Modern Wisdom #1019 - Fin Taylor & Horatio Gould - History is a Freakshow
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Nov 13, 2025 
Finn Taylor and Horatio Gould, comedians and co-hosts of Finn vs History, dive into the quirks of our past with humor and insight. They discuss Japan's seppuku and the strange honor culture behind it, along with the complex motivations for using atomic bombs in WWII. The duo reflects on the post-war political landscape of Britain and the eccentric characters who shaped it. They also tackle the rise of pro-Hitler media, the implications of ironic internet culture, and the historical mysteries like the Dancing Plague of 1518, showcasing history as both a freakshow and a vital lesson.
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History Soothes Modern Anxiety
- Studying history makes the present feel calmer because past periods were often worse.
- Finn Taylor and Horatio Gould find historical perspective soothing and grounding.
Honor Culture Explains Seppuku
- Japanese culture historically valorized ritual suicide like seppuku within an honor system.
- Horatio Gould and Finn Taylor link that to communal honor and wartime kamikaze mentality.
Decision To Use The Atomic Bomb
- The US weighed estimated deaths from an invasion versus using the atomic bomb.
- Finn Taylor suggests using the bomb was partly driven by novelty and strategic calculations.