The Art of Manliness #628: The Rise of Secular Religion and the New Puritanism
In this discussion, Jacob Howland, a recently retired philosophy professor from the University of Tulsa, delves into the emergence of a new secular religion characterized by moral absolutism. He argues that contemporary debates on race and gender have taken on a religious fervor, reminiscent of a modern Puritanism. Howland explores the influence of critical theory on societal dynamics, contrasts it with classical liberalism, and critiques the focus on group identity over individuality. His insights reveal the philosophical undercurrents shaping today’s cultural landscape.
01:14:32
Secular Puritanism
- Modern society exhibits a secular form of Puritanism, replacing salvation anxiety with moral purity anxiety.
- This new Puritanism elevates humanity to an object of worship, creating a Church of Humanity.
Critical Theory and Identity Politics
- Critical theory, rooted in Marxist thought, examines social conditions that oppress humans.
- It has evolved to focus on identity politics and intersectionality, analyzing interlocking power structures.
Descartes' Influence
- Descartes' emphasis on mathematical science and mastery of nature influenced critical theory's approach to social problems.
- This modern approach contrasts with pre-modern thought, which valued conformity with the natural order.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Secular Puritanism: Modern Moral Frameworks
02:56 • 29min
Sponsor Highlights: Luxury Goods, E-Commerce Solutions, and Affordable Wireless Plans
31:39 • 3min
Contrasting Ideologies: Individual Flourishing vs. Group Equality
34:27 • 3min
Philosophy and Human Nature: From Depravity to the Noble Savage
37:40 • 11min
Philosophical Reflections on Recognition and Identity
48:44 • 28min
Exploring Further Resources and Engaging with the Podcast
01:16:15 • 2min
Discourse on method
Rene Descartes
Published in 1637, 'Discourse on the Method' is a seminal work by René Descartes that outlines his philosophical and scientific method. The book is divided into six parts and addresses various topics including skepticism, the existence of God and the human soul, and the distinction between the mind and body. Descartes introduces his famous statement 'I think, therefore I am' and lays the groundwork for modern Western philosophy and the scientific method. The work also discusses his approach to morality and the investigation of natural phenomena, influencing disciplines from philosophy to psychology and cognitive science[1][2][3].
The Brothers Karamazov
Larissa Volokhonsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Richard Pevear
Set in 19th-century Russia, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a novel that delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on the three brothers—Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha—and their complex relationships with their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov. The novel is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry, faith, doubt, and reason. It examines the human psyche, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with suffering and uncertainty. The story revolves around the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich and the subsequent trial of Dmitri, accused of the crime, while exploring deeper themes of Russian life, social and spiritual striving, and the clash between faith and reason[2][5][4].
Life and Fate
Vasily Grossman
Written in 1959, 'Life and Fate' is a monumental novel that narrates the story of the Shaposhnikov family during the Great Patriotic War. The novel is set against the backdrop of the Battle of Stalingrad and delves into the lives of numerous characters, including Soviet physicist Viktor Shtrum, who grapples with anti-Semitism and moral dilemmas in a totalitarian state. The book juxtaposes the horrors of war and the Gulag with the intimate lives of its characters, exploring profound philosophical and moral questions. Despite its initial suppression by the KGB, the novel was eventually smuggled out of the Soviet Union and has since been recognized as one of the greatest Russian novels of the 20th century.
Das Kapital
Karl Marx
The Existentialist's Survival Guide
How to Live Authentically in an Inauthentic Age
Gordon Marino
In *The Existentialist's Survival Guide*, Gordon Marino offers practical wisdom on how to face existence with integrity and authenticity. The book explores existentialist ideas from figures like Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Sartre, providing insights on negotiating anxiety, depression, and despair while practicing faith, morality, and love in a chaotic world.
The Social Contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
In 'The Social Contract', Jean-Jacques Rousseau outlines a theory of government where the legitimacy of political authority stems from the consent of the governed. The book begins with the famous line 'Man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains,' highlighting the tension between natural freedom and the constraints of societal laws. Rousseau argues that a legitimate state is formed when citizens enter into a social contract, surrendering some of their natural rights in exchange for civil rights and the protection of the general will. The general will, a collective idea of the common good, is central to Rousseau's theory, and he advocates for a system where the people, as the sovereign, make decisions directly and where laws ensure liberty and equality. The work has been influential in shaping modern political thought and has played a significant role in the French Revolution and the development of democratic principles[2][3][5].
Glaucon's Fate
Jacob Howland
Glaucon's Fate offers a unique perspective on Plato's Republic by examining the historical and philosophical significance of Glaucon, Plato's brother. The book argues that Glaucon failed to adopt the philosophical life advocated by Socrates and instead joined the Thirty Tyrants, a brutal oligarchy in Athens. It provides a rich analysis of the dialogue's themes and their connection to Plato's personal experiences and the political turmoil of ancient Athens.
On liberty
John Stuart Mill
Published in 1859, 'On Liberty' is a seminal work by John Stuart Mill that argues for the protection of individual freedoms from the tyranny of the majority and government interference. Mill uses utilitarian philosophy to justify the value of liberty, emphasizing the importance of freedom of thought, discussion, and action. He introduces the 'harm principle,' which states that individuals should only be restrained from acting when their conduct may harm others. The essay is structured into five chapters, each addressing different aspects of liberty, including the liberty of thought and discussion, individual liberty, the limits of authority, and practical applications of his theories. Mill argues that protecting individual liberties is essential for societal progress and the avoidance of social stagnation[2][3][5].
Two ages
the age of revolution and the present age : a literary review
Søren Kierkegaard
In 'Two Ages: A Literary Review', Kierkegaard critiques the novel 'Two Ages' by Thomasine Christine Gyllembourg-Ehrensvärd, using it as a platform to discuss the societal shifts from the Age of Revolution to the Present Age. He argues that the Present Age is characterized by a lack of passion and an emphasis on conformity, leading to a depersonalization of individuals. Kierkegaard advocates for a return to individuality and ethical stances despite societal pressures.
Phenomenology of spirit
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
In 'Phenomenology of Spirit', Hegel outlines the fundamental nature and conditions of human knowledge and consciousness. The work is structured into several categories, including consciousness, self-consciousness, reason, spirit, religion, and absolute knowing. Hegel argues that knowledge emerges through a dialectical process where consciousness moves from sense-certainty to perception and then to understanding. He also examines the social and collective aspects of consciousness, highlighting the struggle for recognition and the development of self-awareness. The book culminates in the concept of absolute knowing, where the subject and object are unified, and the individual is fully integrated into the collective spirit[2][3][4].
Nineteen Eighty-Four
George Orwell
Published in 1949, 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' is a cautionary tale set in a future where the world is divided into three totalitarian super-states: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. The novel follows Winston Smith, a minor functionary in the Ministry of Truth in Oceania, who begins to question the all-pervasive authority of the Party and its leader, Big Brother. Winston's rebellion, fueled by his forbidden love affair with Julia and his interest in the mysterious Brotherhood, ultimately leads to his capture and brutal reeducation by the Thought Police. The novel explores themes of mass surveillance, censorship, and the manipulation of truth, serving as a powerful warning about the dangers of unaccountable governments and the erosion of individual freedom and dignity.
The Discarded Image
Stratford Caldecott
Dialectic of Enlightenment
null
Theodor Adorno
Max Horkheimer
Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno's "Dialectic of Enlightenment" is a complex and influential work of critical theory, exploring the relationship between reason, myth, and domination. The authors argue that the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason has paradoxically led to new forms of domination and control. They trace the development of instrumental reason, which reduces everything to means-ends calculations, and its role in shaping modern society. The book explores the interplay between reason and myth, arguing that myth is not simply irrational but can also be a source of critical insight. "Dialectic of Enlightenment" remains a challenging but rewarding read, offering profound insights into the complexities of modernity and the dangers of unchecked rationality.
null
Sir Michael Howard
The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism
Max Weber
In this book, Max Weber argues that the Protestant work ethic, especially as influenced by Calvinism, played a significant role in the development of modern capitalism. Weber posits that the concept of a 'calling' and the this-worldly asceticism of Protestantism fostered a culture of hard work, thrift, and the accumulation of wealth, which were crucial for the emergence of capitalist culture. He contrasts this with the traditional economic attitudes and the medieval monastic ideal of other-worldly asceticism. The book also explores how these religious ideas influenced the development of a rational and disciplined approach to economic activity, which became a hallmark of modern capitalism.
The Republic
Plato
There has been a lot of civil and political upheaval lately, and what makes the atmosphere particularly disorienting, is that beyond the more obvious proximate and commonly-discussed causes for the turmoil, it feels like there are even deeper cultural currents and contexts at play, that are yet hard to put one's finger on and understand. There's a fervor in the debates and conflict that almost seems . . . religious.
My guest today would say that's exactly the right word to describe the tenor of things. His name is Jacob Howland, he's a recently retired professor of philosophy, and the currents at play in today's world are things he's spent his whole career studying -- from Plato and Aristotle to the Hebrew Bible and Kierkegaard, with a particular emphasis on the political philosophy of the ancient Greeks. Howland draws on all those areas to weave together a kind of philosophical roadmap to how we've arrived at our current cultural zeitgeist. In particular, Howland makes the case that what we're seeing today is the rise of a kind of secular religion, a new Puritanism, that worships at what he calls "the Church of Humanity." This new Puritanism bases the idea of moral purity around one's views on issues like race and gender, and seeks to purge anyone who doesn't adhere to the proscribed dogma.
Jacob walks us through the tenets of the dominant influence on this secular religion -- a strain of modern thought called "critical theory" -- and offers a kind of philosophical genealogy on what led up to it, which includes the ideas of Rousseau, Marx, and Hegel. We discuss how critical theory contrasts with classical liberalism, and approaches people as members of groups rather than as individuals, and as abstractions rather than particulars, and how this lens on the world leads to identity politics and cancel culture. We delve into Kierkegaard's prophecies on the leveling of society, and how the modern tendency to make man the measure of all things can leave us feeling spiritually and intellectually empty, and looking to politics to fill an existential void it can't ultimately satisfy. We end our conversation describing the sustenance which can.
Get the show notes at aom.is/howland.