John Gray, a leading critic of liberalism known for his realist perspectives, joins David Runciman, a political scientist and educator at Cambridge. They unpack themes from Gray’s book, exploring Hobbes' insights on human authority and the flaws of liberalism. The duo discusses humanity's collective identity amidst globalization and critiques hyperliberalism as a misguided doctrine. Their conversation delves into how literature, especially Russian works, reflects the fragility of liberal beliefs and the potential societal dangers of radical ideological movements.
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insights INSIGHT
Paradox of Mortal Gods
Humans create godlike powers through political institutions to escape religion's grip, according to Hobbes.
This "mortal god" paradox reflects humanity's ability to create and destroy, says John Gray.
insights INSIGHT
Liberalism and the Mortal God
John Gray argues that liberalism, like Hobbes's theory, grapples with the "mortal god" paradox.
This paradox evolves from needing godlike institutions to humans becoming objects of veneration.
insights INSIGHT
The Godlike Human
John Stuart Mill's liberalism views humans with godlike self-creation powers, unlike Hobbes.
This shift makes 'humanity' a universal agent, an absurd concept for Hobbes and Gray.
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The Possessed is a social and political satire, a psychological drama, and a large-scale tragedy. It tells the story of a provincial Russian town taken over by political revolutionaries, led by Pyotr Verkhovensky, who orchestrates a series of violent and chaotic events. The novel centers around the enigmatic and morally complex figure of Nikolai Stavrogin, whose influence over the other characters is profound. The story involves themes of nihilism, revolutionary ideology, and the destructive consequences of these movements on society. It is loosely based on real events, including the murder of a student by Sergey Nechayev’s group in 1869, and reflects Dostoevsky's critique of liberal and nihilist views prevalent in Russia during that time[2][4][5].
The new Leviathans
Thoughts After Liberalism
John Gray
Going Infinite
The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
Michael Lewis
In 'Going Infinite', Michael Lewis delves into the life of Sam Bankman-Fried, the enigmatic founder of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The book provides a psychological portrait and a financial roller-coaster ride, tracing Bankman-Fried's trajectory from becoming the world's youngest billionaire to his eventual downfall. It covers topics such as high-frequency trading, cryptocurrencies, effective altruism, and the justice system. Despite criticism for its sympathetic portrayal of Bankman-Fried, the book offers a fascinating insight into the complex world of cryptocurrencies and the character of its central figure.
LEVIATHAN
Thomas Hobbes
Published in 1651, 'Leviathan' by Thomas Hobbes is a comprehensive treatise on political philosophy. The book is divided into four main parts: 'Of Man,' 'Of Commonwealth,' 'Of a Christian Commonwealth,' and 'Of the Kingdom of Darkness.' Hobbes argues that the natural state of humans is one of conflict and anarchy, and that the best way to achieve peace and security is through the establishment of a commonwealth governed by an absolute sovereign. This sovereign, which Hobbes terms the 'Leviathan,' has supreme authority over all aspects of governance, including law, religion, and public offices. Hobbes' work is a foundational text in social contract theory and continues to influence political thought to this day.
John Gray is one of the UK’s most important and influential political thinkers. Sceptical of ideas about progress and the perfectibility of human nature, he is an arch critic of liberalism, believing that history moves in cycles rather than inexorably towards a better future. For this episode of Intelligence Squared he is joined by David Runciman, a political scientist known for his clear analysis of modern political complexities. Together they explore the themes of Gray’s new book The New Leviathans: Thoughts After Liberalism, which looks at the world of the 2020s through the prism of the great 17th-century philosopher Thomas Hobbes, famous for saying that without government, life would be ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. Traversing 20th-century Russia, India and China, and referencing thinkers from Nietzsche and Hegel to Pinker and Fukuyama, Gray shares his realist vision for what the future may hold and explains how, in a world of absurdity, meaning can be found not in grandiose ideas but in more modest ethics.
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