INTRODUCTION

I am scathing of modern society. The blame and victim culture is the product of an incorrect liberalism. Yes, human rights and the end to discrimination should be applauded, but I feel liberals have now become the lackeys of globalisation. A consumer society cannot truly exist if people have ties to tradition and traditional lifestyles. Hence, commerce allowed liberals to destroy such traditions, leaving a society with no direction or meaning. This void can then be filled with trivia and excess – in other words, the things globalisation is all about. And meaning transfers to the ipod or celebrity.

Anthony North

The following essays are on this page:

My Body, My mind - Taking a look at the history of medical science, have we got the balance right between technology and natural remedy, or even physical and psychological illness? Maybe synthesis is needed in the various aspects of medicine.

The Specialist - Individuality breeds the specialist through man’s importance. When we ally this to technology, are we really advancing human society, or producing a societal machine?

Modern Love - The definition of love is hard to pin down, but is it even harder to achieve in the modern world because of the sheer fastness of life? And in thinking we are in love, do we mis-understand what it is?

They Must Be Stoned - Liberals sometimes have specific ideas on drugs, but could it be a mistake to not take account of differing sociological factors regarding the dangers of drugs?

Understanding Women - An essay that takes a sometimes satirical look at the place of woman in society and history.

Digi-Man - Society needs common symbols to mould them into society. One modern symbol was TV, with programmes watched by many, but as digitalisation takes over, will this change?

The Corporate Junkie - The multi-nationals rule the world, but what is behind their power? Here, I analyse the surprising conspirator behind it all.

It’s No Joke - As individuality rises, attempts are being made to take away what it is to be human. This is so in political correctness, which attempts to destroy humour. Yet there is nothing more human than this.

What An Insult - As a society we are beginning to fight against insult, but what kind of world would we live in if no one could insult another person? Could it be that banning insult is a form of totalitarianism in itself?

Uni-Cult - Universities used to take only the top academic potential from schools. Now almost anyone can go. Does the university experience now leave us with a mediocrisy rather than able professionals?

It’s My Opinion - We all have an opinion nowadays, but how valid is that opinion? Should everyone’s opinion be given authority, or do we need to add a touch of commonsense to freedom of speech?

My Healthy Life Plan - Health is important. Here, I offer my own recipe for a healthy life. If you’re lucky, it will work.

It’s His Castle - We live in an affluent society and this is reflected by the care we take over the house we live in. But does our house-mania have echoes of impulses of greatness from the past?

I Gotta Right - The new, rights-based culture is said to be of benefit to everyone, but what is the true reality of absolute rights? Is it a good idea, or do the liberals who devised it have no idea about how society really works?

Wealth Through Birth or Merit? – British society seems pleased to be ridding itself of the aristocracy, but are the new rich better or worse than this privileged bunch?

The Enduring Student - Getting old in the west now means trying to recreate youth. Are we right in this approach, or could the east teach us about what ageing really implies, and what role the elderly should have in society?

Dark Times - Modern life is thought to be the apex of social evolution, but is this the case, or do we stew in a conflicting sea of individuality? Even more worrying, what will our society leave behind for future societies to remember us by? Maybe nothing.

What Are Women Now? – We rightly applaud the success of feminism, but in their success what have women lost? Indeed, has the whole of society suffered because of the role women decided to take?

Put It In Yer Head - What are we to make of education today? Is it as good as some would have us believe, or does modern schooling take out of the curriculum those things that are vital for true understanding.

Libertarians Be Damned - The libertarian has freed society to indulge in whatever it likes. Taboos are gone. Exhibitionism rules. Morals are thought old hat. But what has all this done to living? Do libertarians know what fun or happiness really is?

Picasso Rising - People used to use commonsense in everyday life. Today, it seems as if commonsense is being left behind. But this is not the case. Rather, commonsense has been politicised. But can society work with a politicisation of such an important function?

Icon Fever - We all remember the death of Diana, but are the conspiracy theories correct? Or could it be that we mis-understand the sociology of such moments; moments that, in the past,
have birthed great religions.