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The Wizards of Ozymandias
Western Civilization--the American version in particular--is in a very turbulent and, perhaps terminal condition. The sense of civility that helps give meaning to a "civilization" is in full retreat.
Butler Shaffer has, over the course of several years, written 51 wonderful essays observing the dissolution of Western culture and civilization. They have been assembled in the The Wizards of Ozymandias a captivating work full of entertaining epigrams and anecdotes, as well as enlightening commentary on current events, and historical episodes, that will keep you engaged and immersed from the first to last page. Shaffer's intellectual prowess and deep well of life experience enlightens and rouses introspection at every turn. It is immediately evident that the author has been writing on law, economics, and history for decades. This book will challenge you to more deeply contemplate the ideals of liberty. The title may be foreboding, but for all that, the book is an uplifting and gratifying read.
In his great poem "Ozymandias" Percy Shelley pictures for us the eponymous tyrant whose arrogance of power could not save him from historical oblivion. Ozymandias is a reminder of the fragile nature of every system—be it biological, institutional, or cosmic in character. As we are learning from the advanced course in history in which we seem now to be enrolled, this precariousness also applies to civilizations. It is difficult for intelligent minds to doubt that this current system is in the process of joining Ozymandias in the dust-bin of history.
Western culture has produced material and spiritual values that have done so much to humanize and civilize mankind. Unfortunately, it has also produced highly-structured institutions and practices that not only impede, but reverse these life-enhancing qualities. Is it possible for us to energize our intelligence in order to rediscover, in the debris of our dying civilization, the requisite components for a fundamentally transformed culture grounded in free, peaceful, and productive systems that sustain rather than diminish life?
In the introduction Shaffer describes how civilizations are created by individuals. In following chapters, he explains how they are destroyed by collectives which are good for little more than the destruction of what others have created. Seen in the sharp contrasts between market economies and state socialism; the fundamental struggles are between the creative energies unleashed by liberty, and the repressive forces of politics. Shaffer explores the impact that institutionalism may have on the decline of civilization.
Shaffer methodically takes the reader through the rise and decline of Western civilization using references that range from the construction of an Islamic cultural center a few blocks from the site of the former World Trade Center, to the BP disaster, to the 1951 motion picture, The Day the Earth Stood Stilland on to experiments in removing road signs and traffic lights.
What is likely to follow from this imminent “decline and fall?” Might the remnants of our terminal culture—like an estate bequeathed us by a rich benefactor—provide the foundations for a fundamentally transformed culture; one that does not cannibalize itself?
Can conditions of peace and liberty replace the wars, coercive regulation, and worship of violence that have combined to destroy our present civilization? The book ends with such questions, and invites the reader to contemplate how such a life-centered culture might arise.
If after reading this book you are not convinced that the fall of western civilization is upon us, don't grieve just yet! Shaffer is optimistic that such a collapse could be the turning point for a social transformation toward a society that embraces individ
Butler Shaffer has, over the course of several years, written 51 wonderful essays observing the dissolution of Western culture and civilization. They have been assembled in the The Wizards of Ozymandias a captivating work full of entertaining epigrams and anecdotes, as well as enlightening commentary on current events, and historical episodes, that will keep you engaged and immersed from the first to last page. Shaffer's intellectual prowess and deep well of life experience enlightens and rouses introspection at every turn. It is immediately evident that the author has been writing on law, economics, and history for decades. This book will challenge you to more deeply contemplate the ideals of liberty. The title may be foreboding, but for all that, the book is an uplifting and gratifying read.
In his great poem "Ozymandias" Percy Shelley pictures for us the eponymous tyrant whose arrogance of power could not save him from historical oblivion. Ozymandias is a reminder of the fragile nature of every system—be it biological, institutional, or cosmic in character. As we are learning from the advanced course in history in which we seem now to be enrolled, this precariousness also applies to civilizations. It is difficult for intelligent minds to doubt that this current system is in the process of joining Ozymandias in the dust-bin of history.
Western culture has produced material and spiritual values that have done so much to humanize and civilize mankind. Unfortunately, it has also produced highly-structured institutions and practices that not only impede, but reverse these life-enhancing qualities. Is it possible for us to energize our intelligence in order to rediscover, in the debris of our dying civilization, the requisite components for a fundamentally transformed culture grounded in free, peaceful, and productive systems that sustain rather than diminish life?
In the introduction Shaffer describes how civilizations are created by individuals. In following chapters, he explains how they are destroyed by collectives which are good for little more than the destruction of what others have created. Seen in the sharp contrasts between market economies and state socialism; the fundamental struggles are between the creative energies unleashed by liberty, and the repressive forces of politics. Shaffer explores the impact that institutionalism may have on the decline of civilization.
Shaffer methodically takes the reader through the rise and decline of Western civilization using references that range from the construction of an Islamic cultural center a few blocks from the site of the former World Trade Center, to the BP disaster, to the 1951 motion picture, The Day the Earth Stood Stilland on to experiments in removing road signs and traffic lights.
What is likely to follow from this imminent “decline and fall?” Might the remnants of our terminal culture—like an estate bequeathed us by a rich benefactor—provide the foundations for a fundamentally transformed culture; one that does not cannibalize itself?
Can conditions of peace and liberty replace the wars, coercive regulation, and worship of violence that have combined to destroy our present civilization? The book ends with such questions, and invites the reader to contemplate how such a life-centered culture might arise.
If after reading this book you are not convinced that the fall of western civilization is upon us, don't grieve just yet! Shaffer is optimistic that such a collapse could be the turning point for a social transformation toward a society that embraces individ
- GenresPolitics
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 8, 2015
Three and half stars. This was good, but after the brilliance of Boundaries of Order I was disappointed. This is a vast collection of articles and essays, while there are moments of brilliance, it is largely repetitive. I know that we are told that we must hear things three times to remember, but after nine times or 18 times... it does get monotonous.
I felt that Chapter 37 "Bring Back Discrimination" was worth the price of the ebook. So in that light, everything else was a bonus. I am not turned off Shaffer by any means, but I am very glad that I read "Boundaries of Order" before I tackled this.
I felt that Chapter 37 "Bring Back Discrimination" was worth the price of the ebook. So in that light, everything else was a bonus. I am not turned off Shaffer by any means, but I am very glad that I read "Boundaries of Order" before I tackled this.
October 25, 2020
Shaffer provides his own summary of this book: “If there were but one message I would hope readers would draw from my writings it would be an awareness of how we condition our minds to make our lives subservient to institutional interests.” Our institutional focus, worship even, is killing the creative forces that created our society. I’ve noticed it, too, and often associate it with the rise of the all-important role of “expert” over a century ago. Institutions are full of experts.
Another theme to this book, though, is one central to my own work and research: the disconnect between corporate ownership and management. He discusses this idea several times and points to institutionalized thinking as its direct cause. And Shaffer’s discussion of how the government used fear (regarding 9/11) to deepen its institutionalized control over the masses could have been just as easily been written about Covid-19.
I think my favorite chapter is 45, “An Outbreak of Order in NYC.” It illustrates very simply how, reacting to the emergency landing by Capt. Sullenberger of US Airways Flight 1549, it was the people in the area who came to the rescue, not any government first responder. “The National Transportation Safety Board will make its routine ‘investigation’—to reinforce the supervisory mindset that, in finding out ‘what went wrong,’ the government will be able to ‘keep this from happening again.’” We can’t rely on government in situations like that because it’s impossible to prepare for such spontaneous occurrences. We rely, instead, on the spontaneous order that emerges in any complex society and we ought to acknowledge that fact more than we do.
But as much as I appreciate Shaffer’s views, this is not a cohesive book. It seems to be, more likely, a collection of blog posts and articles published as standalone pieces. It lacks an internal thread of consistent forward movement and, instead, tends to repeat not only certain ideas, but specific phrases.
As I read this, I’m continually struck by the fact that Shaffer was preaching to the choir. Nobody who needs to read this will ever pick it up, and even if they did, the stiff, academic language would fail to engage the young or distracted, the very people who need to understand these truths. This book receives the same criticism that I lay on book-writing economists: what is really needed today is a translation of these concepts into a more modern, accessible form of language.
Another theme to this book, though, is one central to my own work and research: the disconnect between corporate ownership and management. He discusses this idea several times and points to institutionalized thinking as its direct cause. And Shaffer’s discussion of how the government used fear (regarding 9/11) to deepen its institutionalized control over the masses could have been just as easily been written about Covid-19.
I think my favorite chapter is 45, “An Outbreak of Order in NYC.” It illustrates very simply how, reacting to the emergency landing by Capt. Sullenberger of US Airways Flight 1549, it was the people in the area who came to the rescue, not any government first responder. “The National Transportation Safety Board will make its routine ‘investigation’—to reinforce the supervisory mindset that, in finding out ‘what went wrong,’ the government will be able to ‘keep this from happening again.’” We can’t rely on government in situations like that because it’s impossible to prepare for such spontaneous occurrences. We rely, instead, on the spontaneous order that emerges in any complex society and we ought to acknowledge that fact more than we do.
But as much as I appreciate Shaffer’s views, this is not a cohesive book. It seems to be, more likely, a collection of blog posts and articles published as standalone pieces. It lacks an internal thread of consistent forward movement and, instead, tends to repeat not only certain ideas, but specific phrases.
As I read this, I’m continually struck by the fact that Shaffer was preaching to the choir. Nobody who needs to read this will ever pick it up, and even if they did, the stiff, academic language would fail to engage the young or distracted, the very people who need to understand these truths. This book receives the same criticism that I lay on book-writing economists: what is really needed today is a translation of these concepts into a more modern, accessible form of language.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews