James Lindsay Explains Critical Theory

Clip taken from 2019 Modern Wisdom Podcast episode #124 James Lindsay | Social Justice Explained: The Foundations Of Wokeness.

#jameslindsay #socialjustice #criticaltheory

-

Listen to all episodes online. Search "Modern Wisdom" on any Podcast App or click here:

-

Get in touch in the comments below or head to...

[prschuster]

Critical Theory is so obsessed with power dynamics that they see individuals as mere extensions of the privileged or marginalized groups that they belong to.

[craigb]

Too much critical theory, not enough critical thinking out there.

[DetectiveThursday]

The irony is that critical theory is never allowed to be used on itself.

[cinemar]

Critical theory is critical of everything other than its own theory.

[Xplora]

James is getting better. Industrial solvent is the perfect analogy!

[condew]

Looking forward to James Lindsay's book, "Cynical Theories" that he coauthored with Helen Pluckrose. I think it was supposed to be out by now, but publisher delayed it to the end of August. Both of them are very good at explaining how the feminism/Marxism is supposed to work, and how it's all a mental trap.

[just_another]

Thanks for this channel. James is awesome. Have learnt so much from him. Modern Wisdom, it is so great that you are spreading the word about these issues here in the UK too. Respect!

[TheSimonG]

Lindsay has the ability to explain very complex ideas simply whilst capable of debating ideologues very effectively. He's a rising star, very similar to Peterson. Nice explanation of industrial glue 7:17 these metaphors catch on easily. You should interview Helen Pluckrose.

[jutoku]

James New book is fantastic..Great read and educational..

[davidbrinnen]

One of the best and shortest explanations of Critical Theory I've found so far. But let me see if I have got this straight? Critical Theory has key two components, the first is purely mechanical, it is the analysis of the system to which it is applied to expose the inherent biases which result in injustice. The second component though is the vital one - it is whatever functional definition of "justice" is used. And Critical Theory takes no consideration of the physical operation and limitations of the system. It is not an "injustice" detector as some tend to think, it is an implicit "bias" detector. Remember the definition of "justice" is given. And it will not reveal if the bias is systemic or a consequence of "reality". Eg. Women, on average, live longer than men. So could Critical Theory could be used to demonstrate that society is systemically biased against men, in this intersection of sex and lifespan - because it does not, and more importantly cannot, take account of the physiological differences between men and women? Having seen Critical Theory widely adopted now in many fields, the one thing it can be seen to be really effective at, is breaking things down. It goes through hierarchies like a hot knife through butter. Which is great if you want to live in an atomized society, essentially Mad Max, but a boring version where everyone starts out fat and gradually starves, but the academics applying it seem to think it is going to land them in a Marxist utopia - which is a strange conclusion to come to when what they are doing is the equivalent of giving everyone access to a powerful solvent and inviting them to apply liberally it to anything they don't like.

[googletaqiyya]

It assumes too much without proof or evidence.

[tomemery]

It's incredible how fast this ideology has entered the mainstream and gained influence, an influence far in excess of the numbers of its adherents. The only thing that will stop it is if enough people stand up for individual rights and freedoms, free and open debate, and the scientific method. All of these things bring not oppression, as the critical theorists argue, but liberation, happiness, prosperity, and truth.

[tinytanks]

kind of crazy seeing some of history's new great thinkers emerge in real time

[frankgellenthin]

Thank you Dr. Lindsay for an outstanding explanation!

[parrotraiser]

In short, a grievance generation mechanism.

[billmelater]

Critical theory will never create anything. It is built on breaking things down, never building them. It has no path to building anymore than it has a foundational starting point. Having these things would render CT completely null and void as it would then require consistency in both philosophical understanding and application. This is not allowed for an ideology built only for destroying anything and everything. Like Progressiveness (in the Wilsonian sense), it cannot be fettered to a foundation and directed by consistent principles. Such limitations restrict their action and they simply cannot have restrictions on the power they desire.

This is why they eat themselves. They only have an argument for destruction, never what is not to be destroyed or what is to be built. It is not enough to say that X should be destroyed. You have to know WHY it must be destroyed and more importantly than that, WHAT you plan to replace it with an WHY it is better and not also subject to replacement. The CT'ers only wish to destroy and throw something at the wall. Whatever sticks to the wall, no matter how viscous, you are not allowed to then use their own position against what they threw up.

[StanTheWoz]

"Wait, it's all power dynamics?"

"Always has been."

[erickblount]

Nice work James, I think watching this video took me from a 10% understanding CT to 20%. Considering I watched hours of other videos to get to 10%, it was a great use of my time.

[tommyaustin]

Super appreciate your unbiased explanation on critical theory, this helped me to better understand CRT. BTW the industrial solvent analogy was perfect 👍🏾.

[cjfishtales]

Critical theory is a slightly tweeked and rebranded form of marxism.