Random Acts of Violence Surge Across the Country, Indicating Societal Decline: Expert

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https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/random-acts-of-violence-surge-across-the-country-indicating-societal-decline-expert-5503424

Random Acts of Violence Surge Across the Country, Indicating Societal Decline: Expert
Crime has already been at high levels for over a year, and the rise of senseless violence signals a moral decline.

By Matthew Lysiak
10/4/2023

Excerpts:

has fueled concerns that the country could be in the midst of a widespread societal decline and “a sign of complete callousness to our fellow man,” according to a philosophy professor at Hillsdale College.
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In Washington, homicides are up 15 percent compared to a year ago, with the city on pace to surpass 200 for the third year in a row, according to police. Foreign countries have also taken notice. A July 24 tweet from the Mexican Consulate urged its nationals to "take precautions” while visiting the nation’s capital due to “a significant increase in crime in areas previously considered safe.”

In San Francisco, some workers are now being told to stay home instead of risking the commute to work. An Aug. 2 memo from the Department of Health and Human Services advised federal employees to avoid the office at the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building due to drug use and rising crime in the area, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Ian Church, an associate professor of philosophy at Hillsdale College, told The Epoch Times that the rise in random acts of violence could indicate that society may be moving backward and toward a pre-Enlightenment mindset.

“Humans naturally have a moral sense, but humans are also naturally tribalistic. Throughout most of our history as a species, we’ve prioritized members of our tribe over and against outsiders or the 'other,'” said Mr. Church.

“The Enlightenment, however, allowed us to transcend our tribalistic impulses to deeply reflect on and appreciate our moral obligations to all people. Humans qua humans are worthy of basic decency. Humans qua humans should not be treated as mere means to our personal ends.

“My fear is that those Enlightenment values have deteriorated.”

Mr. Church said that the rise in random attacks across the country is “especially shocking and disturbing” and “a sign of complete callousness to our fellow man.”

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