¶11 Even admitting that material development has some advantages, moreover from a very relative point of view, one can, when one envisages consequences such as those we have just pointed out, ask oneself whether these advantages are not greatly exceeded by the disadvantages.1 We do not even speak of all that has been sacrificed to this exclusive development, and which was worth incomparably more; we do not speak of the superior knowledge that has been forgotten, of intellectuality destroyed, of spirituality that has disappeared;2 we take simply modern civilisation in itself, and we say that, if one were to compare the advantages and disadvantages of what it has produced, the result would risk being decidedly negative.3 Inventions that are currently multiplying with ever-increasing rapidity are all the more dangerous because they set in motion forces whose true nature is entirely unknown even to those who use them;4 and this ignorance is the best proof of the nullity of modern science with respect to explanatory value, therefore as knowledge, even limited to the physical domain alone;5 at the same time, the fact that practical applications are in no way hindered by this shows that this science is indeed oriented uniquely in a self-interested direction, that industry is the sole real goal of all its research.6 Since the danger of inventions, even those that are not expressly destined to play a deadly rôle for humanity, and which nevertheless cause so many catastrophes, not to mention the unsuspected disturbances they provoke in the terrestrial environment,7 since this danger, we say, will doubtless only increase further in proportions difficult to determine, it is permissible to think, without too much implausibility, as we have already indicated previously, that it is perhaps in this way that the modern world will end by destroying itself, if it is incapable of stopping in this path while there is still time.8
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Summary

Guénon acknowledges that material development may have some advantages from a relative point of view, but asks whether these are not greatly exceeded by the disadvantages. He sets aside the superior knowledge, intellectuality, and spirituality that have been sacrificed, and considers modern civilisation on its own terms, concluding that a comparison of its advantages and disadvantages would likely yield a negative result. Inventions multiplying with ever-increasing rapidity are especially dangerous because they unleash forces whose true nature is unknown even to their users, proving the explanatory nullity of modern science even within the physical domain. The fact that practical applications continue regardless shows that industry, not knowledge, is the real goal of all research. Since this danger will only increase, he suggests that it is perhaps in this way that the modern world will end by destroying itself, if it cannot stop while there is still time.

General notes

  1. avantages relatifs du développement matériel contrebalancés par les inconvénients — Rendered as ‘relative advantages of material development outweighed by disadvantages’. Guénon concedes that modern civilisation has brought certain practical advantages (comfort, health, communication), but he insists on the ‘very relative’ character of these benefits. Compared to the spiritual, intellectual and even physical damage, these advantages are far surpassed by the disadvantages. ↩︎
  2. connaissances supérieures oubliées, intellectualité détruite, spiritualité disparue — Rendered as ‘superior knowledge forgotten, intellectuality destroyed, spirituality disappeared’. Guénon enumerates the irreplaceable losses caused by modern civilisation: traditional metaphysics (superior knowledge), the faculty of knowing principles directly (intellectuality), and the sacred dimension of existence (spirituality). These losses are infinitely more serious than any material gain. ↩︎
  3. bilan négatif de la civilisation moderne — Rendered as ‘negative balance sheet of modern civilisation’. Guénon proposes to tally the advantages and disadvantages of modernity on its own ground (material, technical, quantitative), without even evoking spiritual losses. Even on this limited plane, the balance sheet is probably negative: technical catastrophes, pollution, wars, industrial diseases, ecological imbalances exceed the benefits. ↩︎
  4. forces inconnues mises en jeu par les inventions modernes — Rendered as ‘unknown forces set in motion by modern inventions’. Guénon anticipates here critiques of modern technology: inventors and users of technologies do not understand the profound nature of the forces they manipulate (electricity, radioactivity, nuclear energy). This ignorance is dangerous because it can lead to unpredictable catastrophes. ↩︎
  5. nullité explicative de la science moderne — Rendered as ‘explanatory nullity of modern science’. Guénon affirms that modern science, despite its technical efficacy, is incapable of truly ‘understanding’ the phenomena it uses. It knows how forces act, but ignores what they are in their essence. This ignorance proves that modern science is not true knowledge, but only utilitarian know-how. ↩︎
  6. l’industrie comme but réel de la science moderne — Rendered as ‘industry as the real goal of modern science’. Guénon reaffirms that modern science is not a disinterested search for truth, but an instrument in the service of industrial production. If theoretical understanding were the goal, ignorance of profound causes would be unacceptable; but since only the practical result matters, ignorance is tolerated. ↩︎
  7. troubles insoupçonnés dans l’ambiance terrestre — Rendered as ‘unsuspected disturbances in the terrestrial environment’. Guénon shows a remarkable intuition: he evokes the ecological and atmospheric disturbances caused by industrial activities (pollution, destruction of the ozone layer, climate change), long before these questions became public concerns. ↩︎
  8. le monde moderne pourrait se détruire lui-même par ses propres inventions — Rendered as ‘the modern world could destroy itself by its own inventions’. Guénon formulates an apocalyptic prediction: modern civilisation, if it persists in its logic of uncontrolled technical development, will end by self-destructing (nuclear war, ecological catastrophe, technological collapse). This self-destruction would be the logical consequence of practical materialism, which sacrifices all wisdom to material power. ↩︎