ultimately, Balfour invites readers to consider the intricate interplay of historical, cultural, and social elements that contribute to the rise and fall of civilizations, leaving them with a sense of caution about the future trajectory of societies as they navigate the currents of progress and potential decline. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
534 _pOriginally published:
_cUnited Kingdom: The University Press, 1908
653 _aPolitical science
653 _aNationalism
856 4 0 _uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68219
999 _c109036
_d109036