Episode 160: Orwell on Totalitarianism and Language (Part One)
The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
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The Consolidation of Power in the Inner Party
Past oligarchies failed because they either became too ossified and inflexible or if they let any liberal ideas in they were too soft and they got overthrown. To maintain power you have to combine your belief in your own infallibility with the ability to learn from one's mistakes which means accepting contradictory beliefs simultaneously being conscious and unconscious at the same time. Being able to tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing them that's how they maintain power.
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