Hubris
The most prolific disease in human history; the precursor to narcissism.
The pride of the gods, which is why it tastes so good.
Most prominent trait among the well-intentioned that cause the rest of us to suffer the unintended consequences of their ill-conceived proposals.
Easily identifiable among the chosen who believe themselves capable of controlling the uncontrollable. They just need more control. Examples include enlightened censorship, benevolent tyranny, and the promise that historically malevolent authoritarianism will have magically transformed into modern benign progressivism due solely to the passage of time.
Especially common among young people, which we typically call ‘immaturity’, who believe that all knowledge and wisdom conceived prior to their birth is specious, backwards, or inconsequential. This is the height of hubris: the belief that ethics and knowledge emerged in tandem with our development in the real world. Maintaining this view into adulthood constitutes a character flaw.
While hubris is present in every era, it is not equally distributed. This leads some of us to conclude that, like most failed and failing equitable approaches, a balance should be actively sought; everyone should have their fair share of hubris. Special interest groups and proponents of mental health and personal development often celebrate so-called virtues of self-love and self-confidence, which do not qualify as virtues by any metric. The goal, generally speaking, is probably more akin to self-acceptance, but this moderate position is betrayed both by their rhetoric and their political agenda.
Virtually all projects fueled by hubristic minds inevitably fail due to structural instability. Pride does not function as an effective engine for long. We may be able to collect and coerce the sympathies and support of others, but the destruction inherent to its system shall be revealed in due time. This does not pose as a deterrent to those who believe themselves chosen for a special purpose.
Those touched by God believe that they exist as an example for us to follow. Ambition’s debt must be paid, but in our realm beyond fiction, Caesar never suffers the cost. The fact that hubristic experiments are forecast to fail never slows the fervor with which they are rallied. The bodies they accumulate are ordinary in nature, far beneath the chosen, and are therefore worthy expenditures in the pursuit of failed ambitions. The life of a mere mortal is a plaything of the gods, we exist to heed the call of the hubristic mind. If we cannot be depended upon to sacrifice ourselves for the GREATER GOOD, then we shall be compelled.
Each of us are capable of producing both good and evil, but hubris alone will colour the spectrum of our conduct varying shades of virtue.
All is righteous in the mind that reveres itself.
See: DARK TRIAD, MODEST
Posted: 13 Feb 2023
