Is Modern Man Superior to His Predecessors?

subtle superiority complex in modern man when he considers himself in relation to his predecessors. After all, modern man has computers, DVDs, hi-tech automobiles, jet aircraft and the achievement of putting men on the moon, among other things. There is a certain smugness in the average modern man who thinks to himself how much better he is than those earlier in history who knew nothing of digital movies, atomical physics and evolution. This superiority complex has a serious side to it. The idea that modern man is somehow better is a psychological motive force behind embracing the principle of immanence, which makes the individual or self the principle of judgment of all things. As a result, some modern intellectuals have rejected realistic metaphysics and philosophy. After all, if modern man is as superior as we say, he ought to think of himself and not the dry arguments of his unknowing, and perhaps even less intelligent, predecessors. For these reasons, this article will focus on the following claims. The first is that modern man is superior to his ancestors in the order of knowledge. Second, that modern man is superior to his predecessors in the moral order. Third, modern man is superior to his predecessors in the sociological/political order. Lastly, because of modern man’s superiority together with the intellectual foundation for that superiority, modern man is not able to accept the scholastic arguments in areas of philosophy and natural theology. While these claims will be considered, it must be conceded that not all men today consider modern man as superior. However, those more “up-to-date” individuals look upon the objectors as naive, unintelligent or ignorant.