On the Intellectual Dark Web & the Culture War (Pt. 1) | Niall Ferguson | POLITICS | Rubin Report

Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report talks to Niall Ferguson (historian and author) about his background, his thoughts on the Intellectual Dark Web, his issues with the groupthink on the left, the culture war, and more.

Watch Dave Rubin’s full interview with Niall Ferguson here:

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All art on the set are original works by Caylin Rose Janet.

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Niall Ferguson
Historian and Author

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[AussieBakester]

Huge fan of Niall Ferguson, he's one of my favourite historians. As a history teacher, it's vital to read widely across different and varied political perspectives. Yin and Yang people, can't have progress with both wings of thought.

[cecilianorris]

This is why I Love The Rubin Report! I had never heard of this gentleman before this interview and I really enjoyed it, in addition to learning so much!

[jsegor]

I have recently started reading *On Liberty* by John Stuart Mill to remind me of the power of Classical Liberalism and some of its more salient tenets:

_He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion..._ - John Stuart Mill

Expanding on this notion a little later in chapter 2 he makes this outstandingly important conclusion:

*_So essential is this discipline to a real understanding of moral and human subjects, that if opponents of all important truths do not exist, it is indispensable to imagine them and supply them with the strongest arguments which the most skillful devil's advocate can conjure up._* - John Stuart Mill

Here's another quote. This is from chapter 2. You couldn't have a better statement against political correctness as this:

_No one can be a great thinker who does not recognize, that as a thinker it is his first duty to follow his intellect to whatever conclusions it may lead. Truth gains more even by the errors of one who, with due study and preparation, thinks for himself, than by the true opinions of those who only hold them because they do not suffer themselves to think. Not that it is solely, or chiefly, to form great thinkers, that freedom of thinking is required._ - John Stuart Mill

[jackjericho]

can we get Niall and Jordan Peterson in the same room together

[shawnmari]

My observation is that there is a growing millennial conservative movement. I think there is hope.

[jamesthompson]

Excited to see Mr. Ferguson on your show Dave. I and some other students in our university's finance club for engineers are currently reading the Ascent of Money.

[darthshitlordtheiii]

"Anything that I consider funny will get me in trouble" so true.

[ShifuCareaga]

This man is actually on another level. Kudos. Most guest are easy to encapsulate. GREAT!

[athrunzala]

I love his books and glad to see him!
My favourite is "The Ascent of Money" he wrote it before the financial crisis, and wrote about it as if it had already happened!

[Avidcomp]

'Bout time we had Niall Ferguson on. Ascent of Money was a marvelous piece of work.

[kahwigulum]

Had not heard of Niall Ferguson before this. Would be interested in hearing more from him. Mind not made up yet. Thanks for this Dave and team.

[alexmay]

Time to stand up and fight back . Great listening to Niall Ferguson.

[coalitionofrob]

Holy Heck, you got to interview Niall Ferguson! Awesome.

[atomica]

Brilliantly articulated. It's so encouraging to observe the rise of sane thinking once again!

[thesljivo]

Dear Dave, this is absolutely amazing! Could not get any better

[justpeachy]

I truly enjoyed hearing the conversation. I am so happy the there are so many people with differing opinions able to see the value in having a conversation as opposed to an argument. I don't agree with every opinion or view you have and that's okay. I love that you are searching for answers in all places and so many people are listening and it gives them courage to search as well. Well done Dave!

[ArcherWarhound]

23:35 Yes, he's exactly right. Camile Paglia talks about this too. The Marxists of the 60s and 70s were exceptionally diligent and successful at radicalizing and activating individual agents of cultural revolution who continued the process of systematically propagating their ideology through indoctrination of students and network promotion of like-minded colleagues and blocking wrong thinkers from progressing in the institutions. To be clear there were lots of small local meetings -- official and overt and unofficial and covert -- of Marxists (many of whom would have even known that's what they were) to encourage and radicalize each other, but there was no grand conspiracy from on high, rather this cultural shift was spread slowly, person to person like a virus, and took over societal institutions, educational, political, and etc. like a cancer.

[Graplernapler]

Love how this fella talks with his hands. So eloquent

[conradon]

Niall Ferguson is married to Ayaan Hirsi Ali? I had literally no idea.

[rja]

The quality of guests on this show is sky rocketing. I would not be surprised to find Roger Scruton on here when he next releases a book.