Megalopolis as the mirrorof the soul
Pages 34-40
The article focuses on some civilization-related factors determining the life of a contemporary megalopolis and influencing the structure of the human soul. The system of global capitalism appears to be the most important factor producing a strong impact onto the urban population. The present-day megalopolis operates as an economic centre having pragmatic rhythms and spaces. «Homo economicus» is a relevant definition of the present-day man.This state of affairs reflects the structure of the human soul and its needs. It is overcrowded with sensual stimuli and temptations producing misbalance and stress. Two phenomenological distinctions are employed to analyze the experience of urban residents: noise vs. silence and motion vs. quietness. Noise and motion constitute the background of the human experience here; silence and quietness are local and volatile. On the contrary, outside of the city, silence is the background of the experience, and any motion vanishes in the realm of quietness. Nature is calm, and we need its calmness to give some rest to our senses. The effect of permanent haste typical for the lifestyle in big cities makes people unconscious of themselves. They lose their lifetime to implement their basic functions like eating/working/sleeping. Any higher incomes and comfort don’t make people happier; therefore, they have to look for alternative lifestyles (e.g. “downshifting”). Some people are not eager to be part of the global economy, but they have no opportunity to get out of the urban space. They need some remedy to resist the urban attack. That remedy could be a kind of a psychological technique reducing the effect of aggression. In this respect, the practice of hesychia deriving from the Christian ascetical tradition seems to be useful for an urban resident allowing him/her to attain the state of inner silence. This technique may be employed as a way to survive in the urban haste.
DOI: 10.22227/1997-0935.2013.3.34-40
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