Declinism
How often have you discussed how good
the past was and how the present seems to be worsening? How frequently have you
reminisced about how things were better in the past, but today, the food we eat
and the quality of items we use don’t match what we had before? If you find
yourself engaging in this kind of conversation, it’s known as Declinism.
Declinism is the tendency to view the
past in an overly optimistic light while looking at the present or future in an
excessively negative tone. This perspective leads us to believe that things are
worse now than they used to be. It often pertains to our views about the
overall state of a country, society, or institution and typically includes the
belief that they are in decline or deteriorating.
This mindset can negatively impact us,
as it shifts our focus toward what is wrong in the present and makes us neglect
what is right. Such biases can hinder our decision-making, contribute to a
negative outlook, and create difficulties in relating to the current
generation.
To counteract this tendency, we should recognise
that the past also included wars, famines, pandemics, and poor infrastructure.
Moreover, we should acknowledge that a few years from now, today will become
the past, and we may still indulge in Declinism, referring to it as nostalgia.
This kind of bias is illogical.
To
avoid falling into Declinism, we should strive to appreciate the positive
aspects of the present and accept them as a gift.
M.L.
Narendra Kumar
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