The Probability of UFO Abductions

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"My probability that they are something interesting and mysterious is very high. That theyare related to life from a distant planet is a lot lower, i would say quite, quite low," he says of u f os. "There is clearly, well, put it this way, there are unidentified flying objects that we can see on vidios, that pilots have seen." He adds: 'It could be that that's one more example of, you know, if the fairies are real, that this is just one more way they mess with us' But what? What weight? but i know it's not my interview, but what is?

For Ross Douthat, decadence isn’t necessarily a moral judgement, but a technical label for a state that societies tend to enter—and one that is perhaps much more normal than the dynamism Americans have come to take for granted. In his new book, he outlines the cultural, economic, political, and demographic trends that threaten to leave us to wallow in a state of civilizational stagnation for years to come, and fuel further discontent and derangement with it.

On his second appearance on Conversations with Tyler, Ross joined Tyler to discuss why he sees Kanye as a force for anti-decadence, the innovative antiquarianism of the late Sir Roger Scruton, the mediocrity of modern architecture, why it’s no coincidence that Michel Houellebecq comes from France, his predictions for the future trajectory of American decadence – and what could throw us off of it, the question of men’s role in modernity, why he feels Christianity must embrace a kind of futurist optimism, what he sees as the influence of the “Thielian ethos” on conservatism, the plausibility of ghosts and alien UFOs, and more.

Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links.

Recorded February 25th, 2020 Other ways to connect

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