The Regrettable Century
The old forms of the Left are moribund and the new forms are stupid. We're making a podcast that discusses the need to organize a Dialectical Pessimism and develop a salvage project capable of sparking a new workers' movement for socialism. A clean, honest, and unsentimental melancholy is required; we are cultivating one and would like to share it with you. “The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned. I’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.” -- Antonio Gramsci
Latest episodes
Jun 6, 2024 • 31min
Patreon Preview -- Boundless and Bottomless Seas: Dugin's 4th Political Theory (Part V)
Jason, Varn, and Sean KB continue the forced march through the Aleksander Dugin's Fourth Political Theory.Check out Varn Vlog here:https://www.patreon.com/varnvlog/postsCheck out Antifada here:https://www.patreon.com/theantifadaSend us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the show
Jun 2, 2024 • 7min
Patreon Preview -- Turns Out I Will Also Rule: An Addendum to our Fascism and Anarcho-Individualism Discussion
This week we are tying up some loose ends we left unexplored in our last regular episode on Fascism and Anarcho-Individualism. Enjoy this bonus content!Send us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the show
May 22, 2024 • 1h 26min
Turns Out I Will Be Ruled: Anarcho-Individualism and Italian Fascism
This week we discussed one of the many currents of thought that led to the creation of Italian Fascism, Anarcho-Individualism. It seems counterintuitive that anarchism would have made any contribution to the creation of fascism, until you think about it. Whitaker, Stephen B. The Anarchist-individualist Origins of Italian Fascism. Peter Lang Incorporated, International Academic Publishers, 2002.From Stirner to Mussolini: The Anarchist-Individualist Origins of Italian Fascism https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/william-gillis-from-stirner-to-mussolini.pdfSend us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the show
May 13, 2024 • 1h 7min
On Liberal Socialism: Results and Prospects
This week Jason and Kevin discuss the Liberal Socialism; what it is, where it comes from, its impact on the development of the left, its prospects, and its limitations. What Is Liberal Socialism?https://www.liberalcurrents.com/what-is-liberal-socialism/ The Idea of a Liberal Socialismhttps://www.socialeurope.eu/the-idea-of-a-liberal-socialismLiberal Socialism Now https://aeon.co/essays/the-case-for-liberal-socialism-in-the-21st-centuryToward A Liberal Socialism?https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/toward-a-liberal-socialism/ Socialists Don’t Want to Destroy Liberalism. We Want to Go Beyond It. https://jacobin.com/2020/10/socialism-liberalism-marx Send us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the show
May 9, 2024 • 8min
Patreon Preview -- The Question of Nationalities & Social Democracy by Otto Bauer (Episode I)
We are back at it again covering Otto Bauer's unique Marxist take on the national question. This week we began to cover Chapter I.A link to the PDF:https://libcom.org/article/question-nationalities-and-social-democracy-otto-bauerSend us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the show
May 1, 2024 • 31min
Patreon Preview -- Boundless and Bottomless Seas: Dugin's 4th Political Theory (Part IV)
Jason, Varn, and Sean are back and talking Fourth Political Theory once again. Check out Varn Vlog:https://www.patreon.com/varnvlog/postsCheck out the ANTIFADA:https://www.patreon.com/theantifadaSend us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the show
Apr 29, 2024 • 1h 40min
Ideology, Fetishism, Apophaticism: Marxist Criticism and Christianity with Daniel Saunders
The Marxist/Christian dialogue continues! This week Jason and Ben sat down with Daniel Saunders to discuss an article he wrote called Ideology, Fetishism, Apophaticism: Marxist Criticism and Christianity:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/nbfr.12642 Daniel's paper "explores Christianity’s ambiguous relationship to capitalism by engaging Marx’s notion of the fetishism of commodities as a way of rethinking Marxism’s critique of religion from the standpoint of political economy. "Other Daniel stuff can be found here:https://daniel-saunders.com/Send us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the show
Apr 18, 2024 • 9min
Patreon Preview -- Patron Q&A
This week we tried something new, we put out a call on our Patreon and Discord for questions and y'all responded with 10 pretty good questions. Questions about democracy, ethics, children, etc...We answered them.Enjoy!Send us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the show
Apr 11, 2024 • 5min
PATREON PREVIEW -- The Question of Nationalities & Social Democracy by Otto Bauer (Episode 0)
They said it wasn't possible for a Marxist to break down the national question in a sophisticated and nuanced way, but Otto Bauer has done it. This book from 1907, which no one on the Anglophone Left has ever read, is quite possibly the best book on the subject. We are here to read it and let you know.This week we covered the introductory materials.A link to the PDF:https://libcom.org/article/question-nationalities-and-social-democracy-otto-bauerSend us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the show
Apr 8, 2024 • 1h 11min
A Primer on Utopian Philosophy: An Intro to Ernst Bloch (with Jon Greenaway aka thelitcritguy)
This week we are joined by Jon (thelitcritguy of HorrorVanguard fame) to discuss his new book A Primer on Utopian Philosophy: An Introduction to the Work of Ernst Bloch which was just released on Zero Books. We discuss nihilism, optimism, hope, and dialectical pessimism and the ever pertinent work of Ernst Bloch. Check out Horror Vanguard HereCheck out Jon's Blog Here Buy Jon's Book Here Send us a message (sorry we can't respond on here). Support the show
