'Evil : A Study of Lost Techniques' with Jason Bahbak Mohaghegh
Jan 18, 2025
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Jason Bahbak Mohaghegh, an author who delves into themes of darkness and the occult, joins the hosts for a captivating discussion on the complexities and perceptions of evil. They explore the dual nature of lullabies as both soothing and sinister, the intricate ties between evil and intelligence in literature and AI, and the evolution of horror cinema from clear-cut monsters to existential fears. The conversation challenges traditional notions of evil, shedding light on its contextual variations and moral implications in contemporary society.
Evil is examined as a complex interplay of specific techniques that alter perceptions and narratives based on context.
The discussion highlights lullabies as raw reflections of societal fears, revealing profound truths about human mortality beneath their innocent façades.
Concerns about artificial intelligence are raised, suggesting its development could unearth unsettling realities about human nature and morality in a surveillance-driven society.
Deep dives
The Nature of Evil and Lost Techniques
Evil is explored through the lens of specific techniques that manipulate space and perception. The guest emphasizes how the term 'evil' can transform any given location or object, creating distinct narratives and sensory experiences unique to each context, such as the evil of a garden versus an ocean. This conceptual framework rejects an overarching definition of evil, suggesting instead that evil should be examined through complex, particular instances that reveal singular experiences and intensities. This approach not only challenges traditional philosophical views but also invites a more nuanced understanding of evil's manifestations in culture and storytelling.
The Role of Lullabies in Understanding Evil
The guest connects their interest in evil to the genre of lullabies, tracing back to an ancient Babylonian lullaby that ominously comments on angering house gods. Lullabies are depicted as profoundly honest narratives about human fears and mortality, masked in seemingly innocent melodies. The exploration of lullabies reveals deeper insights into societal conditioning, suggesting that these simple songs engage with the material conditions of reality rather than the abstractions offered by politics or religion. This perspective highlights an urgent need to confront societal truths, rather than evading them through comforting ideologies.
Artificial Intelligence and the Nature of Knowledge
The discourse shifts to the implications of artificial intelligence on the understanding of evil, particularly as intelligence has historically been linked to the concept of evil. The evolution and complexity of AI are considered potentially dangerous, suggesting that the implications of increased knowledge could lead to unsettling realizations about human nature and behavior. There’s a distinct fear of a surveillance society where deeper truths about ourselves are revealed, leading to a confrontation with the darker aspects of humanity that are often concealed. This notion echoes back to Nietzche's assertion that the existence of a watchful, omniscient being—whether divine or data-driven—could ultimately be catastrophic for our understanding of morality.
Narrative Techniques and the Knowledge of Evil
Literature's relation to evil is examined, positing that storytelling allows a deeper understanding of the human predisposition toward evil and complicity with it. The guest references Walter Benjamin, who argued that the responsibility of storytelling is to mediate encounters with death and mortality. Thus, narratives serve not only to entertain but to confront existential truths, drawing us into the complexities of our own natures. This duality invites a reflection on how narratives manipulate perceptions of evil and our moral compass while implicating us in its exploration and understanding.
Idleness as a Form of Resistance
Idleness is presented as a potential form of evil juxtaposed against the mania of contemporary life, suggesting that idleness can be a rebellious act in a society obsessed with productivity. The guest reflects on historical figures who embraced idleness as a way to resist societal pressures, likening it to a noble form of dissent. This perspective offers a critique of modern culture that equates worth with constant activity, championing the need for spaces of retreat and reflection as essential for true revolution. In this view, achieving idleness becomes a powerful statement against the manic pace of modern existence, providing a grounding counter to rampant consumerism and superficial engagement.
"Evil is an infinitely complex set of micro-techniques somehow lost in time—that is, subtle inflections of possibility and obscure typologies of influence that once reached across every divide." Jason joins Will, Adam, and Craig for another plunge down the rabbit hole to discuss images of darkness and an inventory of evils in their utter specificity. This discussion contains mentions of the work of Nietzsche, Kojève, Deleuze, Bataille, and Foucault.
'Evil: A Study of Lost Techniques' by Jason Bahbak Mohaghegh is forthcoming from Scarlett Press.
