#6769
Mentioned in 3 episodes
Voltaire's Bastards
The Dictatorship of Reason in the West
Book • 2013
In 'Voltaire's Bastards,' John Ralston Saul dissects the contradictions, delusions, and illusions that have brought the world to the brink of confusion and crisis.
The book examines the theology of power embedded in modern conceptions of Reason, arguing that the ascendancy of Reason has led to a world dominated by technocrats and elites who control knowledge and information.
Saul critiques the hypocrisies of democracy, the obsession with efficiency and expertise, and the failure of modern societies to address critical issues such as war, economics, and environmental degradation.
The book is a call to rethink traditional institutions and notions as we move into a new era.
The book examines the theology of power embedded in modern conceptions of Reason, arguing that the ascendancy of Reason has led to a world dominated by technocrats and elites who control knowledge and information.
Saul critiques the hypocrisies of democracy, the obsession with efficiency and expertise, and the failure of modern societies to address critical issues such as war, economics, and environmental degradation.
The book is a call to rethink traditional institutions and notions as we move into a new era.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 3 episodes
Mentioned by 
Quinn Slobodian as one of the first big books he read as a teenager, influencing his approach to the history of ideas.
Quinn Slobodian as one of the first big books he read as a teenager, influencing his approach to the history of ideas.
28 snips
401. Ruled by Bastards (ft. Quinn Slobodian)
Mentioned as inspiration for the book title, referencing Saul's critique of Enlightenment reason.
Quinn Slobodian - The Neoliberal Roots of the Populist Right
Mentioned by Tal Zaks while discussing the challenges faced by physicians in explaining complex medical concepts to patients.
Biotech Story Time With Tal Zaks, M.D. (Part 2, Tall Tales with Tal)
