The Moral Decline of Power: Understanding the Epsteinization Phenomenon

By Mohammad Akhgari

Recent times have witnessed an overflow of revelations across the globe, bringing to light a plethora of scandals. However, amidst this abundance of truth, what seems to be scarce is the ethical response to these revelations.

The Epstein scandal, among others, highlighted a profound silence that followed, transforming it into a much larger issue.

In the past, scandals triggered genuine moral reckonings. People would confront the truth, pass judgment, and experience shame.

However, in today’s landscape, despite the exposure of every minute detail, there is a noticeable absence of the urge to address the revealed truth.

This phenomenon can be described as the ‘Epsteinization of power’, where ethical considerations no longer pose a threat to the survival of those in power.

Power structures today seem impervious to exposure, as society lacks a unified moral standard for judgment. Accountability has been reduced to mere scandal management, with ethics relegated to a secondary role in politics.

The pervasive spread of this pattern through various realms like politics, finance, and media has given rise to what can be termed as ‘neocolonial Epsteindemia’, a widespread outbreak of public immorality where the ability to evade consequences becomes contagious.

This moral decay, termed ‘Epsteindemia’, has been fueled by deep-rooted structural changes that have permeated the late liberal-democratic world over the years.

One of the most alarming shifts is the diminishing capacity for moral judgment among individuals.

While rule-based ethics and external oversight mechanisms still exist, the intrinsic sense of duty that once underpinned ethical behavior has waned.

Laws are enforced, but they no longer command the same level of reverence. Violating norms has become a calculated risk in the pursuit of power.

With traditional values eroded and external authorities weakened, individuals are left to rely on their personal conscience, which, unfortunately, lacks a clear moral compass for making judgments.

In this vacuum of moral guidance, Machiavellian tactics have become the default mode of operation, where ethics play a minimal role in decision-making processes.

The essence of the ‘Epsteinization of power’ lies in the gradual exclusion of ethics from the decision-making equation.

Notably, pleasure and wealth have supplanted moral standards, with success and enjoyment defining one’s worth. Scandals only disrupt the status quo when they interfere with consumption or social advancement; otherwise, they are absorbed and normalized.

This normalization of immorality, termed ‘Epsteinfatigue’, stems from a desensitization to pervasive wrongdoing.

While individuals may vehemently oppose power dynamics from the outside, once within the system, they often succumb to the same logic, perpetuating the existing power structures.

This phenomenon, known as ‘Epstein-Faustianism’, symbolizes the conscious trade-off of ethical principles for security, status, or self-preservation.

Even criticism in contemporary times follows a similar pattern, where exposés and protests, though vociferous, fail to translate into concrete actions that challenge the system.

Today, the very essence of human judgment hangs precariously, with external authorities losing credibility and personal conscience losing its moral clarity. This erosion of judgment has led to a society where individuals settle for lower ethical standards due to judgment fatigue.

Power structures no longer feel compelled to mask their actions, as societal pushback against unethical behavior has dwindled. Ethics has been sidelined, marking a profound and enduring defeat for moral integrity.

This perspective on human moral agency resonates with the humanistic philosophy of Johann Gottfried Herder, emphasizing shared history, emotions, and accountability as the foundation of moral judgment.

It signifies a departure from the rule-bound ethics of the Enlightenment era, highlighting the contemporary challenge of weakening moral judgment.

The concept of “evil without a devil” aptly captures the normalization of evil within institutional frameworks, underscoring the importance of personal responsibility amid eroding moral standards.

Terms such as ‘Epsteinization of power’, ‘Epstein fatigue’, and ‘Epstein-Faustianism’ encapsulate conditions that were previously left unarticulated in ethical discourse.

This critical examination of late democracy sheds light on the diminishing role of the discerning citizen within democratic institutions, where power enjoys inherent protection at the expense of ethical accountability.

Contemporary criticism often devolves into a performative act that inadvertently upholds the status quo rather than instigating meaningful change.

• The author is an associate professor at IRIB University. He can be reached at [email protected].