The Civilizing Process

“In his classic work, ‘The Civilizing Process’, Norbert Elias suggests that the harbinger of the modern state was the process of self-discipline, first adopted by European elites in an effort to distance themselves from the lower ranks of society. This discipline focused on control over arbitrary, impulsive, or instinctive behavior, and included such behavior as the cultivation of table manners and the suppression of violent activities, including sports.”

– Laura Cruz, ‘Making Sense Of: Dying and Death’