Bureaucratic Dominance: Christopher Lasch on Controlled Labor (3)

This video covers chapters 2 and 3 of Christopher Lasch's The Culture of Narcissism. We explore why the strong narcissist is likely to work their way up the bureaucratic ladder in corporations and government service, and why, since bureaucracy is clearly not efficient, we insist on bureaucratic "rationality." I also discuss Lasch's ideas regarding detachment from a sense of time and from immediate experience, which robs people of life, and I introduce Lasch's views on the origins of all this in the twisted turns of Protestant Christian development in the United States.
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[@delfobaroni1361]

Thanks so much for introducing Lasch to a younger audience. he was virtually forgotten, but you have brought him back. and his work is so ahead of his time, it rings perfectly relevant to our modern generation.

[@maurinacademy]

Zero Books has done quite a bit on Lasch too--you might want to check out their conversations on Lasch

[@speedb0at289]

Thank you for this series! This book is a revelation for me - he hits every beat, it’s crazy - but Lasch’s writing is kinda hard to parse even though his sentences are well constructed, and sometimes I feel I’m missing his point (esp when he starts waxing Freudian.) Your elucidation is massively appreciated : )

[@isaacseal9066]

I’m so excited to watch all of these. Thank you so much for putting in the work to create this series!

[@Pass____over]

This series is such a great companion to the text for someone new to philosophy! I must ask though, does it seem like a lot of people come to your Lasch videos from Red Scare? Lasch is, to your point, more pertinent then ever, but theres really nothing on him online, and the few things one can find, bar your content, links back to fans of the pod. Your affinity for Lasch's contrarianism (how can one not love it? its so refreshing) makes me believe you'd be a fan as well. Thanks for the videos!

[@nathanhopkins7976]

Interesting that Fisher and Lasch both siezed on similar influences in Adorno's idea of the culture industry. I see them both as sort of tragic figures, Fisher more so obviously. They lived through their times as Cassandras with keen insights into social problems but who, nevertheless, remained unable to influence the developments they recognized. And here we are, in a world which has further developed and accelerated down this path, consent still being manufactured, still unable to achieve sufficient collective consciousness to better the world because we remain too lost in our own.

[@eddiemurphy7946]

Fantastic series

[@maurinacademy]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@fluxflux935]

Can’t wait!

[@nategerber6464]

you are cool as f*ck... thanks

[@prajnaseek]

See also, my essay from 2008: Powder Keg USA. When I published that article nearly two decades ago, people scoffed, even though the CIA had already by then released it's prediction of a greater than 50% chance of civil war in the US. Now, 70% of Americans fear a civil war is possible, probable, or even inevitable - and nearly half are preparing for it. Dark Ages are ahead for the collapsing US and broader Western world. Meanwhile, millions have already left, and relocated abroad, and millions more are leaving. In fact, 50% of Gen Zs want to leave, and simply get out. Good idea.

[@OrwellsHousecat]

❤

[@calengr1]

01:02 altered sense of time...cannot conceive LT well e.g. our posterity , and their challenges....disorientatioin

[@ono24]

what song is playing at the beginning?

[@Mr.X__777]

Loving this Lasch series. Do you have Twitter?

[@maurinacademy]

@PoliticalPhil12

[@Mr.X__777]

@@maurinacademy Thanks PP, I have listened to all your videos! I know this may be odd but could you please do a video on Bronze Age Mindset? This book and the BAP personality have become a hit with the youth. Conservatives are nervous about this trend. Very relevant to Lasch's observations of our cultures direction. So far all the analysis of BAP hasn't reached your level of quality and insight.