Downstream: We Must Get Ready For An Emergency w/ Slavoj Žižek
Nov 6, 2023
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Famous Marxist philosopher Slavoj Žižek discusses his pessimistic view of the future, the Arab Spring, the Russia-Ukraine stalemate, cancel culture, dangers of anti-Western coalition, China's transition to fascism, global power shift, consequences of international intervention, and fake Western admiration.
Supporting left-wing media is crucial for promoting rational, humanist causes.
Engaging in critical thinking before taking action is important to avoid unintended negative consequences.
A balance between idealistic and practical approaches is essential to navigate revolutions and uprisings.
Deep dives
Importance of supporting left-wing media
Supporting left-wing media, such as Novara Media, is crucial for resisting a toxic establishment and promoting rational, humanist causes. Left-wing media needs support as it lacks backing from the establishment.
The need for critical thinking in dangerous times
In our current urgent and dangerous times, it is crucial to engage in critical thinking. Previous attempts to change the world quickly without understanding it fully have often resulted in unintended negative consequences. Therefore, it is important to interpret and understand the world before taking action.
Balancing idealism with practicality
In the face of revolutions and uprisings, it is essential to strike a balance between idealistic and practical approaches. It is important to acknowledge that even well-intentioned revolutions can go wrong, as seen in historical examples like the French Revolution and the Arab Spring. A moderate conservative spirit can help evaluate how things can turn wrong and avoid unintended negative outcomes.
The Importance of Jews in European Enlightenment
Jews played a crucial role in the European Enlightenment, as they were forced into universalism, advocating for the use of reason independently of their social position. Kant's concept of the public use of reason was made possible by the Jewish contribution. Jews were integral to European culture, and their absence would have had a significant impact on the European Enlightenment.
The Need for Global Approaches to Address Global Issues
The proliferation of strong nation-states, a consequence of the Enlightenment, is now a major problem as global issues such as climate change and immigration require global solutions. The challenge is to find mechanisms that can cut across individual national interests to address these issues effectively. Global emergencies will arise, and it is crucial to be prepared with organized and fair responses, rather than leaving the handling of emergencies to right-wing authoritarians.
Slavoj Žižek is perhaps the most famous living Marxist philosopher. This year he will publish three books on topics ranging from the nature of freedom to his deeply pessimistic view of the future. Slavoj sat down with Aaron for a typically provocative, freewheeling and humorous conversation spanning ideas from Stalinism to Zionism to Eurocentrism. He […]
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