The Moral Imagination Ep. 23: Flagg Taylor Ph.D: Living in Truth: Vaclav Havel on Existential Dissent & the Re-discovery of Conscience
Jan 14, 2021
Flagg Taylor, a political science professor and expert on Czech dissidents, dives deep into the life and writings of Václav Havel. They explore Havel's revolutionary concept of existential dissent, emphasizing its roots in truth rather than mere political opposition. Taylor discusses the dangers of consumerism and bureaucracy, linking Havel’s critiques to contemporary issues. The conversation highlights the importance of small acts of dissent in restoring personal integrity and the role of culture in shaping society's conscience.
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Totalitarianism As An Assault On Personhood
- Totalitarianism is more than bad economics; it's an ideological assault that reshapes human identity and truth.
- Havel shows ideology forces people to adopt a fictive reality, eroding reason, conscience, and genuine meaning.
Reading Tolkien As Quiet Resistance
- Mrs. Benda read The Lord of the Rings aloud to her six children while Václav Benda was imprisoned.
- That quiet family ritual served as an existential act of dissent and moral sustenance.
Soft Coercion Beats Spectacular Repression
- Normalization uses subtle pressures (jobs, schooling, permits) to secure compliance without mass terror.
- Havel argues this soft coercion produces habitual role-playing and a paralysis of spirit across society.