

EP 309 Richard David Hames on the Final Performance of Western Civilization?
95 snips Jul 8, 2025
Richard David Hames, a philosopher and activist, discusses the decline of Western civilization and the crisis in governance. He critiques the retreat from truth in politics and the impact of postmodernism on rational discourse. The conversation dives into wealth inequality, climate change denial, and the failures of modern warfare. Hames highlights women's liberation as a key achievement of our time and warns against the character erosion in leadership. He also explores the implications of AI and the necessity for societal values to adapt amidst rapid changes.
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Politics as Performance, Not Governance
- Politics and democracy often conflict, as modern politics has become more performance than governance.
- This erosion threatens effective governance and societal well-being.
Decline Through Retreat from Truth
- The West is experiencing a pathological retreat from truth, a hallmark of dying empires.
- Politicizing facts and hollowing institutions replace truth with outrage and wishful thinking.
Postmodernism and Truth Rejection
- Postmodernism's rise in elite education leads many to reject all truth, promoting emotion over reason.
- This nihilism undermines societal functioning and rational discourse.