The “society of masters”

…. “The formation of such homogenous groups, whose members do not recognise alterity, seems to be a distinctive characteristic of our era. In particular, some groups of young people who follow the principle of isolation, collectively designate enemies and then they wage war on them. Their coherence is based on a purely imaginary identification among members and usually their actions and violence have no limit. Charles Melman (2010) refers to modern “society of masters”, who derive their strength exactly from this imaginary collective identification. They reject whoever is different, often refusing to recognise that others are human beings too. They even reach a point when they desire their destruction. In such a society or micro-society a “retarded thought” (Melman, ibid) prevails, meaning a thought which does not take into account reality. The members believe in the merits of an absolute knowledge which should be imposed to others. It is erroneous and dangerous, because it can develop into a dogmatic and authoritarian one.

In reality, there is no absolute knowledge. The right to doubt is truly the one that shows high degree of intelligence…”

from my article “Paradoxical alliances - Narcissistic Traps” in Psychotherapy Section Review, No 60, Winter 2017, London, UK