The Myth of Modernity

First published in 1950, this is a late work by Charles Baudouin, world-famous French psychologist, and takes its title from the opening chapter which examines the transformation of the myth of Progress, characteristic of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, into the myth of Modernity, characteristic of the time of writing. The author has little sympathy for a development which he regards as essentially vulgar; the myth of Progress, he says, had its aspiration and gave man reasons for reaching out for better things, but the myth of Modernity 'seems to give humanity reasons only for fleeing from itself, reasons for unhappiness, inasmuch as the man who runs away from himself is an unhappy man'. This chapter is characteristic of those that follow - on Baudelaire, Verlaine and other literary topics; on Art and the Epoch, The Prestige of Action, Technique versus Mysticism, Opinion and Tolerance, etc. A broad humanity and a gentle irony are the characteristic features of this stimulating book, now available again to be enjoyed in its historical context.

Charles Baudouin, Bernard Miall

1. From the Myth of Progress to the Myth of Modernity 2. The Clean Sweep 3. Angelism 4. Politeness 5. Technique versus Nature 6. Baudelaire and the Modern Man 7. Of the Prestige of Action 8. Communions 9. Opinion and Tolerance 10. Humanism 11. Eloquence on Trial 12. Of Reading 13. Technique versus Mysticism 14. A Moderate View of Happiness 15. The Paradoxes of Education 16. The Gift of Childhood 17. Confidence in Mankind 18. An Apology for the Unruly 19. Withdrawal into one's Tent 20. Verlaine 21. Art and the Epoch.