Listen to influential writer Allan Bloom discuss 'The Closing of the American Mind' and the battle against moral relativism in education. Bloom emphasizes the importance of cultivating the search for the best ideas over being open to all. Dive into the evolution of thought from Enlightenment to postmodernism, Allan Bloom's critique of American education, concerns about relativism, and the pursuit of truth in a diverse society.
Education should prioritize seeking the best ideas over embracing all ideas.
Postmodernism and relativism emerged from a multicultural emphasis on tolerance.
Nietzsche's 'God is Dead' highlights the search for new meaning in a post-truth era.
Deep dives
Purpose of the Podcast
The podcast aims to cultivate a meaningful understanding of history to address contemporary challenges resulting from humanity's progress, such as technological disruptions, globalization, and cultural conflicts between different ideologies.
The Influence of Alan Bloom's Book
Alan Bloom's book, 'The Closing of the American Mind,' challenged the relativism dominating educational systems. It underscored the importance of cultivating the search for the best ideas, wisdom, and meaning amidst growing academic pressure to deny objective truth.
Impact of Postmodernism and Relativism
Postmodernism and relativism sweeping the late 20th-century academia were seen as byproducts of multicultural democracies emphasizing tolerance. This shift led to a focus on individual cultures and a critique of traditional Western ideas, impacting perceptions of history and society.
Nietzsche's Philosophy and Modernity
Nietzsche's proclamation of 'God is Dead' marked a shift in modern beliefs about meaning and truth. His philosophy, misinterpreted as celebrating relativism, actually aimed to address the loss of traditional values and sacredness, urging individuals to find new meaning in a post-God era.
Role of Education and Enlightenment Philosophy
The podcast stresses the importance of education in guiding individuals to seek truth and meaning through rational inquiry, emphasizing enlightenment principles of natural rights, reason, and objective truth. Through a study of philosophy, literature, art, and history, individuals can create their own meaning and connect with the search for truth.
Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind, published in 1987, became one of the most influential books of the last 50 years by instigating a battle over the soul of the American University that's been raging ever since.
The book sold millions of copies, becoming a powerful weapon in Bloom's fight against what he identified as a morally and intellectually crippling form of relativism infecting America's educational system. Allan Bloom sought to remind us that the goal of education is not to become open to all ideas, but to cultivate the search for the best ideas.