The Assault on Western Civilization | Dr. Joseph Loconte
Mar 22, 2024
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Dr. Joseph Loconte and Rep. Crenshaw discuss the origins of Western Civilization, the influence of Greek and Roman cultures, Judaism, Christianity, and the Enlightenment. They analyze the resentment towards Western Civilization from the far left and right populists. They explore the impact of Christianity on scientific revolution and the importance of protecting private property and religious liberty in preserving freedoms. The conversation also touches on term limits, contemporary political leadership challenges, and the power of storytelling to inspire hope.
The left criticizes the liberal democratic order for perceived inequalities and challenges the concept of meritocracy.
The populist right exhibits impatience and cynicism in addressing cultural issues, relying on election cycles.
The conversation emphasizes civic education, political engagement, and the importance of informed participation in governance.
Deep dives
The Left's Critique of Liberal Democratic Order
The left criticizes the liberal democratic order for perceived inequalities in economic and political realms. They challenge the concept of meritocracy and question the notion of natural rights, aiming to address inequalities and discrepancies in society.
The Right's Approach as Embittered Utopians
The populist right is characterized as embittered utopians who seek a perfect society and blame the establishment for discontent. They exhibit disillusionment and anger, reminiscent of historical instances like fascism and communism. This ideology reaches for state intervention to achieve desired utopian visions, showing similarities to past ideological movements.
Comparing the Left and Right's Ideological Approaches
While the left emphasizes materialism and a secular progressive movement, focusing on material needs and dismissing deeper spiritual dimensions, the populist right aligns more closely with religious traditions, emphasizing faith-based values in their political stance. Both sides jettison important elements from their traditions, with the left moving away from spiritual values and the right forgetting the importance of education in transmitting cultural heritage.
Challenges with the Populist Right's Approach
The populist right's impatience and cynicism pose challenges in addressing cultural issues, as they often rely on election cycles rather than consistent efforts to earn voter trust. There is a need for the populist right to focus on education and cultural transmission to effectively address deep-seated societal issues.
Critiquing Extremes of Victimhood Mentality
The discussion touches on the common ground between the far left and far right in their embrace of grievance and victimhood mentalities. It highlights how both sides often adopt a victim narrative, blaming external factors for their situation. The emphasis is on the importance of agency and responsibility, advocating for a conservative mindset of extreme ownership. By critiquing the victimhood mentality and promoting a sense of personal agency, the conversation aims to steer individuals away from seeking demagogues to 'save' them from perceived victimization.
Civic Education and Political Participation
The conversation delves into the significance of civic education and political engagement in shaping the current political landscape. Emphasizing the importance of understanding the political system, the dialogue underscores the necessity of informed participation in primary elections and governance. It highlights the vulnerability to demagoguery stemming from societal ignorance of political structures and processes. The focus on civic duty, education, and rational discourse serves as a call to action for individuals to actively engage in the political process for a more informed and balanced democratic society.
Dr. Joseph Loconte, Presidential Scholar in Residence at New College of Florida, joined Rep. Crenshaw to trace the origins of Western Civilization and America’s founding values, from Greek and Roman cultures to the influence of Judaism, Christianity, and the Enlightenment. And they examine the deep resentment against Western Civilization among the far left and increasingly among populists on the right.
Joseph Loconte, PhD, is a Presidential Scholar in Residence at New College of Florida, Senior Fellow at the Institute on Religion and Democracy, and the C.S. Lewis Scholar for Public Life at Grove City College. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller "A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm". Follow him on Twitter at @JosephLoconte.
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