[Hong Wu]

There are certain ideas, usually described as conservative, which keep coming back no matter what lengths people might go to in trying to cover up or destroy them.

The "battle" between materialism and the soul could be viewed as an expression of whether one chooses comfortable lies (which are often very profitable in the short term) over the observation of certain truths which is difficult in the short term but beneficial in the long run.

If a person gets into the habit of completely rejecting the truth in favor of comfortable lies, they also become obsessed with the idea of "meaninglessness". This is because meaning cannot be created where there was none; meaning comes from truth, I think it would be fair to say that it is truth and filial observation of it, while often difficult, is also one of the only things that can consistently give people a sense of meaning.

At one point in western history the concept of ennui emerged. People had succeeded in completely staving off the challenges and dilemmas of the human condition but in doing so, they found no heaven on earth waiting for them, there is only a boredom verging on despair. Even more recently people have been combating the rising tide of ennui with mind altering drugs, such as anti-anxiety or anti-depressants for people who don't have brain malfunctions because this is easier for them than accepting the truth would be... sad!

If it looks like the strength of the deniers is failing, many of them will panic and start attacking people in the streets but we will dox every last one of them. Some places will be saved, others are too far gone.

[quetzalcoatl]

How does 'the battle between materialism and the soul' manifest itself? Surely not in political conservatism. The abiding limitation of conservatism is its radically contingent nature (as acknowledged by its theorists). Its views are not universal but culture- and era-dependent. What is conservative to a Soviet party member is not conservative to a Russian Orthodox believer. What is conservative to a Putin supporter is not conservative to an Chechen mullah. So how can truth arise from a contingent philosophy, unless you believe that truth itself is contingent?

Or perhaps you are referring to some other non-political conservatism? Still, the same limitation applies. Ennui is not a product of materialism, you are dead wrong there. Existential despair (as a widespread phenomenon) arises when the traditional cultural matrix is destroyed.

Cultural conservatism does play a valuable role is limiting the damage from too-rapid technological and political change. But it doesn't represent any universal truth. It's just a brake, nothing more.

[MistyTiger]

Why only talk about the West? The East is much more materialistic than ever before. When I was in Taiwan in 2013, except for everyone speaking in Chinese or Taiwanese, I felt like I was in a Western city. There was so much materialism on the streets, TV, parks...some areas in traffic even have large TV screens showing ads.

Or perhaps you are referring to some other non-political conservatism? Still, the same limitation applies. Ennui is not a product of materialism, you are dead wrong there. Existential despair (as a widespread phenomenon) arises when the traditional cultural matrix is destroyed.

The condition of boredom has existed ever since humans existed though we only came up with a word centuries ago.

Ennui deals more with boredom than irritation - and a somewhat specific sort of boredom at that. It generally refers to the feeling of jadedness that can result from living a life of too much ease.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ennui

[Dubayoo]

There are certain ideas, usually described as conservative, which keep coming back no matter what lengths people might go to in trying to cover up or destroy them.

The "battle" between materialism and the soul could be viewed as an expression of whether one chooses comfortable lies (which are often very profitable in the short term) over the observation of certain truths which is difficult in the short term but beneficial in the long run.

If a person gets into the habit of completely rejecting the truth in favor of comfortable lies, they also become obsessed with the idea of "meaninglessness". This is because meaning cannot be created where there was none; meaning comes from truth, I think it would be fair to say that it is truth and filial observation of it, while often difficult, is also one of the only things that can consistently give people a sense of meaning.

At one point in western history the concept of ennui emerged. People had succeeded in completely staving off the challenges and dilemmas of the human condition but in doing so, they found no heaven on earth waiting for them, there is only a boredom verging on despair. Even more recently people have been combating the rising tide of ennui with mind altering drugs, such as anti-anxiety or anti-depressants for people who don't have brain malfunctions because this is easier for them than accepting the truth would be... sad!

If it looks like the strength of the deniers is failing, many of them will panic and start attacking people in the streets but we will dox every last one of them. Some places will be saved, others are too far gone.

I don't entirely buy this. For example, conservatives love the 1950s, yet the 50s were loaded with materialistic consumerism. The counterculture movement embraced a more sublime interpretation of culture. Were there some who indulged in hedonism? Yes, but everyone didn't. In fact, we even hear from conservatives today how the Civil Rights Movement of before was respectable and commendable compared to the decadent political correctness of today.