While reading the two quotes of Croly’s it occurred to me that there is a separate bias at work here. In addition to the progressive mindset, he assumes, as have so many others, that anything older is inferior.
This belief is easily seen when the separation of time, past to present, is greater. To the progressives the ancients were dumb animal like creatures. Nothing could be further from the truth.
From some perspectives, the technological advances are a marvel, they make life easier. However, they don’t represent any change in mental capabilities. It has taken many people many generations of building on the findings of their predecessors to achieve those advances. Take away some of the building blocks and poof the advancements disappear.
In some instances just the opposite of what Crowley and his progressive ilk think is what actually occurs. There is a quaint little notion called the ‘Law of Diminishing Returns.’ In this instance, when looking at the progressive perspective, there is a regression of ideas based on an attitude of superiority and of ignoring the past.
You know, this is a very good observation on your part. Progressives do indeed have that attitude that everything old is worthless and that the only thing that matters is modernity. Nothing matters but today.
This is why I like to get others to reading these progressive words, because it brings advantage in understanding them.
I have had this on the sidebar of my blog and it will never change because it is so true:
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” - Sun Tzu (Art of War, Chapter 3)