The Crisis of Modernity: Leo Strauss, Martin Heidegger, Alexander Dugin, Julius Evola
Summary
TLDRThis video script explores the multifaceted crisis of modernity, delving into its philosophical, ethical, and political dimensions. It discusses the works of various thinkers like Leo Strauss, Heidegger, and Dugan, who critique modernity's focus on rationality, materialism, and the decline of traditional values. The script suggests that the crisis is not merely political but also deeply rooted in our metaphysical and ontological understanding. It invites viewers to consider whether the crisis is universal or if non-Western thought offers an alternative perspective, and encourages further exploration through courses at miller school.com.
Takeaways
- 🌀 The script discusses a multifaceted crisis of modernity, encompassing metaphysics, ontology, ethics, and religious understanding.
- 🏛️ It suggests that modernity is characterized by a crisis in our understanding of God, theology, and revelation, reflecting a deeper existential and spiritual crisis.
- 📚 The crisis is analyzed through the lenses of various philosophers like Leo Strauss, Martin Heidegger, and Alain de Benoist, each offering unique perspectives on the nature of modernity and its discontents.
- 🔍 Heidegger views modernity as a culmination of a historical process in metaphysics, leading to nihilism, and calls for a 'new beginning' in philosophy to reconnect with our traditions.
- 🔄 Strauss sees the crisis as a deliberate political project that has led to a decline in rationality and virtue, advocating a return to classical political philosophy for guidance.
- 🌐 The script touches on the idea that modernity's crisis is not just political but transcends into the realm of the human soul and spirit, affecting our sense of purpose and significance.
- 📉 It critiques modernity for promoting self-preservation and material comfort over the aspiration towards excellence and virtue, which were central to classical political philosophies.
- 🔮 The discussion also includes the potential ways out of the crisis, such as through postmodernism, a return to premodern values, or a reevaluation of the modern project itself.
- 🌟 The crisis of modernity is presented as an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be human, to consider whether we are soulless automata or divine sparks with a mission on Earth.
- 🌱 The script concludes by inviting further exploration of these themes, suggesting that understanding the crisis of modernity can lead to a more profound understanding of our place in the world.
Q & A
What is the central theme of the video script?
-The central theme of the video script is the 'crisis of modernity,' which encompasses various aspects such as metaphysics, ontology, ethical and moral theory, understanding of God, and the human soul.
What are the key characteristics of modernity as discussed in the script?
-The key characteristics of modernity include a crisis of rationality, religious belief, and a sense of direction. It also involves a shift from the classical world to a modern era marked by nihilism, relativism, and a degradation of values.
How does Martin Heidegger view modernity in terms of the history of philosophy?
-Martin Heidegger views modernity as the culmination of a history of metaphysics, leading to a crisis characterized by nihilism. He suggests that overcoming modernity involves reconnecting with the sources of our tradition and a new inception of philosophy.
What is Leo Strauss's perspective on the crisis of modernity?
-Leo Strauss sees the crisis of modernity as a crisis of rationality and direction, stemming from a deliberate political project initiated by political philosophers. He advocates for a return to classical political philosophy to address the crisis.
How does Alexander Dugin approach the critique of modernity?
-Alexander Dugin critiques modernity from both premodern and postmodern perspectives, using a wide range of thinkers and ideas to attack and propose alternatives to modernity.
What is the role of the classical alternative in Strauss's view of modernity?
-In Strauss's view, the classical alternative, particularly the works of Plato and Aristotle, offers a more complete account of human potential and an orientation towards virtue and excellence, as opposed to the modern focus on fear of death and self-preservation.
What does the script suggest about the relationship between the political realm and the crisis of modernity?
-The script suggests that the crisis of modernity is manifested in political circumstances but has deeper roots in metaphysics, ontology, and ethical theory. It combines an interest in the political realm with the broader implications for human existence.
What are some of the authors discussed in the script who are concerned with the crisis of modernity?
-Some of the authors discussed in the script who are concerned with the crisis of modernity include Leo Strauss, Alexander Dugin, Martin Heidegger, Julius Evola, and Carl Schmitt.
How does the script define the 'crisis of the West'?
-The 'crisis of the West' is defined in the script as a multifaceted crisis involving ethical, spiritual, and political dimensions, which has implications for the understanding of human significance and purpose.
What is the potential way out of the crisis of modernity as suggested by the script?
-The script suggests various ways out of the crisis of modernity, including reconnecting with traditional sources, re-engaging with classical philosophy, and critically examining the political and philosophical underpinnings of modernity.
Outlines
🌀 The Crisis of Modernity: An Overview
This paragraph introduces the concept of a crisis in modernity, touching upon various aspects such as metaphysics, ontology, ethical and moral theory, and our understanding of God and religiosity. It sets the stage for a discussion on the nature of modernity and the West, suggesting that it's a multifaceted issue involving a sense of direction, rationality, and the human soul. The paragraph also outlines the various authors and philosophers who have contributed to the discourse on modernity, including Leo Strauss, Alexander Dugan, Martin Heidegger, and Julius Evola, each offering unique perspectives on the crisis and potential ways out.
📚 Philosophical Perspectives on the Crisis of Modernity
Paragraph 2 delves deeper into the philosophical analysis of the crisis of modernity, focusing on the works of Leo Strauss and his emphasis on the classical alternative. Strauss's view is contrasted with that of Martin Heidegger, who sees modernity as a culmination of the history of philosophy leading to nihilism. The paragraph also discusses the approach of Alexander Dugan, who critiques modernity from both premodern and postmodern angles, and the traditionalist stance against modernity as represented by figures like Rene Guénon. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding the political and metaphysical roots of the crisis and the potential for recovery through a return to classical values and a reevaluation of the impact of science and technology on politics.
🌏 The Global Impact of the Crisis of Modernity
The final paragraph broadens the scope of the discussion to consider the global implications of the crisis of modernity. It raises questions about whether the crisis is confined to the West or if it has become a global phenomenon due to westernization and modernization. The paragraph invites reflection on the nature of the crisis, whether it's moral, spiritual, or a result of secularization, and suggests that the crisis may have been precipitated by a revolution in religious teaching. It concludes by encouraging further exploration of these themes and promoting the courses at miller school.com as a resource for deeper understanding.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Metaphysics
💡Ontology
💡Ethical and Moral Theory
💡Nihilism
💡Relativism
💡Modernity
💡Postmodernity
💡Tradition
💡Political Philosophy
💡Classical Political Philosophy
Highlights
The crisis of modernity encompasses a wide range of philosophical and ethical issues, including metaphysics, ontology, and moral theory.
Modernity is characterized by a crisis in understanding God, religiosity, theology, and revelation.
The human soul and spirit are in crisis, reflecting a broader existential and identity struggle.
The concept of modernity and its replacement of premodern eras are central to understanding the crisis.
The nature of the crisis is multifaceted, including a potential degradation of values and a loss of direction.
Nihilism and relativism are identified as possible outcomes of the crisis of modernity.
Heidegger views modernity as a culmination of the history of metaphysics, leading to nihilism.
Leo Strauss sees the crisis as a political project that has led to a lowering of aspirations and a focus on self-preservation.
Dugin offers a critique of modernity from both premodern and postmodern perspectives.
Traditionalists like Guénon and Evola view modernity as a form of spiritual decay and materialism.
The crisis of modernity is both political and transcends politics, affecting the human condition at its core.
The crisis can be analyzed through political circumstances, such as education and governance.
The theme of the crisis of modernity combines an interest in politics with deeper philosophical concerns.
The crisis raises questions about the nature of being human and the significance of human life.
Theological origins of modernity suggest a revolution in religious teaching as a root cause.
The crisis of the West may be a global phenomenon, with implications for non-Western thought and existence.
The discussion invites reflection on whether there are pockets of non-Western thought unaffected by Western modernization.
Transcripts
it's a crisis of metaphysics it's a
crisis of ontology it's a crisis of
ethical and moral theory it's a crisis
in our understanding of God and
religiosity of Theology and Revelation
it's a crisis in the human soul and
[Music]
spirit let's discuss the topic the
crisis of modernity the crisis of the
West so this is a theme that can
organize several different authors now
let's think about what we're going to
learn from it on one hand everybody has
to have a sense of what is modernity so
what characterizes the Modern Age the
modern era Modern Man the modern mind
what was the world that it replaced so
how do we assess the premodern the
classical or the world of antiquity and
what is the nature of the crisis is it a
crisis of common rationality is it a
crisis of religious belief is it that
somehow things have degenerated and
degraded because we no longer know who
we are what we're doing where we're
going or why anything matters is it
nihilism relativism what exactly is it
and then what's the way out of this
crisis do we have to go through it come
out the other end in a certain sort of
postmodernity can we pause it freeze it
remain modern but avoid the excesses of
modernity that bother us or do we need
to just reject the modern world and go
back so all of the authors that I talk
about on this channel Leo struss
Alexander Dugan Martin haiger n Schmidt
Evola recently they all are concerned
with this question so it goes without
saying for each of them that we are
modern and that we are in a crisis okay
this is a pretty common basis for all of
these thinkers now take heiger for
example heiger sees modernity in terms
of the history of
philosophy the gradual disappearance
from our attention as it were of being
itself and the culminating stage in
metap physics that he calls nihilism so
our time in modernity is characterized
by a certain sort of nihilism which is
the consequence of a history of
metaphysics in other words it's a
process that belongs to the history of
philosophy heiger who stands at the end
of that process is a transitional figure
writing about what he calls another
another beginning of philosophy a new
Inception
uh overcoming modernity overcoming this
dark KN of the Soul by reconnecting with
the sources of our tradition not
primarily in a literary way in other
words he doesn't say we should just go
read Homer until we are inspired to
become homeric Heroes he says by
reflecting on the meaning of the history
of philosophy we can make ourselves open
to as it were a new dispensation of
being roughly stated Leo Strauss when he
looks at the crisis of modernity he sees
it as a crisis of rationality a crisis
of Direction a crisis that took place in
the history of political philosophy not
through some Destiny like in haiger the
destiny of being is to culminate in
nihilism and a transition to another
beginning of philosophy but in stuss
modernity is a deliberate political
project inaugurated by political
philosophers for good reasons so when
makavelli writes the prints and the
discourses he fun fundamentally changes
our attitude towards political things
and our understanding of them compared
to the classical alternative and he does
this for reasons that are possible to
understand even defensible in a certain
to a certain extent though ultimately
Strauss is critical of the modern turn
and argues that we should have the
classics back on the table because they
oriented their lives and understanding
of things towards virtue meaning
Excellence both politically in the best
regime and personally in the best way of
life so you had a TS you had an
orientation you had a hierarchy of the
human soul you had something to Aspire
to something to understand and a more
complete account of the human being and
his Potentials in Antiquity in the
classical political philosophers Plato
and Aristotle first and foremost than
you have in the modern teaching which as
St famously argued lowers the bar it
sets a low but more easy to hit ideal so
if the classics oriented themselves by
Excellence virtue the perfect man
something that is rare then the moderns
Orient themselves by fear of death
desire for comfortable self-preservation
production consumption and things that
you can pretty much count on more than
you can count on aspiration towards
excellence and Perfection and yet for
stros as I say there's a crisis of
modernity we can analyze that crisis
he's got a great essay called three
waves of modernity which helps us to
distinguish the various uh key moments
Within in the modern period and he
writes a lot about the meaning of the
classical alternative in particular to
repeat the problem of Socrates and the
great lessons of platonic political
philosophy Strauss is indispensable for
us in trying to understand what it means
to be modern and what we gave up when we
became modern what it's still possible
to recover in terms of political
rationalism seeing and understanding
political life clearly Dugan another
figure who is critical of modernity and
he has various approaches to analyzing
that crisis sometimes through the lens
of the traditionalists like genon and
Evola sometimes through the lens of
haiger as I just mentioned and in
general I would say Dugan is in some
sense the
most far ranging acumenical and
multimodal critic of modernity because
he's willing to hit it both from the
classical side from the premodern side
from the world of antiquity as well as
from the postmodern side and he really
sets his aim on modernity and lets
anything that is not modern come into
the picture okay Leo stros in his own
way did this as well because he focused
on the medieval thinkers myones he said
that medieval rationalism is in some
sense a culmination of platonic
political rationalism so the medieval is
not backwards for Strauss it's advanced
in terms of its understanding of
political things modern man is advanced
in terms of his understanding of Science
and Technology but medieval and
classical man is advanced in terms of
understanding
the impact of Science and Technology on
politics and all of that okay so so
Dugan attacks modernity from the
premodern and the postmodern angles
that's why sometimes you see him writing
about duus for instance or reading
leftist authors and incorporating
leftist themes into his thinking not
because he's a leftist not because he's
a deconstructive postmodernist but
because he believes that that tendency
of thought and I have a video on this uh
on Dugan's postmodernism it frees up
resources for the attack on modernity
and it frees up resources for the
construction of a political theory that
is non-modern but not liberal communist
or fascist an important point for Dugan
but to go back to the main thing here he
is against modernity okay so Dugan is an
anti-modern thinker haiger sees a crisis
of modernity stuss sees a crisis of
modernity okay Eva gwon and the
traditionalists or genon and the
traditionalist they see very openly
explicitly and as their opening Salvo in
some sense that modernity is caluga okay
that whether we're talking about decart
or k or lock or bacon we're in a world
here of gross materialism and somehow of
not always and only of materialism okay
you're not going to accuse K of being
materialist in this sense but a sort of
psychic Schism and a world that no
longer is related in a meaningful and
well integrated sense to Transcendent uh
domains realms values and
aspirations all right so crisis of
modernity another good thing about this
topic of the crisis of modernity is that
it combines two themes that in my
opinion and in the opinion of these
authors it is profitable to combine so
on one hand it's the realm of the
political so in many respects we see the
crisis of modernity in
political circumstances you know you
look around and you see what are the
schools teaching what are the
politicians doing what's happening in
Parliament and senates you know how come
everything seems so degraded seems so
low so you get a lot of evidence in
politics for this crisis but at the same
time the deepest root of the crisis is
always transp political it's always more
than just mere politics it's a crisis of
metaphysics it's a crisis of ontology
it's a crisis of ethical and moral
theory it's a crisis in our
understanding of God and religiosity of
Theology and Revelation it's a crisis in
the human soul and spirit and and so the
theme crisis of modernity allows us to
combine in a very profitable way our
interest in the political realm and the
manifestations of that crisis in
political life so it's down to earth
it's real it's concrete it's practical
and it affects you you can see it you
can understand it and it takes us into
that deeper Dimension that really
concerns what it means to be human what
it means to be who are we how much does
it matter whether we are soulless
automata or whether we are somehow
Divine Sparks on Earth with a mission a
task a purpose and a fundamental
significance so that's what I wanted to
say to you briefly that this General
topic of the crisis of modernity is a
very useful one in other videos or maybe
in live streams we can go into detail on
some of the readings so for example in
this book by Leo Strauss the city and
man you have an introduction which talks
about the crisis of our time the crisis
of the West and which explains from st's
point of view how to make sense of that
why it should concern us and why the
right way to address it is to turn to
the authors he studies in this book
Plato Aristotle and thus
cities you know or we could pull up
passages in Dugan that show how he deals
with that problem but I wanted to give
you a highlevel conceptual overview of
this theme crisis of modernity it's
something that is all throughout the
courses I teach at millerman school.com
which includes these authors and several
others like Rabbi cichic Carl Schmidt
Arthur moer vandenbrook someone you may
not know or have heard of yet
crisis of modernity think about it let
me know what you think what is it moral
crisis spiritual
crisis is it because there was a
secularization or was it because there
was a new religious teaching so this
book I've shown recently on my channel
the theological origins of modernity
argues that it was not modernity is not
fundamentally characterized by
secularization but by a revolution in
religious teaching so that the
nominalist revolution in the Middle Ages
is what set the first domino in place
for modern liberalism modernity the
contradictions of modernity incidentally
a thesis that deep Dugan also holds in
his great reset book so what is the
crisis in your opinion how do we make
sense of it and is the crisis of the
West a global crisis is there still a
meaningful pocket of non-western thought
and existence that is spared from the
movements of Western man and from the
movements of the western mind or is the
whole world implicated in westernism
westernization and modernization these
are deep interesting and uh rewarding
themes to pursue I'd love to know what
you think if you want to know more about
what I think subscribe to the channel
and definitely check out the courses at
millerin school.com they're all about
this topic
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