Can History Decline?

►Then & Now is FAN-FUNDED!
Support me on Patreon and pledge as little as $1 per video:
► patreon.com/user?u=3517018
Or send me a one-off tip of any amount and help me make more videos:
► www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr...
►Facebook: thethenandnow
►Instagram: / thethenandnow
►Twitter: / lewlewwaller
►TikTok: / thethenandnow
Sign up for the Newsletter to get digestible concise summaries:
►www.thenandnow.co/the-newslet...
Subscribe to the podcast:
► Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...
► Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1Khac2i...
Chapters:
00:00 - The Dark Side of History
04:14 - One: Defining Darkness
11:35 - Two: The Dark Side of Reason
16:29 - Three: The Dark Side of Desire
22:15 - Four: The Dark Side of Intention
26:52 - Five: The Dark Side of the Nation
37:07 - Six: The Dark Side of the Mind
41:12 - Seven: Light After the Holocaust

[@ThenNow]

Bibliography, newsletter, and more at: www.thenandnow.co/2023/08/02/the-dark-side-of-history/

[@benjaminollis7621]

wait.... Nazi's steralized homosexuals to stop them breeding?? umm

[@Bojoschannel]

"There is no document of civilization which is not at the same time a document of barbarism. And just as such a document is not free of barbarism, barbarism taints also the manner in which it was transmitted from one owner to another". - Walter Benjamin

[@fortunatomartino8549]

I beg to differ

[@hive_indicator318]

There's civilizations that aren't barbaric. It's just that a lot of people don't consider them civilizations unless they exploit others.

[@jessl1934]

​@@fortunatomartino8549Okay

[@IgN5P]

Indeed. Barbarism lives on in modern civilization. It has only taken other forms, or is the very same but cloaked with a different name.

[@er...]

​@@fortunatomartino8549Well, don't stop there... what you got? You can't _beg to differ_ without, you know, providing... something...

[@crashtestdolphin5884]

Then & Now is the antidote to vapid political content. He puts in effort, releases his well-researched work, and disappears for months on end. More content creators should follow his lead.

[@dirrdevil]

Are you saying all political content is vapid? Or this is antidote to political content that is specifically and individually vapid?

[@crashtestdolphin5884]

@@dirrdevil Latter

[@brendansheehan7714]

Agreed, quality not quantity

[@bobhill-ol7wp]

KZbin needs more unedited multi hour long videos of mentally ill twitch streamers incoherently ranting!

[@Leonard-nb7jk]

The glossing over of the crusades neglecting to mention that nearly have of Europe was colonized and invaded seemed a bit vapid to me. The crusades went for hundreds of years, and 90 percent of the conflict was centered in Europe…🤦🏾‍♂️

[@user-ng2nz8fb5j]

The darkest parts of history are always rationalized by those who had implemented it. Even in my family, as they describe the hideous acts of others, I point out some of the hideous things that the Americans did, and the English did, from whom we are descended. Thire answer was always universal “Who’s side are you on?”

[@real_pattern]

it's all pretty human thing to do. whatever any human ever does is human nature. no transcendence, no escape. just a bunch of organisms in networks of other organisms in networks of abiotic processes.

[@nikolaiorelov9305]

The side of humanity. The side that wants to put an end to all the senseless violence and destruction of cultures over petty squabbles.

[@kx7500]

@@nikolaiorelov9305humanity is arguably the same thing causing that suffering

[@kx7500]

@@arisnothelesyour rigid view of humanity is also wrong. We also got here via mass unprecedented cooperation, we evolved to be extremely social and versatile to adapt to our environments.

[@kx7500]

@@arisnotheles I’m not peddling hope, I’m saying the opposite is equally ridiculous. Your view is willfully limited to emphasize the bad. Yes, we cooperate at the expense of the out group. But that expense of the out group requires great cooperation. And then there’s the idea that they’re really one in the same. Nothing means anything

[@Ben_Tucker_Peterson-Greene_DDS]

“Reason is the slave of passion.” What a huge concept in such a simple sentence.

[@chrisjohnson8666]

No, those who with little empathy can still find a reason. Reason is a tool to be used or misused. We are better with it than without it.

[@nineteenfortyeight6762]

​@@chrisjohnson8666 that's what the sentence means

[@kevingibbard240]

I'm a social studies teacher and this has made me realize that the simple question "have things become worse over time?" is perhaps the deepest and most worthwhile question to explore for students of nearly any age.

[@gabrielgrimes8297]

By almost all metrics, life has improved greatly.

[@Rnankn]

@@gabrielgrimes8297We are literally producing our own demise, by cannibalizing the foundations of our own existence in endless pursuit of complexifying everything. Ever more inputs are required just to stand still, and so vulnerability gradually increases bit by bit. Each new problem becomes harder, and creates another even larger problem to deal with later. It cannot go on for must longer. Having been on a parabolic incline, the inevitable decline will be more vertical because we always do the easy stuff first, and there will be no more low hanging fruit. Our so-called prosperity has come by extracting all of the benefits, and ignoring the costs. Even the most resilient system has a stress threshold, which is why progress is a paradox. Improvement for some comes with costs, harms and risks which often accrue for others

[@larapalma3744]

​@@gabrielgrimes8297😂 Well except for the we're all going to die really soon 😂🎉

[@johnnythompson-nz4ws]

You serve no purpose in society. 7/11 employees are ten times more valuable and wise than social studies teachers. Only reason any man would do that job is to be around as many children as possible.

[@Yea___]

​​​@@gabrielgrimes8297except slavery is at an all time high, the worst wars in human history were fought just about 100 years ago, and we are headed for the trilogy wrap-up.

[@bbbeto02]

It reminds me of that famous Einstein quote about wars: "I do not know with what weapons WWIII will be fought, but WWIV will be fought with sticks and stones."

[@P4DDYW4CK]

Lots to think about. It’s pretty obvious that climate instability is the Frankenstein monster of industrialism and consumerism.

[@saturationstation1446]

must be that and definitely not us literally exploding the atmosphere constantly with bombs and jet engines

[@timvvs]

thats called capitalism

[@SatanicFragment]

An incredibly dark, disturbing video but one that will hopefully spur a number of important, difficult conversations.

[@Buckiz]

Spur change. No more talk. All y'all do is talk. Just change your behavior. Not you specifically.

[@SatanicFragment]

@@Buckiz You know how change happens? Conversation. Conversation is the bedrock of a functional democracy. By arming people with better information and different perspectives change can actually happen. Even revolutionary movements require building a broad base of motivated believers that know the issues and understand their role and their power. The Euromaiden, Hong Kong Democracy Protests, and Arab Spring don't happen without people having conversations. The "fuck talk, now action" crowd have never achieved anything more than petty crime.

[@Buckiz]

@@SatanicFragment It's been time for change. Stop conversing about it. That's a stall tactic. Just do what's right. Why is that such a hard concept to get behind? We've already talked about it. And the only crime being committed is this gov inaction regarding so called black folks standing in law.

[@A_scope]

Sorry but to be blunt, making history is a action

[@SatanicFragment]

And why do you not think conversation is part of that process?

[@uberooy]

Brilliant video with interesting philosophy, great explainations and easy to follow narrative structure. Might be one of your best videos as of yet.

[@matijazorko5705]

Good job Lewis. The Dark Side Of the Mind deserves its own episode.

[@rogerolson4641]

Soren Kierkegaard was a theologian first, a philosophy and writer second. His education was in theology and all his works are basically theological in nature. I do not understand why now almost everyone ignores this fact and calls him a “philosopher.”

[@T_Dot94]

Another banger, I am always learning something new from this channel. I didn't know the police were invented in the 1800s and that most people were against it when it became a thing.

[@manwithdominantclaw5320]

"Intercourse with the constabulary, emerging directly from subterranean locations" - Englishmen in the 1800s, probably

[@muzunguzoo]

In the UK police were put in place to protect the property of the rich as working people were on the brink of starvation. While the American police began as slave patrols with the soul purpose of retrieving escaping slaves to their “owners”. The escaping slaves would face inhumane punishment and probably death. So now you understand why ACAB.

[@saturationstation1446]

@@Edmund_Mallory_Hardgrove that sounds like an army

[@bgoodfella7413]

​@@Edmund_Mallory_HardgroveWell said. What do you think of 'Defund the Police" in today's cities?? Meaning to reduce their budget and use it toward social services like rehab and mental health. English police don't even carry fireams while some American police are fully militarized.

[@AdolfStalin]

I have a book on that topic

[@deafviolinist]

this is an impressive piece of work, you've done for us *absolutely certain there's a 1st draft of the chapter on "stress" that were telling and profound

[@Joe-sc3jb]

I have literally watched all of your videos on KZbin, you do a great job researching these topics. I like the way you apply pure reason to some of these controversial topics. That being said, you should do a video about the ‘military industrial complex’ as president Eisenhower meant it in his farewell speech. Keep up the good work

[@benjaminollis7621]

i think he lumped conspiracy 'theories' in with the irrational though, which is a lazy and un-reasonable thing to do.

[@TheLacedaemonian300]

Wow! This one is brilliant. I would go as far as saying, it's one your best, but then again, I may have said this many times before for this great channel. The message that is in The Dark Side of History, is one that we need in these days.

[@algotrhythm4287]

OK, as one who has not said this many times before: this is one of the best on this channel Just thinking of the effort I'd have to put in to (merely) come up with sources as good is daunting.

[@DethChikken]

This is one of my favorite videos ever. Thank you for this.

[@erikthalman]

Insightful as ever! Love this vid! But one major correction: "... we've discovered that primates are naturally more violent than any other mammal." That someone as intelligent and informed as you got this takeaway is a gross indictment on science reporting. While it's true that chimpanzees have been observed to be incredibly violent and patriarchal, our other closest cousins, the bonobos, have matriarchal culture and use sexual stimulation to resolve conflict. The difference seems to have been made by environment: chimps evolved in resource-scarce areas, bonobos in lusher, more resource-rich environments. If you're just looking at chimps, you'll assume we must have a violent nature. But bonobos tell us if you give humans what we need to survive and live comfortably, we could abandon violence and become really, really sexy. 😂

[@roberthornack1692]

That would be wonderful if we we were able to restrain our need to breed, which would result in scarcity again, & it's back to chest thumping & murder.

[@Noname-67]

Imagine instead of wars we just have international orgies between head of states.

[@dbsg89]

When I saw the Goya painting that says "el sueño de la razón produce monstruos" I always understood sueño as dream, and not as sleep, thus "the dream of reason produces monsters". Radically different outlook! I mean, Napoleon sought to bring the enlightenment to Spain by... brute force? The obsession with reason, by way of establishing normalcy and therefore deviance.... THAT has produced some monsters

[@lewreed1871]

If we're talking epochs and accept that Romanticism followed the Enlightenment and represented a rejection of reason, what did Romanticism beget? Inward looking parochial nationalism, and two world wars. Be careful what you wish for. We are not seeing any "obsession with reason" at the moment. Far from it.

[@BigHenFor]

So much was covered in your whistle stop tour of history, and it of course, raises so many questions, especially how we keep thinking things may be different this time, but they're not essentially because events are driven by our humanness, our strengths and our weaknesses. I suppose all one generation can hope for is to pass on to the next something better whilst knowing that that isn't guaranteed.

[@HABLA_GUIRRRI]

great tour of some large chunks of history thanks, shedding a good bit of light on the state of things currently. Recommended.

[@richarddeese1087]

Thanks. A very clear-eyed look at a complex issue. Very well-written & well done. tavi.

[@easygreasy3989]

Wow, good vid. Thanks for the value ❤

[@jameslazer819]

Wow this is so well put together! Really enjoyed that, thx

[@MagneticRelaxation]

perfect timing! now i can watch this while cooking :D

[@Tom_Bee_]

The views on these presentations are insanely low for such high quality work. I cannot begin to fathom why this channel has yet to receive the recognition it so richly deserves. I have little of intellectual import to contribute here, but I'm commenting anyway to appease the Almighty Algorithm.

[@laerin7931]

It's not clickbaity enough. Social media favors polarization, you have to make claims that demonize one side and glorify another. Making content that simply lays out the facts and issues doesn't get promoted nearly as much.

[@fracturedopal]

Such great work.

[@suzannecarter445]

Dang! I'm not getting my notifications (yep, the bell is smashed).. I wouldn't have known about the Hegel video if I hadn't received your synopsis via email. KZbin is screwing up on notifications. Anyway, I'm glad you're still here and apparently well. I appreciate Then and Now because the episodes are rare and carefully constructed, not spewed out on a weekly basis.

[@martinlatvian5538]

I did notice the same recently with many chanels I have the bell on.

[@mztrx3486]

Nice work 👍

[@marimota5083]

Adore your essays ❤

[@rakandinho1051]

Every time i watch one of your videos I learn so much, I am very lucky to come across this channel. Thank you

[@optimusoptimum4436]

The 'Dark Side of History' sheds light on the shadows of our past, reminding us that understanding darkness is essential for appreciating the light. While history often repeats its grim tales, it's through such comprehensive analyses that we can hope to break the cycle. Kudos to 'Then & Now' for presenting a thought-provoking narrative. As we reflect on these chapters, let's also ponder on the brighter side of history, where resilience, innovation, and human spirit have shone through. Perhaps a sequel exploring the 'Bright Side of History' is in order?

[@nikolaiorelov9305]

We can break the cycle. It will be hard. And it may take a long time. But i know we can do it. Though it seems like we are more divided than ever, through the advant of the internet and new forms of travel, we are more connected now than we ever have been. We have the opportunity to use these technologies to unite the world. But it starts with a conversation. People need to talk. And they must learn to talk civilly. Through seeing the horrors of our past and our present, the violence, the brutality, the death, the suffering, we can forge a better future. If people can be made to realize the true weight of their own lust, greed, and hatred, then i believe they can then realize that it needs to end. And through the technology we have, i also think that people can be made to realize that the very people they've caused this suffering to, and the people that cause that same suffering to them, are human. That people we think are our enemy, are just as human as we are. That they each think in the same ways, feel in the same ways, and suffer in the same ways. Through interconnectivity via technology, we can achieve true understanding. But that understanding can only be achieved if we break down the walls of propaganda. Get governments and corporations off of the biggest news and media sources. Start showing the entire world the truth of what is happening. Show everyone the suffering. So that everyone can know that it is not just them. That every single territory on earth is in some way a victim of another powers greed and lust. Though by nature we can be violent, also by nature humans are empathetic. And i believe that human empathy can overcome human rage. But for that to happen, we first need understanding.

[@saturationstation1446]

@@nikolaiorelov9305 the people who hold all wealth an power (europe) have no intention of allowing anyone else to exist on earth. perhaps they are the ones causing all the pain and problems by investing their vast fortunes into supporting violent dictators who favor them plundering the resources as long as they keep funding the dictators regime. who else has EVER done that?

[@saturationstation1446]

@@nikolaiorelov9305 btw, the suffering is the ultimate profit for the ruling class. its why instead of paying for labor and gaining the capacity to have true perpetual growth, they just work people to death a s fast as possible and move on to the next torture victim in sight. they are only losing potential customers, but the entire point is that they get sexual gratification from seeing other human beings get tortured. because centuries of inbr33ding has warped and deformed their brains into not having the capacity to be human anymore.

[@bgoodfella7413]

​@@nikolaiorelov9305I think the Master Key to a brighter future is absolutely getting off Fossil Fuels 100% ASAP to save the planet. Simple bc all else flows from that.

[@user-dy6mg8jm1h]

​@@nikolaiorelov9305 beautifully said 👏

[@NotaNinja]

just stumbling around youtube on acid and found myself sitting here watching this god dam master piece. Totes wasnt ready for the quality of your presentation.

[@JimmySaul888]

Trip well.

[@Diptera_Larvae]

Another great video!

[@T_Dot94]

this year you were the MVP of yt video essays

[@christopherbettridge5983]

A wonderful experience, listening again. And may have finally helped clarify my thoughts why to write a book of factual history at all!

[@robertthomas7458]

Well put and thoughtfully crafted. Thank you for this contribution to my own understandind.

[@paul6925]

Interesting stuff! One thing I found odd was the claim that policing began only 200 years ago. I guess it depends on your definition, but there were policing forces as far back as ancient Egypt and Rome. It's interesting to think that at many times in history, policing was left up to citizens and vigilantes.

[@DNBon.an808]

This was fascinating. Lots of ideas and people (Adormo and Horkheimer) I have never heard before. This channel’s quickly become my fave

[@Cannabonsai]

Another amazing video!

[@Essah15]

Well composed. +1 for long form content

[@katattack907]

Excellent video and beautifully researched. We take for granted that things are getting better because we see technology continuing to advance, and our cultural histories are communicated in such a way that most of us remain ignorant of most of the alternatives to our own modern lifestyles. I could see this video as the springboard for an entire documentary series on the topic. Thanks for sharing.

[@Novalarke]

one of your best videos.

[@UncleKeith567]

Wow! What a fantastic presentation! I've always taken issue with the most peaceful time in history. Even if that were true, why stop here? I find the violence of inequality in the distribution of resources, including cures for diseases more than compensates for less hoards conquering these days. Joe Scott recently discussed Trofim Lysenko's "scientific " theories drove both the CCCP and the Chinese famines. It's very interesting. Keep up the good work!

[@JimmySaul888]

Might it be that we are in the most “peaceful time” because of the confluence of fear of military wars since the advent of nukes and heavy weaponry as well as the unprecedented surveillance abilities of the modern state? Leaders don’t want war because it threatens their power if they lose and the citizenry is powerless to rebel, lest the spooks take them away.

[@starshark3450]

Wha-hey! Phillip Dwyer taught me for a class or two at Uni. He's the best, I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to do more with him (but people like him are always on secondment somewhere, so the opportunities are limited).

[@yog-sothoth37]

Very well made video and analysis.

[@AnnNunnally]

The difference between violent and non violent pain is the intention of the inflicters. Some intentions are stupidly well meant and some are evil. Rather than money, the love of power is the root of all evil.

[@jessicalong338]

Love this channel, love your accent ❤

[@Matisto1]

Great episode! One to rewatch to digest every point made.

[@Janeka-xj2bv]

I learned a lot. Thank you Regards from Reggio Calabria 🇮🇹

[@Uffda.]

A quote, to consider, when told of those who have committed atrocities that boggle the mind. ‘I would never do that,’ we think. We must remember: “Neither would they.” If someone is asking, or ordering, you to hurt others. To destroy them. Remember that in doing so, you also hurt and destroy yourself. If not physically, then in concept. “Neither would they,” is essentially a more visceral way of conveying, “Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one yourself.” If I defeat a foe, I have one less enemy. If they have allies, though, I have now added them as enemies. If, though, I can convince them to join me, I have still lost one enemy. But I have also gained an ally. As someone who has studied history (I went to school for anthropology/archaeology, and am generally just a big nerd), I am sometimes asked the ‘if you could go back to any time’ question, unless I can be a fly on the wall/simply observe and come back, my answer is ‘no’. And as a chronically ill/disabled person (genetic, but worsening in adulthood) who’s health has left me like ‘the princes and the pea’, the ‘what would you do in [some past context] when you didn’t have these things modern things coddling you/walk to school in the snow uphill both ways’ sentiment? The expected point is you’d have had to ‘just toughen up.’ (As though I haven’t just to get here😂) That response? I would do nothing. Because I would be dead. Not exaggerating for effect, I would literally be dead.

[@ahobimo732]

Survival is still a struggle ...for SOME people. You'd be just as dead in 2023 if you were born in the wrong place, social class, etc.

[@Uffda.]

@@ahobimo732 aye

[@petergilbert6879]

Very interesting stuff. Hope there is a discussion forum for this somewhere. Any suggested reading?

[@My_Alchemical_Romance]

Great job on this.

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

Brilliant!

[@tylerandrews7105]

@Then & Now what books did you read for this wonderful video

[@tuggercarlson]

WATCH IN ONE SITTING. LIKE. SHARE.

[@Tacom4ster]

I like how you subtitled the word Megadeath like my favorite band Megadeth, was that on purpose or an accident, removing the second A

[@STROONZONY]

Slayer were better

[@Konrad_K.]

Hey, love your videos! Where can I find your sources?

[@cbbcbb6803]

This was an eye opener.

[@IDraganM]

Very nice video, and just in time to support some of my comments. Surely, you could have posted some sources you used for all this? I am glaad to share it but without source material quoted it leaves us to either do our own duplicate reearch or to consider it entertaintment / call to authority. i would say a work like this deserves a bit of extra effort to add sources...

[@rdallas81]

Do your own research.

[@IDraganM]

Thank you, your contribution is shall we say "not peroductive, informative nor appreciated" What made you think you should enter into this communication between the author of the video and me?.@@rdallas81

[@cheeseman417]

This is a very uplifting documentary!, just the kind of content that makes you want to get up in the morning and face the day. 😂😂

[@TheSSEssesse]

I don’t know if Mao gets a pass. Mass starvation doesn’t go on like a light switch. It happens slow enough to witness the consequences of sweeping government action. I feel it’s just as likely he watched his country starve and felt it more important to save his ideology and ego than to save the “proletariat”

[@clifm]

Thanks!

[@TM-gd9sd]

Excellent video, though where is the bibliography?

[@Beederda]

I really enjoy the work you do ❤ you seem like you would be a phenomenal podcast guest/host.

[@johnsomebody1753]

This vid just adds to the lesson that if we look at the evidence for how terrible doctrines can be, we can form what looks like a conclusion that there's no way out of paths which will lead to something terrible. Looking for an alternative which by which we reach a condition, fundamental to possibilities which don't produce long term problems, has at least the potential to reach genuine progress : something which involves the alternative to a LACK of genuine progress. To that end, consider the clue to be found in the Greek, "An", meaning without, and, "Archos", meaning rulers, or rulership. That CAN NOT MEAN, being without rules, because everyone who learns how to genuinely co-operate, is not being directed. And so, Anarchists who co-operate to overthrow rulers, are doing more than the Nuremberg, "only do following orders", excuse. They are responsible for their own actions, and thereby learn from their mistakes, (unlike those who are ruled over, who always have someone else to blame), thereby become part of inevitable evolution, (unlike those who obstruct learning). Much Love.

[@OmegaGrape]

Love your videos!

[@EroticInferno]

Excellent video!!!

[@Notypls101]

This video is basically a compilation of realizations I’ve realized recently I didn’t think I’d ever see a video about it

[@georgeitelhuber2325]

Dear sir, Ibn Arabi. Not the man, but the metaphysic. Try the 28 pages as an intro, published by Beshara. Will be worth your while. Thank you.

[@valentineezegwu9668]

I’m glad I stumbled upon this documentary of history. You captured the essence of the philosophy behind it. Thank you

[@reporeport]

This is just a FANTASTIC video

[@theanigman]

not sure how something that naturally accumulates in an irreversable process can possibly decline? its always going to get more, not less?

[@123ana2]

Would highly recommend reading lewis mumford's works to anyone that enjoyed this video.

[@erikkr.r.m7380]

I have no idea why your channel is not more influential. Amazing, as always

[@Im-not-alone-Im-full-of-myself]

because many people just want instant pleasure, not observation?

[@HollywoodExpressOfficial]

very good information 🎉❤

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

History is written by those who survived and were victorious. There's much of it which is dark and/or buried. As an Afro-Indigenous person from North America? Most of it is dark. What's been done to my people is despicable and ignoring history is why things are more or less falling the hell apart over here.

[@redhidinghood9337]

That isn't really true tho. History is written by historians. We know the romans commited genocides in gaul, or turkey in armenia, or ancient china in some rebellious regions/villages. The victors may have an upper hand in spreading propaganda, but with time truth reveals itself

[@user-dz4eb5rb3g]

Afro-indigenous as in mixed Native American with African?

[@BinaryMekhanika]

Your people? Everyone look at me and my victim mindset im black! Did i mention im black! Reparations!

[@chazzbranigaan9354]

WE

[@santiagopalacio7875]

What is the name of the picture in 19:42?

[@aaron6806]

I read the preamble essay in your voice, with your particular cadence.

[@sellabe]

Best way to start my morning pog

[@turbanheadless]

Why arent any american presidents on the thumbnail

[@handsomebear.]

Why would they be

[@elatbg6445]

I love your complex and nuanced videos.

[@tyul]

One of the rare youtubers that looks exactly how they sound thank goodness

[@daisyviluck7932]

Two answers- one is, empires rise and fall and hedonism and violence are frequently found at the fall. The other is, civilizations tend to be a mix of fashionable virtues and fashionable vices and the proportions of each rose and fall over time

[@corneliuse257]

I think his account of colonialism mistakenly places blame with all colonizing peoples. It was not the average British laborer, for example, that profited from extraction in India, but the ruling class- the bourgeoisie.

[@itzhexen0]

I am glad you mentioned AI in this. I didn't see this as an attack on anything. More like a history documentary and kind of compares the dark side of history to modern times and directions we could be heading in in the future. "The quote about making every man, every child, and every woman an expert in politics and theology". Was interesting. Because, unlike just politics and theology. It sounds like that is what they are trying to do with the internet and AI. But make everyone an expert in "everything". "The positive can uncover its own negative." We'll have to wait and see. I consume quite a lot of content on AI and so maybe that's why I'm seeing it this way.

[@BigHenFor]

AI is like a historical source that is elevated by the powerful to being seen as truth by those who have the power to do so. Trusting those who control the algorithm to do your thinking for you, is to be potentially a slave. For what else is the motivation behind Neoliberal Capitalism? Is it not to create people who think like economic models, when those models were the creation of capitalism itself? Is that freedom? Is that individuality? Or is it to be cattle? To exist as resources to be exploited? To be subjected to processes defined by another's agenda as good, valuable, or profitable? And when you are no longer good, valuable, or profitable to their metric, be discarded? Isn't that market forces populating your mind? If you will consume, is not better to have a diverse diet, rather than fast food? Factory made thought produced by AI is mental fast food, designed to colonise your mind. Don't make it your whole diet.

[@saturationstation1446]

a lot of literally made up numbers to completely nullify the true impact of the british empire and eurocentric culture in general. no one else on earth went across the world killing and r4p1ng and enslaving other people for simply being other people. no one else joyously partakes in inbr33ding and smashing brown babies heads against trees.

[@saturationstation1446]

and most of all, no one could ever hope to make as many humans die from starvation or labor induced starvation as eurocentrics.

[@elihyland4781]

this is so full of smart I need to take a break… my brain’s one rep max is about 20 minutes

[@yourikdean1167]

Right around the 16:20 mark you mentioned something about how 'emotion is at the core of our humanity'.. or somewhere along those lines.. I'd like to, not only agree with you but to push that idea even further by adding my own personal long held understanding of a (in my opinion..) quite obviously simple truth that we, as in humanity as a whole, are set aside from the rest of the animal world because of our ability to possess a structured means of communication with the invention of language.. and thus subsequently, through language we have evolved this unique ability of, what I guess could be generally categorized as "higher thought" ( ie: the practice of Mathematics, philosophy and such) BUT.. in saying that you then have to understand what the origin of language was.. as in, what was the reason behind the formation of language that made it a necessary development in the first place? For me, the only logical answer to that question is that it simply was our desire to be able to communicate our internal emotional situation with each other! which, by the by, there are only two emotional states.. either you like something and you want that thing closer to you then it currently is, or you don't like something and you want it further away from you then in currently is.. the reason why we have so many different subcategories of those two emotional states is due to whatever situational circumstances gave rise to the currently held state, which rarely is completely one or the other and is nearly always a mixture of the two in varying degrees of intensity! Basically, what I'm getting at is that without this thing that we call 'logic' or 'higher thought', or whatever you want to refer to it as, we would inevitably still have our emotional side to fall back on.. but without our emotions, higher thought wouldn't even exist in the first place! I mean, think about it, higher thought is just a combination of ideas.. when emotions are driven by a chemical process within in the brain the origins of which lie in the hyperthomas which produces these various strands of protein referd to as peptites .. which ARE our emotions! It's purely a reactionary process in response to our surroundings and our current situational circumstances! We feel the need to communicate those said emotions thus language was born and with language came logic!

[@joshbowdish9851]

how is it that yall always arrive at a title that gets me to finally click the thing on the second try?

[@noeraldinkabam]

I was looking for something nice to listen to before going to sleep. That ship has sailed.

[@tamarrajames3590]

Excellent food for thought, very well presented. Thank you for taking the time and effort to provide such a high standard of content. I will be looking at more of your presentation, you have a new subscriber.🖤🇨🇦

[@docjoe86]

8:57 Most evidence suggests that most victims of crucifixion were tied to the cross and not nailed.

[@tim_-hd8vs]

The introduction of police in the US was interesting as well. At first they were violent gangs, but employed by rich people, to protect their property and means of production. And that's what they've done through history. When strikes happened, police came with violence to break them up. They are used to cripple protest, that may change the status quo. Look at BLM. BUt compare that to the reaction to the 6. january capital riot. When BLM happened, it was something done by black people and poor people, those that wanted to change how the rich keep them down. When the riots at the capital happened, they didn't want to change who is rich or the income disparity. They just wanted a different leader in the same power structure. That can help explaining why BLM was teargassed and beaten, but capital rioters were given a tour through the capitol. Naturally there are practical considerations like manpower as well, but I think this helps explaining why persecution and the opposition to those groups was different.

[@ivan55599]

Modern (relatively speaking) mankind thinks generally, that it is on right side of history, when looking at the past. And then you have a new modern man after previous generation, that it is on right side of history than previous one, etc.

[@kx7500]

And there are those consistently existing within them resisting that narrative and either due to be a part of the new order that judges it’s past. Etc etc.

[@accountabilitypartnerscomm7635]

This is a great topic. We tend to simplistically think that History always improves. But it's more nuanced than that. Things get worse too. Look at how the concept of a fact has been manipulated in the Information Age.

[@captainzork6109]

The status quo thingy reminds me of Zwarte Piet, which involves black face. It's a silly and goofy "black" person who helps Sinterklaas (Dutch version of Santa Clause). This has been controversial Dutch tradition as early as the 1930s. And in 1944, when the Netherlands was freed, American soldiers were asked to lend their jeep for the Sinterklaas tradition. They agreed, but when black soldiers learned of Zwarte Piet, the people had to explain it was but an innocent joke. To this the soldiers responded that no matter how well intentioned, with certain jokes it is simply impossible to convince others it would indeed be just a joke. And today people from abroad think it's weird and racist, and some feel sick when they first learn of Zwarte Piet. And while there has been some change recently (the idea to do no more blackface is ever more accepted), certain Dutch people still hold on to this tradition and demonstrate - in blackface - to maintain blackface Zwarte Piet, coming up with all sorts of arguments as to why it's a harmless and fun thing to do. Surely shows how far people can bend over backwards to maintain their status quo sometimes

[@metamorphosis_77]

“History is nothing but the progress of the consciousness of freedom.” -Hegel I think this quote hits the nail right on the head.

[@ProNice]

very very interesting and quite profound

[@parheliaa]

28:20 Funny I didn't know about it. Is this the same guy who claimed "I don't like your ideas, but I am willing to die, so you can have them" or something like that?

[@Unique8802]

History never is in decline. History always updates itself in new versions to rewrite history in new, horrible & mean ways. History just always repeats itself in new versions & formats. History always repeats.