Decadence, and Other Essays on the Culture of Ideas

"Decadence, and Other Essays on the Culture of Ideas" by Remy de Gourmont is a set of essays from the late 1800s that looks at how ideas mix and clash in the world around us. The essays question what we think is beautiful, how we learn, and what part women play in how we talk, all while asking if what we believe is actually true. He introduces the idea of taking apart old ideas and making new ones, saying it takes smart thinking to see things differently and that we should not just accept what everyone else thinks. He uses careful thinking to show how our thoughts connect and disconnect, pushing us to think for ourselves and break free from what society expects. This sets the stage for a closer look at how complicated human thinking can be.