An Antidote Of Modern Society Stoicism - 1058 Words

An Antidote to Modern Society: Stoicism In the early days of the United States, Jefferson laments to his friend Thomas Paine â€Å"many of the high and important characters are in need of learning the lessons of republicanism.† Jefferson encourages Paine to â€Å"Go on then in doing with your pen what in other times was done with the sword† (Jefferson). Echoing the adage â€Å"The pen is mightier than the sword†, this proverb is the basis of Bernays’ philosophy. When Bernays revolutionized public relations, he did so by operating on the mind. His legacy is prevalent to this day, as displayed by the seemingly limitless amounts of advertisements seen daily. Since it is intellectually lazy to fall victim to propaganda, adopting a practical philosophy such as Stoicism can serve to resist those who wish to manipulate. The nephew of psychoanalysis giant Sigmund Freud, Edward Bernays applied his uncle’s research to modern society. Written on his tombstone is â€Å"the father of public relations †, as his campaigns transformed how companies interact with society. Bernays expresses his justification for public relations in his book Propaganda. In the opening chapter, Organizing Chaos, Bernays asserts â€Å"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society† (9). He specifies â€Å"economic life would become hopelessly jammed. To avoid such confusion, society consents†¦ through propaganda of allShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesLandscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in Ancient and Classical History Jack Metzgar, Striking Steel: Solidarity