A global trend of societies embracing mediocrity and eschewing free thought could be countered by AI-powered technology, writes Paul Budde.
I RECENTLY FOLLOWED a lecture on the Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset and was particularly struck by his critique of “mass man”. as described in his book, The Revolt of the Masses.
In this work, Ortega provides a sobering perspective on the challenges facing modern society. His concept of mass man depicts a collective mindset that dismisses intellectual rigour, thrives on entitlement, and rejects the cultural and intellectual foundations that sustain civilisation. This critique resonates strongly in today’s polarised and media-saturated world, where low-quality input often shapes political, social and economic discourse.
To better understand Ortega’s ideas, it’s helpful to outline his core critiques of mass man.
Ortega warns of the following:
- a rejection of intellectual and cultural foundations, where mass man benefits from civilisation’s advancements without valuing or understanding their roots;
- a sense of entitlement without a corresponding …