Exposing the Modern "Woke" Movement with James Lindsay (WiM489)
Jul 5, 2024
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James Lindsay, a critic of the modern 'woke' movement, discusses topics like defining private property, the true nature of Marxism, the self-destruction of equity, regenerative farming, equity in public administration, and the influence of 'woke' ideology on global citizenship.
Equity in public administration strives for equal shares among citizens.
Anti-productive policies hinder productivity and undermine value creation.
Marxism rewards adherence to socialism rather than productivity, leading to misaligned incentives.
Critical race theory demonizes 'whiteness' and institutionalizes racism.
CRT and Marxism manipulate emotions to promote exclusion over advancement.
'Whiteness as Property' theory solidifies systemic racial barriers and perpetuates racism.
Deep dives
Overview of Social Equity Theory in Public Administration
Social equity theory in public administration emerged in the 1960s, focusing on adjusting shares so that participants are made equal. George Fredrickson's explanation defines equity as an administered system where shares are modified to ensure equal standing among citizens.
Distorted Incentives Under Anti-Productive Policies
Anti-productive policies distort incentives, particularly evident in public administrative systems. By rewarding non-productive or destructive behavior while ignoring risks and rewards of private equity, the system hampers productivity and undermines value creation.
Marxist Interpretation of Equity and Redistribution
Marxist ideology views equity as redistributing shares to align with socialist values. In practice, it rewards adherence to the state religion of socialism, favoring those who propagate the ideology over productive contributors. This leads to misaligned incentives and a self-destructive cycle of rewarding non-productive individuals over hard-working contributors.
Marxism and Critical Race Theory: Focusing on Racism by Creating Racism
Critical race theory (CRT) mirrors Marxism by targeting race supremacy instead of capitalism, demonizing 'whiteness' similarly to how Marx advocated abolishing private property. CRT's quest to eradicate 'whiteness' is a repressive ideology, labeling cultural values like hard work and punctuality as characteristics of whites keeping others out. It institutionalizes racism while claiming to combat it.
Pathos Vs. Logos: Emotional Basis of CRT
CRT functions on pathos, not rationality, targeting emotions like envy and entitlement to fuel its ideology. Emotional manipulation disregards rational individuals who reject its divisive and discriminatory notions. Its anti-rational stance challenges empirical truths and seeks to distort societal values based on emotional agitation.
Marxism as a Religion of Pathos
Marxism parallels religion by embracing pathos-based beliefs, such as envy and entitlement, fostering a radical ideology divorced from rationality. Emotion-driven doctrines like Marxism and CRT sway individuals through negative emotions, promoting exclusion instead of advancement. The emotional allegiance to these systems hinders critical thinking and perpetuates a distorted worldview.
Cheryl Harris and the Concept of 'Whiteness as Property'
Cheryl Harris's 'Whiteness as Property' thesis in CRT equates 'whiteness' to a form of bourgeois private property, attributing exclusionary practices to white individuals. This notion proposes that cultural values associated with 'whiteness' perpetuate systemic barriers to others, solidifying racism. CRT's focus on 'abolishing whiteness' institutionalizes racial bias under the guise of combating discrimination.
Coercion and Division Through Blame and Theft
Injecting pain into systems and blaming one group for the pain fuels division and hatred. Examples like China under Mao and Bolsheviks in USSR show how the state can manipulate situations. Academia receives funding from various sources, sometimes involving state sponsorship, impacting research and ideologies.
Critical Race Theory and Wokeism as Control Mechanisms
Critical race theory and wokeism define oppression to control until acquiescence, exploiting social reification. Naming and understanding these tactics can break their spell. By labeling everything as oppressive until controlled, these ideologies exert power. Understanding the manipulation helps people resist and reclaim rationality over pathos-driven narratives.
Manipulation Through Promises of Free Things
Manipulation is discussed regarding promises of free items like shelter, welfare checks, and security, creating a misleading narrative of 'free' benefits. The dialogue emphasizes that such offerings are not genuinely free and introduces a fundamental misunderstanding of societal workings. It illustrates how inducing non-productive groups with 'free' advantages can distort ideologies, leading to a cycle of economic dispossession and government reliance.
Queer Theory and Cultural Marxism Origins
Exploration into queer theory delves into Marxist notions about normalcy and legitimacy. Highlighted is the perception of cultural Marxism challenging societal norms and legitimacies. The discussion unpacks how queer theory defines an identity without essence, contrasting it against conventional understandings. It underscores how the concept portrays a political stance against mainstream societal frameworks, aiming to disrupt established norms and definitions.
