Patrick Deneen's book honestly is one of the most impactful books I've ever read. In not trying to offer a solution to the crisis the answer is actually quite obvious by the conclusion. I don't know if I've made sense but another one would be Joe Boot's book on the Mission of God. Deneen's book could be coupled with many others showing how the "ism" fails because the very first premise is wrong and yet the train rumbles onward towards its proverbial cliff without letting up. I'm thinking of Francis Schaeffer's works as well as Neil Postman's Technopoly and Amusing Ourselves to Death particularly. The call is one of the prophet speaking the call to repent -to change course that will never happen without the Creator's intervention. Just some thoughts at the outset of this podcast. Now to listen in.....
Great comment What is the premise that Schaefer and Postman start with that unravels? Postman to me seems to say that technology changes the user - that’s more of a sociological fact than a logical premise
@@jsong8282 Liberalism of course is what comes unraveled. I thought of Schaeffer's works because that was basically his mission - to show how liberal ideas in various philosophical idealolgies, particularly existential formulations young people were readily embracing; to show how each one only ended in despair. Postman's work also shows the end game of technopoly in nations like the united States. He doesn't give the solution like Schaeffer (being a good critic) - though does make the effort in the last chapter. I could give a better answer but I'd need to refresh myself by skimming through the books again. I'm getting through Wolfe's book right now which is also a very thoughtful, interesting study in political theory being a slow reader I am even slower at assimilating info lol!
@@jsong8282 yeah, just one more point about your point about Postman being a more sociological fact rather than a logical one - I find a lot of Wolfe's points he makes is along these lines as well since he lays the theological groundwork at the outset and then builds towards his logical conclusion, he makes sociological points about unwritten "laws" of social pressure to accept Christian values because the culture is Christian. It seems to me that whether Christian or not, then culture impresses upon us acceptable modes of conformity by which we are identified as a particular people. These sociological features are not necessarily explicit in the Scriptures but implicit and observable. Postman seems to acknowledge this phenomena as well in Technopoly. How that pressure to conform will one day, perhaps, cause us to put our faith on the line or just fall asleep at the wheel like the State church did during Hitler's reign. I don't know if I made it more helpful or not but there you go! I'm only half thru Wolfe's book and have absolutely no issue with his reasoning and logic nor his conclusions. It is well written and getting me to think back to my days sitting in my philosophy classes lol!
I think there was only one element missing from this discussion. I would have greatly appreciated the author and the Pugcast panel presenting what each of them believes the Biblical view to be for a right understanding of government, commerce, and community, with possible guidance as to how we may restore God's expectations of these societal structures.
Open to Deneen's critique, but here I'm not convinced he has indicted individualism or liberalism. I think a better framing of our problems is that we've taken equality too far and now bumped up against nature. Liberalism was fine when it was embedded in a Judeo-Christian political culture. This gave us a conception of the good, though it was not enshrined in law. Integralism will never fly.
So many of Deneen's insights are rather similar to those of John Gray. Both are strikingly original thinkers and full of so many fresh insights. I think they both feel nostalgic over all the good things that have been lost over the past forty years (community, family, open debate, etc) And lord knows I feel the same....
Oremus. Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of Thy faithful bishops & priests to bring Our Lord Jesus Christ into the streets in Eucharistic Processions! Faithful will follow praying rosary w/ Our Lady bringing up the rear. From sea to shining sea.
The problem is lack of balance between liberty and justice. Christians are subject to the law of liberty, but, because we're stupid and utterly depraved, we end up using our liberty to serve our flesh and other prurient appetites. The important truths are always paradoxes, or at least appear t be. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing, because of our utter depravity. Yeah, I'm a Calvinist, but I call my self a Neo-Calvinist, because I like GK Chesterton, a lot.
Though this discussion might be titled "The Four Stages of Facial Hair in a Decadent, Post Liberal Society." (Sorry for being silly. I couldn't resist.)
THE RULING CLASS IS UNDER A STRONG DELUSION THAT THEY WILL BELIEVE A LIE THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMM WJO BELIEVE NOT THE TRUTH BUT HAVE PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
MORE FREEDOM TO SIN IS WHAT THEY WANT! THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION THAT LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD BUT MEN LOVE DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL!
Good to hear Strong Towns get a mention.
Great Podcast. - Want to see Dr. Deneen go head-to-head w Dr. Dugin.
Patrick Deneen's book honestly is one of the most impactful books I've ever read. In not trying to offer a solution to the crisis the answer is actually quite obvious by the conclusion. I don't know if I've made sense but another one would be Joe Boot's book on the Mission of God. Deneen's book could be coupled with many others showing how the "ism" fails because the very first premise is wrong and yet the train rumbles onward towards its proverbial cliff without letting up. I'm thinking of Francis Schaeffer's works as well as Neil Postman's Technopoly and Amusing Ourselves to Death particularly. The call is one of the prophet speaking the call to repent -to change course that will never happen without the Creator's intervention. Just some thoughts at the outset of this podcast. Now to listen in.....
Agreed with your analysis of Deneen's book, as well as connecting it to Postman's work.
Great comment
What is the premise that Schaefer and Postman start with that unravels? Postman to me seems to say that technology changes the user - that’s more of a sociological fact than a logical premise
@@jsong8282 Liberalism of course is what comes unraveled. I thought of Schaeffer's works because that was basically his mission - to show how liberal ideas in various philosophical idealolgies, particularly existential formulations young people were readily embracing; to show how each one only ended in despair. Postman's work also shows the end game of technopoly in nations like the united States. He doesn't give the solution like Schaeffer (being a good critic) - though does make the effort in the last chapter. I could give a better answer but I'd need to refresh myself by skimming through the books again. I'm getting through Wolfe's book right now which is also a very thoughtful, interesting study in political theory being a slow reader I am even slower at assimilating info lol!
I’ve got Wolfe on the shelf so I’d be interested in your thoughts when you get done
@@jsong8282 yeah, just one more point about your point about Postman being a more sociological fact rather than a logical one - I find a lot of Wolfe's points he makes is along these lines as well since he lays the theological groundwork at the outset and then builds towards his logical conclusion, he makes sociological points about unwritten "laws" of social pressure to accept Christian values because the culture is Christian. It seems to me that whether Christian or not, then culture impresses upon us acceptable modes of conformity by which we are identified as a particular people. These sociological features are not necessarily explicit in the Scriptures but implicit and observable. Postman seems to acknowledge this phenomena as well in Technopoly. How that pressure to conform will one day, perhaps, cause us to put our faith on the line or just fall asleep at the wheel like the State church did during Hitler's reign. I don't know if I made it more helpful or not but there you go! I'm only half thru Wolfe's book and have absolutely no issue with his reasoning and logic nor his conclusions. It is well written and getting me to think back to my days sitting in my philosophy classes lol!
I think there was only one element missing from this discussion. I would have greatly appreciated the author and the Pugcast panel presenting what each of them believes the Biblical view to be for a right understanding of government, commerce, and community, with possible guidance as to how we may restore God's expectations of these societal structures.
If you have any suggestions for that podcast or book let me know!
Strong Towns is a great resource. There's a channel on UA-cam called "Not Just Bikes," which presents Strong Towns' arguments really well.
Good chance he will be at the least, annoying to a lot of people of the right. Even if you're sympathetic to Strong Towns generally.
@@chickenfishhybrid44 Yeah, in his latest videos, he's pretty openly progressive about non related subjects to urban planning, which is very grating.
Open to Deneen's critique, but here I'm not convinced he has indicted individualism or liberalism. I think a better framing of our problems is that we've taken equality too far and now bumped up against nature. Liberalism was fine when it was embedded in a Judeo-Christian political culture. This gave us a conception of the good, though it was not enshrined in law. Integralism will never fly.
So many of Deneen's insights are rather similar to those of John Gray. Both are strikingly original thinkers and full of so many fresh insights. I think they both feel nostalgic over all the good things that have been lost over the past forty years (community, family, open debate, etc) And lord knows I feel the same....
Oremus. Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of Thy faithful bishops & priests to bring Our Lord Jesus Christ into the streets in Eucharistic Processions! Faithful will follow praying rosary w/ Our Lady bringing up the rear. From sea to shining sea.
The problem is lack of balance between liberty and justice. Christians are subject to the law of liberty, but, because we're stupid and utterly depraved, we end up using our liberty to serve our flesh and other prurient appetites.
The important truths are always paradoxes, or at least appear t be. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing, because of our utter depravity.
Yeah, I'm a Calvinist, but I call my self a Neo-Calvinist, because I like GK Chesterton, a lot.
Though this discussion might be titled "The Four Stages of Facial Hair in a Decadent, Post Liberal Society." (Sorry for being silly. I couldn't resist.)
THE RULING CLASS IS UNDER A STRONG DELUSION THAT THEY WILL BELIEVE A LIE THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMM WJO BELIEVE NOT THE TRUTH BUT HAVE PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
MORE FREEDOM TO SIN IS WHAT THEY WANT!
THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION THAT LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD BUT MEN LOVE DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL!
Why are you yelling?
@@NeanderthalWoman-ou8ev IS THAT YOUR TAKEAWAY?
@@juliangodsend9418 Yeah, that's generally how Internet convention works. Caps lock= shouting.
Is it a coincidence that all four of these querulous Pooh-Bahs are 1) old; 2) white; 3) straight; 4) religiously conservative?