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Document Details : Title: Introduction Author(s): PATTYN, Bart Journal: Ethical Perspectives Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Date: April 2004 Pages: 1-2 DOI: 10.2143/EP.8.1.503820 Abstract : Now that the classical ideological traditions can no longer be taken for granted, and political parties are all shifting toward the centre, a fault line is emerging that cuts across the classical ideologies more sharply than it did previously. This fault line is defined by the contrast between the claim that power and wealth should be shared and the claim that it is everyone for himself. As it happens, the cynical option — everyone for himself — is not supported primarily by the wealthy and the highly educated. Cynicism is also quite common among those who feel threatened or discouraged. They perceive tolerance, solidarity and social engagement as expressions of a kind of hypocritical piety and find some satisfaction in staunchly defending exaggerated protectionistic and individualistic positions. They are motivated not so much by the content of extremist propaganda as by the public effect of its pronouncements, which are speech acts similar to swearing and cursing. And this is one reason why it is so difficult to refute extreme positions by rational arguments: the message is chosen in function of an already existing desire to set oneself apart. In the past decade or so, this message has been politically exploited through the use of populistic media, in many countries with a resounding success. |
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