An evaluation of modern man which contests his favorable self-evaluation. (1) Modern man views himself mistakenly as a man of peace, abhorrent of war, & a devotee of the 'ethical affirmation of life.' This view is refuted by the record of recent wars. (2) Modern man is convinced of his mental, moral, soc & creative superiority over the preceding generations. Actually, the superior creativity of modern man is shown in the field of sci & technological invention. In other cultural fields, eg religion, philosophy, ethics, law, psychosoc & humanistic disciplines, arts & literature, his creativity has been massive, but mediocre & largely vulgar; nor has he created a new & great theology, & his creativity in moral & ethical values, ideologies & behavior has been sterile. (3) Modern man believes that he is a free person, a fighter for freedom, liberator of all groups & persons from all forms of unjust limitation & suppression of their liberty & inalienable rights. This claim is belied by total war & totalitarian pol. (4) Modern man suffers from similar self-deceptions in other dimensions of life; he is actually a disharmonious & often schizophrenic bundle of contradictions (coincidentia oppositorum). I. Langnas.
