#832 - Rudyard Lynch - Is This The Most Absurd Time In History?

At a Glance

• Upper Class vs Working Class Bias - “If you’re born upper class, you’re part of the bad guys. If you’re born working class, you’re a good guy.” This statement highlights the speaker’s concern about social bias and how it influences people’s perceptions.

• Authoritarianism and Violence - “They both think that in order to achieve these… they’re both often rationalizations for killing people too.” The speaker emphasizes the dangers of authoritarian ideologies and their potential for violence.

• Lack of Spiritual Conceptualization - “They both don’t see the world as an organic living place. They both really don’t have a concept of God either.” This point highlights the speaker’s concern about the lack of spiritual depth in certain ideologies.

• Contrast between Hard Right and Left - “It’s funny that the most hard right Christian, the most hard right guys are philosophically the least Christian people in the political spectrum…” The speaker notes a surprising contrast between those who identify as Christian and their actual philosophical alignment.

What to Do

• Be aware of your own biases and assumptions - The speaker mentions how some people, especially those on the far right, claim to be hardcore Christians but hold least philosophically Christian views. This highlights the importance of being self-aware of our own biases and not assuming we have all the answers.

• Consider alternative perspectives in history - The conversation touches on the idea that most histories are written from a progressive perspective, ignoring or downplaying events that don’t fit this narrative. This suggests that it’s essential to seek out alternative viewpoints and consider multiple perspectives when learning about history.

• Explore different ideologies and worldviews - Tamim Amsari’s book “The Invention of Yesterday” is recommended as a starting point for exploring how people in different societies view the world through the lens of various ideologies. This advice encourages readers to be curious and open-minded, seeking out diverse perspectives on life.

• Don’t shy away from confronting uncomfortable truths - The speaker mentions Amory Duriacourt’s book “Atrocities” which explores the 100 most significant massacres in human history. This suggests that it’s essential to confront uncomfortable truths and not shy away from difficult topics, especially when trying to understand complex issues.

• Practice intellectual humility - The conversation emphasizes the importance of being willing to learn and consider new ideas, even if they challenge one’s existing views. This advice encourages readers to practice intellectual humility, recognizing that there is always more to discover and learn.

What to Get

• Books

• The Invention of Yesterday: A 50,000-Year History of Human Culture, Conflict, and Connection by Tamim Ansary - To learn history from various ideological perspectives.

• The Civilizing Process: The History of Manners by Norbert Elias - Amazon - To understand the cultural norms and behaviors of humans throughout history

• Leviathan and Its Enemies by Samuel T Francis - Amazon - To gain insight into how ruling classes control populations

• The Total State: How Liberal Democracies Become Tyrannies by Auron MacIntyre - Amazon - To further understand mechanisms of power and control

• Modern Civilization: A History of the Last Five Centuries by Crane Brinton - Amazon - To analyze the strengths and weaknesses of different civilizations, including Western, Greco-Roman, Chinese, and Indian civilizations

• The Unabomber Manifesto: Industrial Society and Its Futureby The Unabomber - To explore the Unabomber’s perspective on societal collapse and social engineering

• The Great Big Book of Horrible Things: The Definitive Chronicle of History’s 100 Worst Atrocities by Matthew White - For a non-biased, objective look at human history through death tolls.

• The Eye of Shiva: Eastern Mysticism and Science by Amaury de Riencourt To compare the teachings of modern science to Hinduism and how Hindus reached similar philosophical conclusions 2000 years ago.

• The Coming Caesars by Amaury de Riencourt - For parallels between America and Rome, which inspired the concept of “grokista”.

• The Soul of China by Amaury de Riencourt - To understand the mental systems and characters Chinese civilizations.

Summary

The podcast episode begins with a discussion about how certain ideologies view outgroups as being inferior and deserving of harm or even death. The hosts observe that both far-right and far-left ideologies share similar characteristics, such as viewing the world as a place to be dominated or controlled rather than an organic living entity. They also note that these ideologies often lack a concept of God and believe in authoritarianism.

The conversation turns to the idea of objectivity in history and how it’s often presented in a biased manner. The hosts recommend two books: “The Invention of Yesterday” by Tamim Amsari, which explores how people in different societies view the world through their ideologies; and “Atrocities” by Matthew White, which provides an objective look at the top 100 bloodiest atrocities in history.

One of the hosts mentions Amory Duriacourt, a French orientalist who made several intellectual jumps that are still relevant today. He recommends checking out Duriacourt’s work, particularly his book “Sex and Power in History,” which explores how the relationships between sexes inform the rise and fall of civilizations. The host also praises Duriacourt for being a clear writer whose ideas are accessible to non-historians.

The conversation concludes with the hosts discussing where people can go to learn more about their content. They recommend checking out two channels: “What If Alt Hissed?” and “History 102 With Eric Torenberg.” The episode ends with a sense of camaraderie between the hosts, who express appreciation for each other’s perspectives.

Overall, this episode is a thought-provoking conversation that challenges listeners to think critically about ideologies and history. It encourages people to seek out objective perspectives and to consider the complexities of human experiences.