Attn: eumaas

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eumaas
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Re: Attn: eumaas

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Dr. Medulla wrote:You ever read or come across this? https://mises.org/library/menace-herd-o ... stes-large

I'm reading George Nash's history of postwar conservative intellectuals and he discusses von Kuehnelt-Leddihn a bit. The thing that struck me was that he describes von Kuehnelt-Leddihn as arguing totalitarianism springs from the Enlightenment (modernism) and the French Revolution, not some kind of perversion of democracy. Which is what Adorno and Horkheimer argued in Dialectic of Enlightenment. Just one of those neat and not-infrequent moments (occurring within a few years of each other, too) where a firm monarchist and radical leftist reach a common and harsh conclusion about something in the centre.
Yes! I've read him. I even put a character based on him in a short story--Austrian Catholic monarchist hanging out with conservatives and libertarians is just too weird not to use.
I feel that there is a fascistic element, for example, in the Rolling Stones . . .
— Morton Feldman

I've studied the phenomenon of neo-provincialism in self-isolating online communities but this place takes the fucking cake.
— Clashy

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Re: Attn: eumaas

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eumaas wrote:
Dr. Medulla wrote:You ever read or come across this? https://mises.org/library/menace-herd-o ... stes-large

I'm reading George Nash's history of postwar conservative intellectuals and he discusses von Kuehnelt-Leddihn a bit. The thing that struck me was that he describes von Kuehnelt-Leddihn as arguing totalitarianism springs from the Enlightenment (modernism) and the French Revolution, not some kind of perversion of democracy. Which is what Adorno and Horkheimer argued in Dialectic of Enlightenment. Just one of those neat and not-infrequent moments (occurring within a few years of each other, too) where a firm monarchist and radical leftist reach a common and harsh conclusion about something in the centre.
Yes! I've read him. I even put a character based on him in a short story--Austrian Catholic monarchist hanging out with conservatives and libertarians is just too weird not to use.
Heh heh. Strange bedfellows all around.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

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Re: Attn: eumaas

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I think I've asked you this before, but have you ever read José Ortega y Gasset's The Revolt of the Masses (1932)? I'm typing in my notes for it right now, and it's striking how much contemporary liberals have absorbed from this conservative Spanish philosopher. The average person is too dumb, too given to gut thinking, too happy to embrace unreason to be allowed to participate in the public sphere. The natural order of things is a meritocracy, with the talented minority ensuring civilization prospers—on behalf of the lazy masses, no less. The problem is that the masses believe that their desire to be influential is sufficient to merit influence, and because of this civilization is in danger of being overrun by these barbarians. Doesn't this sound like the usual description of conservatives? Isn't it the essence of Idiocracy? I won't deny that I have certain snarling moments of agreement, but it's fascinating that this guy was a key mid-century conservative philosopher reacting against Communism and Fascism alike.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

eumaas
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Re: Attn: eumaas

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Dr. Medulla wrote:I think I've asked you this before, but have you ever read José Ortega y Gasset's The Revolt of the Masses (1932)? I'm typing in my notes for it right now, and it's striking how much contemporary liberals have absorbed from this conservative Spanish philosopher. The average person is too dumb, too given to gut thinking, too happy to embrace unreason to be allowed to participate in the public sphere. The natural order of things is a meritocracy, with the talented minority ensuring civilization prospers—on behalf of the lazy masses, no less. The problem is that the masses believe that their desire to be influential is sufficient to merit influence, and because of this civilization is in danger of being overrun by these barbarians. Doesn't this sound like the usual description of conservatives? Isn't it the essence of Idiocracy? I won't deny that I have certain snarling moments of agreement, but it's fascinating that this guy was a key mid-century conservative philosopher reacting against Communism and Fascism alike.
I have read it! Reminds me of some of Lawrence's work, actually. It was recommended to me by my Russianist friend.

When you read it like that, it certainly does sound like the kind of liberalism promoted by Clinton and Blair.
I feel that there is a fascistic element, for example, in the Rolling Stones . . .
— Morton Feldman

I've studied the phenomenon of neo-provincialism in self-isolating online communities but this place takes the fucking cake.
— Clashy

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Re: Attn: eumaas

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eumaas wrote:
Dr. Medulla wrote:I think I've asked you this before, but have you ever read José Ortega y Gasset's The Revolt of the Masses (1932)? I'm typing in my notes for it right now, and it's striking how much contemporary liberals have absorbed from this conservative Spanish philosopher. The average person is too dumb, too given to gut thinking, too happy to embrace unreason to be allowed to participate in the public sphere. The natural order of things is a meritocracy, with the talented minority ensuring civilization prospers—on behalf of the lazy masses, no less. The problem is that the masses believe that their desire to be influential is sufficient to merit influence, and because of this civilization is in danger of being overrun by these barbarians. Doesn't this sound like the usual description of conservatives? Isn't it the essence of Idiocracy? I won't deny that I have certain snarling moments of agreement, but it's fascinating that this guy was a key mid-century conservative philosopher reacting against Communism and Fascism alike.
I have read it! Reminds me of some of Lawrence's work, actually. It was recommended to me by my Russianist friend.

When you read it like that, it certainly does sound like the kind of liberalism promoted by Clinton and Blair.
The whole damn thing is fascinating to me how ideas, whole or in part, float across the spectrum. The example I like to cite is that in the 50s and 60, it was the left, originally continental intellectuals then later American hippies, who embraced a suspicion of science and rationality and promoted more gut thinking. It was the renascent conservative movement that bound itself to rigourous rationalism. Yet, somewhere in the 80s or 90s, the polarity of the spectrum reversed. Maybe this unanchored nature of ideas is just part and parcel of postmodernity, but that seems a bit simplistic to explain just crazy shifts.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

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Re: Attn: eumaas

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Dr. Medulla wrote:
eumaas wrote:
Dr. Medulla wrote:I think I've asked you this before, but have you ever read José Ortega y Gasset's The Revolt of the Masses (1932)? I'm typing in my notes for it right now, and it's striking how much contemporary liberals have absorbed from this conservative Spanish philosopher. The average person is too dumb, too given to gut thinking, too happy to embrace unreason to be allowed to participate in the public sphere. The natural order of things is a meritocracy, with the talented minority ensuring civilization prospers—on behalf of the lazy masses, no less. The problem is that the masses believe that their desire to be influential is sufficient to merit influence, and because of this civilization is in danger of being overrun by these barbarians. Doesn't this sound like the usual description of conservatives? Isn't it the essence of Idiocracy? I won't deny that I have certain snarling moments of agreement, but it's fascinating that this guy was a key mid-century conservative philosopher reacting against Communism and Fascism alike.
I have read it! Reminds me of some of Lawrence's work, actually. It was recommended to me by my Russianist friend.

When you read it like that, it certainly does sound like the kind of liberalism promoted by Clinton and Blair.
The whole damn thing is fascinating to me how ideas, whole or in part, float across the spectrum. The example I like to cite is that in the 50s and 60, it was the left, originally continental intellectuals then later American hippies, who embraced a suspicion of science and rationality and promoted more gut thinking. It was the renascent conservative movement that bound itself to rigourous rationalism. Yet, somewhere in the 80s or 90s, the polarity of the spectrum reversed. Maybe this unanchored nature of ideas is just part and parcel of postmodernity, but that seems a bit simplistic to explain just crazy shifts.
In the early 20th century, before the atrocities of the Nazis were documented, the biggest fans of eugenics were almost all well-known liberals, to expand on that idea.
”INDER LOCK THE THE KISS THREAD IVE REALISED IM A PRZE IDOOT” - Thomas Jefferson

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Re: Attn: eumaas

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Wolter wrote:
Dr. Medulla wrote:
eumaas wrote:
Dr. Medulla wrote:I think I've asked you this before, but have you ever read José Ortega y Gasset's The Revolt of the Masses (1932)? I'm typing in my notes for it right now, and it's striking how much contemporary liberals have absorbed from this conservative Spanish philosopher. The average person is too dumb, too given to gut thinking, too happy to embrace unreason to be allowed to participate in the public sphere. The natural order of things is a meritocracy, with the talented minority ensuring civilization prospers—on behalf of the lazy masses, no less. The problem is that the masses believe that their desire to be influential is sufficient to merit influence, and because of this civilization is in danger of being overrun by these barbarians. Doesn't this sound like the usual description of conservatives? Isn't it the essence of Idiocracy? I won't deny that I have certain snarling moments of agreement, but it's fascinating that this guy was a key mid-century conservative philosopher reacting against Communism and Fascism alike.
I have read it! Reminds me of some of Lawrence's work, actually. It was recommended to me by my Russianist friend.

When you read it like that, it certainly does sound like the kind of liberalism promoted by Clinton and Blair.
The whole damn thing is fascinating to me how ideas, whole or in part, float across the spectrum. The example I like to cite is that in the 50s and 60, it was the left, originally continental intellectuals then later American hippies, who embraced a suspicion of science and rationality and promoted more gut thinking. It was the renascent conservative movement that bound itself to rigourous rationalism. Yet, somewhere in the 80s or 90s, the polarity of the spectrum reversed. Maybe this unanchored nature of ideas is just part and parcel of postmodernity, but that seems a bit simplistic to explain just crazy shifts.
In the early 20th century, before the atrocities of the Nazis were documented, the biggest fans of eugenics were almost all well-known liberals, to expand on that idea.
The definition of liberal or left gets a bit dicier back then, but, definitely, Progressives were ardent believers that science and technique could solve all society's ills, including the weak link of inferior breeding. I get seriously weirded out when students express admiration for the Progressives, when all I see is a bunch of bigots and monsters.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

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Re: Attn: eumaas

Post by Wolter »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
Wolter wrote:
Dr. Medulla wrote:
eumaas wrote:
Dr. Medulla wrote:I think I've asked you this before, but have you ever read José Ortega y Gasset's The Revolt of the Masses (1932)? I'm typing in my notes for it right now, and it's striking how much contemporary liberals have absorbed from this conservative Spanish philosopher. The average person is too dumb, too given to gut thinking, too happy to embrace unreason to be allowed to participate in the public sphere. The natural order of things is a meritocracy, with the talented minority ensuring civilization prospers—on behalf of the lazy masses, no less. The problem is that the masses believe that their desire to be influential is sufficient to merit influence, and because of this civilization is in danger of being overrun by these barbarians. Doesn't this sound like the usual description of conservatives? Isn't it the essence of Idiocracy? I won't deny that I have certain snarling moments of agreement, but it's fascinating that this guy was a key mid-century conservative philosopher reacting against Communism and Fascism alike.
I have read it! Reminds me of some of Lawrence's work, actually. It was recommended to me by my Russianist friend.

When you read it like that, it certainly does sound like the kind of liberalism promoted by Clinton and Blair.
The whole damn thing is fascinating to me how ideas, whole or in part, float across the spectrum. The example I like to cite is that in the 50s and 60, it was the left, originally continental intellectuals then later American hippies, who embraced a suspicion of science and rationality and promoted more gut thinking. It was the renascent conservative movement that bound itself to rigourous rationalism. Yet, somewhere in the 80s or 90s, the polarity of the spectrum reversed. Maybe this unanchored nature of ideas is just part and parcel of postmodernity, but that seems a bit simplistic to explain just crazy shifts.
In the early 20th century, before the atrocities of the Nazis were documented, the biggest fans of eugenics were almost all well-known liberals, to expand on that idea.
The definition of liberal or left gets a bit dicier back then, but, definitely, Progressives were ardent believers that science and technique could solve all society's ills, including the weak link of inferior breeding. I get seriously weirded out when students express admiration for the Progressives, when all I see is a bunch of bigots and monsters.
Yeah, the Progressive movement is frankly chilling if you examine what their beliefs actually entailed.
”INDER LOCK THE THE KISS THREAD IVE REALISED IM A PRZE IDOOT” - Thomas Jefferson

"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"

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Re: Attn: eumaas

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Wolter wrote:Yeah, the Progressive movement is frankly chilling if you examine what their beliefs actually entailed.
If you hate labourers who spend their time in the bar, Catholics, Jews, or foreigners with their weird customs, but are cool with anti-black racism, Progressivism wants you!
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

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Re: Attn: eumaas

Post by Wolter »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
Wolter wrote:Yeah, the Progressive movement is frankly chilling if you examine what their beliefs actually entailed.
If you hate labourers who spend their time in the bar, Catholics, Jews, or foreigners with their weird customs, but are cool with anti-black racism, Progressivism wants you!
I think that was Woodrow Wilson's campaign poster from 1912.
”INDER LOCK THE THE KISS THREAD IVE REALISED IM A PRZE IDOOT” - Thomas Jefferson

"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"

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