The dominance of mediocrity.. How does mediocrity undermine the spirit of excellence in various areas of life?

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The book “La médiocratie Alain Deneaut” (2015) was published in an Arabic edition by Dr. Mishaal Abdul Aziz Al-Hajri (2020) under the title “The System of Triviality” and has attracted the attention of researchers and scholars in the fields of politics, economics, sociology, and culture, as it is a critical and intellectual work that addresses the phenomenon of the spread of triviality and its dominance over various aspects of life in our contemporary society. The Canadian philosopher Alain Deneau highlights how mediocrity is perpetuated at the expense of quality and innovation. Therefore, his study reflects a philosophical concern regarding the deterioration of values ​​in society, as it sheds light on how triviality has become normalized to become the prevailing norm in our time. Alain Deneau does not stop at diagnosing this phenomenon, but delves into analyzing its causes, effects, and the motives that contribute to its sustainability and perpetuating it as a daily reality.

How did triviality become a comprehensive system that controls various aspects of life?

Mediocrity is not an individual behavior, but a collective system that is destined to be established to elevate mediocrity and exclude quality. In this context, it appears that society has come to reward conformity to average and acceptable standards at the expense of creativity and excellence. The pursuit of conformity to this “mediocrity system” has become the primary goal of many individuals and institutions, which has enhanced its sustainability and spread.

We know that “mediocracy” is derived from the Latin word “Mediocris” and the Greek “Kratos” meaning power, and it is a concept of a system of government practiced by the middle class; thus, it is in conflict with “aristocracy”, meaning the government of the nobility and the nobles, and “cacocratie”, meaning the government of the worst.

Centrists, then, are those who ignore authenticity and question the social, political and cultural systems of society, who restrict freedom of criticism and focus on defending middle positions that are often useless. Accordingly, Alain Dono argues that centrism is turning into a system in which middle solutions dominate, and the tendency towards moderation becomes an inevitable and easily accepted norm.

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Alain Deno shows how the economic system has been reshaped to fit this way of thinking. Under the dominance of capital, quick profit and immediate gains have come to trump the importance of quality. Hence, products and services are promoted that support superficiality and encourage excessive consumption, contributing to the consolidation of a consumer society that is drowning in triviality on many levels.

Politically, Dono discusses how banality has seeped into modern political systems, whereby political figures are no longer chosen for their competence or leadership ability, but rather for their ability to adapt to a banality system that excludes the exceptional. According to Alain Dono, a banality politician is one who is adept at playing by the rules of this system and avoids radical positions that might lead to change. As a result, politics becomes a tool for maintaining the status quo rather than a means of achieving progress.

Culture has not been immune to the influence of this system, as the dominance of triviality has led to the flattening of arts, literature, and media. Instead of being a field that supports critical thinking and creativity, culture has become an arena for the sanctification of triviality and the production of content that focuses on immediate and superficial excitement, ignoring deep intellectual discussions.

Despite the bleak picture that Alain Dono paints, his book includes an explicit call to adopt worthy ideas, as he stresses the importance of reviving the values ​​of quality and creativity, and establishing a critical awareness capable of resisting attempts at domestication.

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The dominance of mediocrity and the preference for conformity over excellence in the system of triviality means that innovation or departure from the norm may be met with suspicion, as this system prefers stability and familiarity.

The dominance of mediation also weakens efficiency and quality, as the entire society feeds on the pattern and values ​​of fast consumption, and is satisfied with only “acceptable” results.

The dominance of mediocrity is ultimately the embodiment of conformity with mediocrity, whereby a cultural system is created that perpetuates low values ​​and limits all legitimate ambition, resulting in the marginalization of excellence and the restriction of innovation.

Is pettiness a social condition?

Yes, it is.

Because it relates to general trends and behaviors that are prevalent in a particular society, triviality appears when the focus becomes on superficial matters at the expense of deeper values ​​and intellectual and cultural content.

This phenomenon results, in my opinion, from several factors, the most prominent of which are: excessive consumption of popular culture, the deterioration of educational systems, and the low levels of intellectual and cultural dialogue in society.

As pettiness spreads in society, the norms and values ​​that govern social behavior are distorted, making them acceptable or even desirable at times. Over time, this social condition can become a general norm that influences how individuals evaluate ideas and actions, reinforcing the dominance of pettiness in everyday activities and cultural life.

Triviality, as a social condition, is not an isolated phenomenon. Rather, it may be a reflection of deeper crises in society, such as cultural poverty, social inequality, or even economic and political crises that push one to focus on simple and superficial practices to escape the complexities of life.

Let’s think; and to another conversation.