Culture on the Couch

Western Civilization’s Journey from Crisis to Maturity

A Case Study of Western Civilization

written by Anodea Judith

The only myth that is going to be worth talking about in the immediate future is one that is talking about the planet, not this city, not these people, but the planet and everybody on it. . . . And what it will have to deal with will be exactly what all myths have dealt with—the maturation of the individual, from dependency through adulthood, through maturity, and then to the exit; and then how to relate this society to the world of nature and the cosmos. . . . And until that gets going, you don’t have anything. - Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth (32)

For better or worse, the values of Western Civilization set trends for much of the world. Witness the ubiquitous suit and tie, the emulation of corporate capitalism, and the universality of the English language, to say nothing of the endless gadgets, innovations, and media images that flow into the planetary nervous system. With such a powerful influence, we have the potential to lead the emerging global civilization toward endless consumption and destruction of the biosphere or to an exciting and sustainable future. Which do we choose? This may be a no-brainer question, but today’s events tell us the reality is more complex. Just as it is for individuals, the collective gestalt can be led astray of its nobler goals when its health is out of balance.

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