TRIGGERnometry Academia Has Fallen - Dr Paul A. Taylor
Feb 20, 2023
Dr. Paul A. Taylor, a retired academic and critical theorist with a rich background in the history of computer hackers, critiques the current state of academia. He discusses the rise of a bureaucratic mindset and its negative effects on education and public discourse. Taylor delves into the oversimplification of complex topics in the media, the impact of postmodern thought on society, and the misrepresentation of ideologies in universities. He emphasizes the importance of true meritocracy and challenges the disconnect between virtue signaling and practical action.
01:47:40
Early Encounter with Relativism
- Paul Taylor recalls a childhood disagreement about a book illustration.
- The teacher's dismissal of the truth bothered him for years.
Media Oversimplification
- Dr. Taylor criticizes the media's oversimplification of complex issues, like Brexit.
- He cites Target 2 balances as an example of significant economic factors ignored in public discourse.
Campbell vs. Farage
- Alistair Campbell's media presence, despite his role in the Iraq War, angers Dr. Taylor.
- He contrasts this with the public's treatment of Nigel Farage, highlighting media bias and tribalism.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Navigating Academia and Media Discourse
02:24 • 28min
From Academia to Society: The Impact of Postmodern Thought
30:05 • 7min
Truth, Activism, and Democracy
37:24 • 14min
Navigating Ideologies in Academia
51:08 • 29min
The Intersection of Ideology and Bureaucracy in Education
01:19:50 • 3min
Navigating Meritocracy in Education and Comedy
01:23:06 • 23min
Critique of Virtue Signaling and Consumer Choices
01:45:40 • 3min
Hacktivism
Hacktivism
Electronic Disturbance Theatre
Socrates and the Fat Rabbis
Daniel Boyarin
In 'Socrates and the Fat Rabbis', Daniel Boyarin offers a unique analysis by comparing Plato's dialogues with the Babylonian Talmud, highlighting their shared use of Menippean satire.
The book explores how both texts blend high and low elements to critique intellectual practices while asserting them.
Boyarin's work provides novel insights into the Talmud's narrative structures and their parallels with Platonic dialogues.
Critical Theories of Mass Media: Then and Now
Critical Theories of Mass Media: Then and Now
Jan Ll Harris
Paul A. Taylor
This book provides a comprehensive critique of mass media theories, dividing its analysis into historical and contemporary perspectives.
It examines the works of influential theorists like Walter Benjamin, Siegfried Kracauer, Theodor Adorno, Marshall McLuhan, and Guy Debord, while also addressing modern issues such as celebrity culture.
The authors challenge overly optimistic views of media, focusing on the commodification and alienation inherent in mass media.
The wisdom books
Robert Alter
Robert Alter's 'The Wisdom Books' offers a fresh translation and insightful commentary on Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.
These texts delve into universal wisdom, philosophical insights, and existential themes, challenging conventional notions of justice and morality.
Alter's work highlights the literary and philosophical qualities of these ancient texts, making them relevant to modern readers.
The revolution betrayed
Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky's 'The Revolution Betrayed' is a scathing critique of Stalin's regime, written in 1936.
Trotsky analyzes Stalin's consolidation of power and the transformation of the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state.
He argues that Stalin's policies betrayed the ideals of the revolution, leading to the suppression of dissent and the establishment of a bureaucratic class.
The book is a powerful indictment of Stalinism and a warning against the dangers of totalitarian rule.
It remains a significant work in understanding the evolution of the Soviet Union and the betrayal of revolutionary ideals.
El Tunel
Ernesto Sabato
La novela sigue a Juan Pablo Castel, un pintor porteño cuya obsesión por María Iribarne lo lleva a un crimen trágico.
A través de su narrativa, Sabato explora temas de amor, celos y locura, ofreciendo una profunda reflexión sobre la condición humana.
Publicada en 1948, 'El túnel' es una obra maestra del existencialismo que ha sido elogiada por autores como Albert Camus y Graham Greene.
Love Letter to the West
Love Letter to the West
Konstantin Kisin
The Annihilation of the European Jews
The Annihilation of the European Jews
Raul Hilberg
Thought reform and the psychology of totalism
a study of "brainwashing" in China
Robert Jay Lifton
This book, first published in 1961, is an analysis of the experiences of fifteen Chinese citizens and twenty-five Westerners who underwent brainwashing by the Chinese Communist government.
Lifton outlines eight criteria for thought reform, including Milieu Control, Mystical Manipulation, Demand for Purity, Confession, Sacred Science, Loading the Language, Doctrine over person, and Dispensing of existence.
The book explores the thematic pattern of death and rebirth, accompanied by feelings of guilt, that characterizes the process of thought reform and discusses its broader implications for the study of extremism and totalism.
The Language of the Third Reich
A Philologist's Notebook
Victor Klemperer
This book, originally titled 'LTI – Lingua Tertii Imperii,' examines the linguistic manipulations used by the Nazi regime to propagate their ideology.
Written by Victor Klemperer, a philologist who lived through the Nazi era, the book is based on his personal notes and diary entries.
It highlights how the Nazis co-opted and adapted existing words and expressions to create a language that supported their totalitarian goals, affecting both supporters and opponents of the regime.
Klemperer's work also explores the broader impact of this language on German society and culture during that period.
Notes from Underground
null
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Notes from Underground" is a novella that delves into the mind of an unnamed narrator, a bitter and alienated individual who rails against reason and societal norms.
The work is considered a precursor to existentialist literature, exploring themes of isolation, nihilism, and the human condition.
Dostoevsky's masterful use of first-person narration allows readers to experience the narrator's turbulent thoughts and emotions.
The novella's exploration of free will and the complexities of human psychology continues to resonate with readers today.
Its influence on literature and philosophy is undeniable, shaping the works of later writers and thinkers.
The birth of tragedy
Friedrich Nietzsche
In this work, Nietzsche discusses the history of the tragic form and introduces the intellectual dichotomy between the Dionysian and the Apollonian.
He argues that Greek tragedy arose from the fusion of these elements, with the Apollonian representing measure, restraint, and harmony, and the Dionysian representing unbridled passion.
Nietzsche also critiques Socratic rationalism and its impact on Greek tragedy and modern culture, advocating for a rebirth of tragedy inspired by Richard Wagner’s music.
Darkness at Noon
Arthur Koestler
Published in 1940, 'Darkness at Noon' is a haunting portrait of life under totalitarian rule.
The novel revolves around Nicholas Rubashov, a former high-ranking official in a communist regime, who is arrested and subjected to intense interrogation and psychological manipulation.
The story explores the moral crises and existential dilemmas faced by Rubashov as he grapples with the consequences of his past actions and the ideologies he once fervently believed in.
The book is a powerful critique of Stalinist totalitarianism and the corrosive effects of political corruption, making it a seminal work of 20th-century literature.
Metamorphoses
Frank Justus Miller
Robert Squillace
Ovid
Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy
Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century.
The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg.
The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate.
Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life.
The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.
The banality of evil
Bernard J. Bergen
This book delves into the political and philosophical consequences of Hannah Arendt's concept of 'the banality of evil', which she used to describe Adolf Eichmann, a key figure in the Nazi 'final solution'.
It examines how Arendt redefined fundamental political concepts in light of the Holocaust, concluding that the banality of evil arises from a failure to exercise thought, will, and judgment.
The book emphasizes the importance of these human attributes in preventing similar evils.
Das Kapital
Karl Marx
War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, 'War and Peace' follows the lives of several Russian aristocratic families, including the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs, and the Bolkonskys.
The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis.
It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth.
The novel includes historical events such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, and the French invasion of Russia, intertwining historical and fictional elements.
The New Puritans
Andrew Doyle
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Dr Paul A. Taylor is a critical theorist who read economics and politics at Edinburgh University before conducting his PhD thesis on the early history of computer hackers. Paul has appeared on a number of Radio 4 and Radio 3 programmes including Woman’s Hour, The Verb, Thinking Allowed, and You and Yours. He is critical of the largely unchallenged rise of the bureaucratic mind-set and its deleterious effects on public discourse and professional standards.
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About TRIGGERnometry:
Stand-up comedians Konstantin Kisin (@konstantinkisin) and Francis Foster (@francisjfoster) make sense of politics, economics, free speech, AI, drug policy and WW3 with the help of presidential advisors, renowned economists, award-winning journalists, controversial writers, leading scientists and notorious comedians.
00:00 Intro
02:03 Why Dr Taylor is Here Today
08:03 First Educational Experiences
24:22 Dr Taylor’s Academic Career
31:12 Sponsor Message: ExpressVPN
33:03 What is Postmodernism and How Does it Impact Us?
41:29 Our Need to Think More
51:19 What is Happening in Modern Academia?
1:00:24 How Herd Mentality Stops People from Speaking Out
1:15:42 Similarities of Postmodernism & Marxism to Religious Belief
1:19:45 Sponsor Message: EasyDNS
1:25:48 Ideology is Destroying Meritocracy
1:32:49 Consequences of Universities Being Driven by Data
1:45:51 What’s the One Thing We’re Not Talking About?
SPONSORED BY: easyDNS - domain name registrar provider and web host. Use special code: TRIGGERED for 50% off when you visit https://easydns.com/triggered/
Dr Paul A. Taylor is a critical theorist who read economics and politics at Edinburgh University before conducting his PhD thesis on the early history of computer hackers. Paul has appeared on a number of Radio 4 and Radio 3 programmes including Woman’s Hour, The Verb, Thinking Allowed, and You and Yours. He is critical of the largely unchallenged rise of the bureaucratic mind-set and its deleterious effects on public discourse and professional standards.
Join our exclusive TRIGGERnometry community on Locals! https://triggernometry.locals.com/
OR Support TRIGGERnometry Here:
https://www.subscribestar.com/triggernometry
https://www.patreon.com/triggerpod
Bitcoin: bc1qm6vvhduc6s3rvy8u76sllmrfpynfv94qw8p8d5
Music by: Music by: Xentric | info@xentricapc.com | https://www.xentricapc.com/ YouTube: @xentricapc
Buy Merch Here:
https://www.triggerpod.co.uk/shop/
Advertise on TRIGGERnometry:
marketing@triggerpod.co.uk
Join the Mailing List:
https://www.triggerpod.co.uk/sign-up/
Find TRIGGERnometry on Social Media:
https://twitter.com/triggerpod
https://www.facebook.com/triggerpod/
https://www.instagram.com/triggerpod/
About TRIGGERnometry:
Stand-up comedians Konstantin Kisin (@konstantinkisin) and Francis Foster (@francisjfoster) make sense of politics, economics, free speech, AI, drug policy and WW3 with the help of presidential advisors, renowned economists, award-winning journalists, controversial writers, leading scientists and notorious comedians.
00:00 Intro
02:03 Why Dr Taylor is Here Today
08:03 First Educational Experiences
24:22 Dr Taylor’s Academic Career
31:12 Sponsor Message: ExpressVPN
33:03 What is Postmodernism and How Does it Impact Us?
41:29 Our Need to Think More
51:19 What is Happening in Modern Academia?
1:00:24 How Herd Mentality Stops People from Speaking Out
1:15:42 Similarities of Postmodernism & Marxism to Religious Belief
1:19:45 Sponsor Message: EasyDNS
1:25:48 Ideology is Destroying Meritocracy
1:32:49 Consequences of Universities Being Driven by Data
1:45:51 What’s the One Thing We’re Not Talking About?
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