of the social system by exerting pressure for innovation and creativity. Though Sorel's call to action was addressed to the working class and its interests, he conceived it to be of general importance for the total social system; to his mind the gradual disappearance of class conflict might well lead to the decadence of European culture. A social system, he felt, was in need of conflict if only to renew its energies and revitalize its creative forces.
It can be a more permanent condition, say just part of your personality and you are born with it, or it can be temporary. An example is many depressed people suffer from flat affect, as it is a sign that they really don't care what happens to them anymore and have lost hope. Don't feel too bad about it. It's more common than you think.
What does 'Blunted Affect' mean? I'm seeing a doctor about a mental health plan for depression and anxiety, as well as some social/agoraphobia (I sound healthy, huh). Anyway, today she gave me a copy of my mental health plan and in one of the boxes it says 'Affect (Flat/blunted)' and she's ticked a box which says 'Other: blunted'.