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Evangelization & Culture Podcast
Solzhenitsyn’s Harvard Address w/ Gary Saul Morson
Oct 1, 2024
In this enlightening discussion, Gary Saul Morson, an esteemed professor of Russian literature, dives into Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's provocative 1978 Harvard address. He unpacks its critiques of legalism and elite conformity, emphasizing how these hinder true moral engagement. Morson explores Solzhenitsyn's legacy, where courage in the face of oppression is central, and highlights the risks of groupthink in modern journalism. This conversation sheds light on the importance of seeking genuine truths amid cultural complacency.
01:14:34
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Quick takeaways
- Solzhenitsyn's Harvard address exposed the unpleasantness of truth, challenging the complacency of the Western intellectual elite in 1978.
- His experiences in the Gulag formed the basis for a critique of totalitarianism, significantly altering Western perceptions of communist ideology.
Deep dives
Flannery O'Connor's Perspective on Truth
Flannery O'Connor emphasized that the nature of truth remains constant, irrespective of our emotional capacity to accept it. She poignantly articulated that there are times in life—both personal and collective—where the truth, as understood through faith, can be jarring and repulsive. This sentiment resonates with the struggles highlighted in the lives of saints, who often face their own 'dark nights of the soul.' Currently, this notion seems relevant as many perceive a global state of turmoil, akin to a shared moment of existential crisis.
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Discover
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