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.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.
Attn: eumaas
Re: Attn: eumaas
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
— 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
Heh heh. Strange bedfellows all around.eumaas wrote: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.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.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Re: Attn: eumaas
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.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
Re: Attn: eumaas
I have read it! Reminds me of some of Lawrence's work, actually. It was recommended to me by my Russianist friend.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.
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
— Morton Feldman
I've studied the phenomenon of neo-provincialism in self-isolating online communities but this place takes the fucking cake.
— Clashy
- Dr. Medulla
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Re: Attn: eumaas
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.eumaas wrote:I have read it! Reminds me of some of Lawrence's work, actually. It was recommended to me by my Russianist friend.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.
When you read it like that, it certainly does sound like the kind of liberalism promoted by Clinton and Blair.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Re: Attn: eumaas
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.Dr. Medulla wrote: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.eumaas wrote:I have read it! Reminds me of some of Lawrence's work, actually. It was recommended to me by my Russianist friend.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.
When you read it like that, it certainly does sound like the kind of liberalism promoted by Clinton and Blair.
”INDER LOCK THE THE KISS THREAD IVE REALISED IM A PRZE IDOOT” - Thomas Jefferson
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
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Re: Attn: eumaas
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.Wolter wrote: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.Dr. Medulla wrote: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.eumaas wrote:I have read it! Reminds me of some of Lawrence's work, actually. It was recommended to me by my Russianist friend.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.
When you read it like that, it certainly does sound like the kind of liberalism promoted by Clinton and Blair.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
- Wolter
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Re: Attn: eumaas
Yeah, the Progressive movement is frankly chilling if you examine what their beliefs actually entailed.Dr. Medulla wrote: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.Wolter wrote: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.Dr. Medulla wrote: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.eumaas wrote:I have read it! Reminds me of some of Lawrence's work, actually. It was recommended to me by my Russianist friend.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.
When you read it like that, it certainly does sound like the kind of liberalism promoted by Clinton and Blair.
”INDER LOCK THE THE KISS THREAD IVE REALISED IM A PRZE IDOOT” - Thomas Jefferson
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
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Re: Attn: eumaas
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!Wolter wrote:Yeah, the Progressive movement is frankly chilling if you examine what their beliefs actually entailed.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
- Wolter
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Re: Attn: eumaas
I think that was Woodrow Wilson's campaign poster from 1912.Dr. Medulla wrote: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!Wolter wrote: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!"
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"