Philosopher Slavoj Žižek on 'soft' fascism, AI & the effects of shamelessness in public life

Summary

The speaker reflects on their journey from radical leftist ideals to a 'moderately conservative communist' viewpoint, critiquing both liberal and Marxist ideologies. Drawing on concepts of quantum mechanics, they explore the unpredictable nature of history and the potential outcomes, including the rise of 'soft fascism' driven by state-controlled capitalism. They express concern over the growing number of rogue states and the lack of shame in contemporary politics, using examples like Israel and the U.S. to highlight moral decline. The speaker urges a return to basic ethical values and questions the future role of artificial intelligence in human society.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker reflects on their past leftist ideals and the disillusionment with those in power, pointing out the increasing obscenity and corruption among leaders.
• 😀 The speaker criticizes both liberal and Marxist ideologies, highlighting their failure to predict the future accurately, and advocates for a more nuanced, moderate approach.
• 😀 Quantum mechanics is used as a metaphor for social events, with the speaker drawing parallels between superpositions and the current uncertainty in political and social directions.
• 😀 The speaker suggests that soft fascism—characterized by a strong state and brutal capitalism, legitimized by traditional ideologies—could be the most probable future outcome.
• 😀 China and India are used as examples of countries where capitalism and strong state control are being combined with traditional ideologies to maintain order.
• 😀 The concept of rogue states is discussed, where the state fails to reproduce itself according to its own ideological or legal terms, relying on illegal violence to maintain order.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding history not only by what happened but by what could have happened, highlighting the complexity of historical interpretation.
• 😀 There is concern about the future of artificial intelligence, with the speaker questioning the assumption that AI will think like humans and suggesting it may bring a new form of spirituality.
• 😀 The speaker presents two human qualities that AI cannot replicate: daily rituals (as an expression of meaning) and swearing (as an embodiment of frustration with language).
• 😀 Shamelessness in public discourse, exemplified by figures like Donald Trump and the Israeli government's actions, is identified as a disturbing trend that undermines decency in society.
• 😀 The speaker concludes by invoking the concept of shame as discussed by Lacan and Freud, stressing the importance of restoring a basic sense of shame in an era of permissiveness.

Q & A

What does the speaker mean by 'soft fascism'?

The speaker defines 'soft fascism' as a form of fascism that is not overtly violent like traditional Nazi fascism but instead focuses on capitalism controlled by a strong state. This state legitimizes itself through traditional or ideological beliefs, sometimes rooted in invented or adapted religious traditions, and aims to prevent the social disintegration that could arise from unchecked capitalism.

How does the speaker compare modern politics to quantum mechanics?

The speaker draws a parallel between the uncertainty in quantum mechanics, where a particle exists in multiple possible states until it collapses into one reality, and the current state of global politics. Just as we do not know the exact path a particle will take, the speaker suggests that we are in a moment of uncertainty regarding the direction of history, with multiple potential outcomes including new socialism or new barbarism.

What does the speaker mean by 'rogue states'?

The speaker defines 'rogue states' as those where the existing state order cannot reproduce itself within its own legal and ideological framework. Such states rely on illegal, violent means to maintain control. Examples include Haiti, Russia, and Israel, where power is exercised outside or in contradiction to established laws, creating an unstable and brutal environment.

What is the speaker's view on the end of history as proposed by Fukuyama?

The speaker critiques Fukuyama’s concept of the 'end of history,' acknowledging that Fukuyama was not an idiot but pointing out that the predicted triumph of liberal democracy has not materialized. The speaker suggests that history is not predetermined, and while Marxist and liberal ideologies once believed in an inevitable future, current events show the uncertainty and open-endedness of history.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between capitalism and social disintegration?

The speaker argues that unchecked capitalism, left to its own devices, can lead to social disintegration. Fascists, according to the speaker, recognize this and propose a controlled capitalist system that is maintained by a strong state to prevent the chaos that might arise from a purely free market.

What concerns does the speaker express about the direction of artificial intelligence?

The speaker questions the way artificial intelligence is typically framed, particularly the assumption that it will think like humans. Instead, the speaker suggests that AI could emerge with a completely different form of 'spirituality' or intelligence, and emphasizes the need to focus on what makes humans uniquely human, such as rituals and swearing, which AI cannot replicate in the same way.

What is the significance of rituals and swearing in human experience, according to the speaker?

The speaker highlights the importance of rituals and swearing as uniquely human experiences. Rituals, while seemingly meaningless, help humans cope with the chaotic nature of life. Swearing, in particular, is seen as a form of language where humans express frustration at their inability to fully articulate their thoughts, reflecting the existential tension humans face within language.

How does the speaker describe the current state of politics and the lack of shame?

The speaker expresses concern about the widespread shamelessness in public life, where actions and statements that would have been unacceptable just a decade ago are now made openly. This includes vulgarity in politics, such as with figures like Donald Trump, and moral indifference toward atrocities, exemplified by the actions of Israeli soldiers. The speaker laments the absence of shame in these contexts.

What does the speaker mean by 'retroactivity' in the context of history?

The speaker uses the concept of retroactivity to describe how, once a certain historical event or system (like capitalism) emerges, it reshapes how we view previous events. In the case of Marx, once capitalism is established, we reinterpret earlier historical stages as leading to capitalism, even though those earlier stages did not necessarily intend to create it.

What lesson does the speaker draw from ancient societies, such as the Inca?

The speaker references the work of anthropologists like David Graeber to show how ancient societies, such as the Inca, had complex social structures that were not simply defined by their more notorious practices like child sacrifice. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing the 'might-have-beens' in history—the alternative possibilities that didn't come to pass but still shape our understanding of the past and its lessons.