The views expressed in this article are the views of the author.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016, almost 45,000 Americans took their own lives, a 30% increase from 1999. In 27 states, half of all people who took their own lives had no known mental health condition when they ended their lives. Somewhere between 40 and 50% of all marriages end in divorce. In August 2017, 65 million Americans reported that they binge drink, comprising a little more than 40% of total alcohol users.
These trends can at least be partially explained by the concept called “anomie,” a term used by sociologist Emile Durkheim to describe the despair that arises from normlessness, a breakdown of shared values. The word “anomie” derives from Greek, meaning “lack of law.” It’s true, Western society is fragmented in a way it has never before—the individual has never been as free to choose his religion, his aesthetic, his morality, his media, his politic, his label, his brand. There are two general phenomena that exacerbate anomie: the preeminence of science, and the ubiquity of technology.
Our scientific culture, specifically its emphasis on objectivity, has reduced the human experience to an object of dispassionate inquiry. The Japanese philosopher Kitaro Nishida in his book, “An Inquiry into the Good,” quotes the German poet Goethe, “the stars in the heavens,” in order to illustrate that techno-scientifically empowered man has turned nature in to an object of his absolute control, and therefore man can no longer enjoy the transcendental sublimity of nature, the logical conclusion of the Abrahamic worldview that asserts man’s dominion over nature. (The starry night skies retain their transcendence because they are outside human volitional control.)
Paradoxically, we are no longer the crowning achievement of the great chain of being — the cosmically ordered ascension from plants to animals to humans — but instead, merely another organism, describable in strictly biological processes at the mercy of contingent cosmic events, an organism still evolving into yet another animal. What this means is that the human being thought himself as something above nature, something to be studied, then exploited, and when he found within himself nothing but nature, he had to study and exploit himself. The human being made himself into an object of dispassionate inquiry. Think about how corporations perfectly manipulate your desires, wants, and values with their ability to collect your online data preferences as a practical example of this dispassionate inquiry.
What’s worse is that ourquick acclimation to the ubiquity and acceleration of technology, specifically the internet, has been a cultural catastrophe, especially for our youthful generation. Our ability to connect with each other instantly eliminates the drive by which older generations sought their independence. A sobering article in The Atlantic explains that in greater numbers than ever before, young people, well into their twenties, rely on their parents for rides instead of earning their driver’s licenses, and the number of teens who see their friends every day has dropped by 40% from 2000-2015. In spite of the prevalence of dating apps, Americans are less and less sexually active as well. It seems to me that we know about our friends and loved ones, but we don’t actually know our friends and loved ones. I suspect we are a generation of what philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche dubbed “Last Men,” a generation plagued by passivity, busy with busyness itself, mediocrity confused for greatness, happiness and comfort mistaken for meaning, a generation utterly inert. That is to say, it is not science and technology that has driven our anomie, but we who have decided that loneliness was easier than freedom, and thus science and technology followed.
In a society such as ours that has no credible story to tell about itself — every empty pew attests to the gnawing emptiness of religion’s answer to human suffering; the story of our nation’s founding is no longer one of discovery and progress, but slavery and genocide; our answer to communist imperialism was just as cruel and calculated as the communists themselves — the responsibility of meaning-making falls especially hard on the individual.
In his book “The Stature of Man,” Colin Wilson describes the need for a hero: the hero is someone who lives his or her life to the fullest, and desires to enjoy all life has to offer. The hero is true to themselves and listens to their destiny. The hero views themselves as the protagonist of a great epic, such as Rostam, Beowulf or Gilgamesh, and thus sees every challenge, every setback, every loss, as an opportunity to grow, and laughs at their own suffering. Yes, what we most need is a generation of heroes, people who have outgrown the pathetic ease of apathy, who laugh at the feeble anemia of reductionism, and the abject poverty of historical dialectics. (How many times have you heard some numbskull, chin in the sky, reducing all human experience to electricity and chemical reactions, pretending all our problems are thus solved?) Merely by being themselves, embracing their individual subjectivity, the hero changes the world.
The Associate Registrar manages logistics relating to the Walters’ in-house and traveling exhibitions, and incoming and outgoing loans. Collaborates with the Museum’s team of registrars in all aspects of collections care, loans, and object movements, to ensure the safety, maintenance, and documentation for works in the Walters’ collection, on view, in storage, and on loan.
]]>The views expressed in this article are the views of the author.
For the homecoming kickoff, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County had the privilege to host a conversation with Trevor Noah. During the show, Trevor was asked a variety of questions pertaining to his stance on certain topics. Though the entire show was memorable with laughs and serious discussions, one topic stuck out to me the most. The interviewer asked a question that I believe many of us think about; what can we do to better ourselves as people? Though the question seems deep and complex, Trevor’s answer was quick. He stated that what we do for others helps us become better people.
Personally, I feel that I agree with Noah’s perspective on what makes a better person. It got me thinking about how many people define a role model as someone who goes above and beyond for others. How could we build ourselves up to this? First, ask yourself, when was the last time you went out of your way to help someone out? This could be something as small as holding the door for someone to volunteering with an organization. Any gesture no matter how small or big can contribute to being a good person. Putting others’ interests before your own shows that you’re not selfish and that you care about others’ needs. This is the first step to bettering yourself as a person.
Another question we should ask ourselves is how we feel when we help others. Do we feel a sense of accomplishment or do we feel as if we’re just completing another daily task in life? I believe that this is very important to focus on. If we enjoy helping others then we will most likely find ourselves doing more tasks that benefit those around us. Otherwise, we’re doing things for our own benefit and that may not always have someone else’s interest in mind. Despite this, no one wants to become selfless either. If we are coming to a point where we are putting others before our own needs then there’s a problem. Instead, we should be able to balance our focus on ourselves and those around us by finding a good middle ground between selfishness and selflessness.
When working towards becoming a better person, it is important to find a balance between selfishness and selflessness: empathy. While it is nice that we may be doing things for those around us, do we really know why we’re doing it? The ability to mentally put ourselves in another’s shoes and understand what they may be struggling with can strengthen our ability to help them. I have found myself in various situations where I was able to communicate with people more effectively by asking them what their thought process is. Asking questions is the biggest step towards understanding what someone is going through because it allows them to respond freely and it shows you hold interest. So, rather than telling your friends that everything is going to work out, ask them why they think it won’t. Understand why that person may see things the way they do then work together to change that.
Truly I do believe that everyone can be a good person if they choose to be. Everyone is capable of helping others if they push themselves to. Some of us may even be able to take that a step further by expressing interest in what we’re doing for others. Ultimately, the goal of becoming the best person we can be is to achieve empathy and show others that we understand. Once achieve this, we can build relationships and come together. Being a good person isn’t about raising money or finding a cure to the illness. It’s about understanding and giving; something that each of us can strive to do.
]]>The purpose of the Student Success Scholarship is to assist current residential students who demonstrate significant financial need to remain in on-campus residents, who may otherwise be unable to afford housing during the academic year.
The scholarship is supported by the cable contract with Residential Life. Award funds are for the following semester. If you are applying in fall, the funds would be applied for the spring semester housing balance. If the application is submitted and accepted in spring, the funds would be for the subsequent fall. Several scholarships may be awarded each semester. Funds will vary based on eligibility and will range from full semester housing costs to partial semester housing costs, not to exceed the cost of a double room.
Apply Now, application closes Thursday, October 31, 2019 at 12:00pm.
If you have any questions related to the form or the selection process, please contact Wendy Crowe at crowe@umbc.edu
Nearly 2,500 faculty and staff members’ accounts are now being protected by Duo, and the numbers continue to rise. Whether you’ve been using Duo for years, or you’re a new user, it’s nice to be reminded of a few best practices for using Duo. These tips, and a number of other topics, can be found on our Duo FAQs.
Reduce how much you’re prompted by Duo - Use Remember me for 30 days
Do you like the security you get by using Duo, but don’t want to use the second-factor step every time you log in? Simple. Just check the “Remember me for 30 days” checkbox on the Duo authentication screen.
NOTE: Only use this option on computers you control and trust. For example, your office computer or home computer. Do not use this option on public computers.
Don’t type or call - Use Push notifications
By far, the easiest way to use Duo is with a push notification to your smartphone. More than likely you have your smartphone with you. Simply press “send push” on the Duo authentication screen and acknowledge the push notification on your device.
Protect yourself from being locked out - Register multiple devices
In the event you don't have your standard authentication device with you, like your smartphone, be sure to register additional devices such as your desk or home phone.
Have more questions about using Duo? Browse our Duo FAQs, submit an RT ticket at my.umbc.edu/help, or contact the Technology Support Center (TSC) at (410) 455-3838.
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