The Riddle of the Modern World

Abstract

In these famous lines written in 1732 Alexander Pope attempted to summarize the quintessential nature of human beings and their predicament. Pope did not know that the sense of contradiction which he felt was particularly intense in that very era because he was living on one of the great fault-lines of history. Mankind was just starting to witness spectacular changes which would alter all the parameters of human life, first in England, and later for all humans and all other species on this planet.

Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, The proper study of mankind is man. Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise, and rudely great: With too much knowledge for the sceptic side, With too much weakness for the stoic’s pride. He hangs between; in doubt to act, or rest; In doubt to deem himself a god, or beast; In doubt his mind or body to prefer; Born but to die, and reasoning but to err; Alike in ignorance, his reason such, Whether he thinks too little, or too much: Chaos of thought and passion, all confused; Still by himself abused, or disabused; Created half to rise, and half to fall; Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all; Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurl’d; The glory, jest, and riddle of the world!

(Alexander Pope, Essay on Man, Epistle II)