How Intellectuals Poison Society | Rousseau's First Discourse Explained

[@bi.johnathan]

Instead of ad reads, my channel is funded directly by people passionate about the Great Books. Help me keep making more episodes with a paid subscription: johnathanbi.com Some links to further guide your study: * Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: greatbooks.io * Full transcript: open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-rousseaus-first-discourse?r=l66v& Companion lectures & interviews: * Rousseau on the importance of heroes: www.johnathanbi.com/p/selfish-heroes-make-great-leaders Texts I referenced (affiliate): * Best translation of the First Discourse: amzn.to/3Xr4NyO * My book notes: www.johnathanbi.com/p/discourse-on-the-arts-and-sciences * Best reading companion to the First Discourse: amzn.to/4chZeXG * My book notes: www.johnathanbi.com/p/rousseaus-critique-of-science-by * Best overview of Rousseau's view on the role of authors: amzn.to/4bX9JQD * My book notes: www.johnathanbi.com/p/rousseau-as-author-by-christopher TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 0. Introduction 00:05:23 1.1 Critique: Sparta and Athens 00:06:54 1.2 Critique: Self-Interest and Pride 00:14:14 1.3 Critique: Science and the Disease of Contrarianism 00:22:24 1.4 Critique: Science Destroys the Social Fabric 00:29:43 1.5 Critique: Science is Useless 00:35:14 1.6 Critique: Popular Enlightenment 00:39:10 1.7 Critique: Art is Morally Impotent 00:50:03 1.8 Critique: Art’s Second Order Dangers 01:02:52 2.1 Prescriptions: Fighting Enlightenment with Enlightenment 01:10:20 2.2 Prescriptions: Rousseau, the Anti-Revolutionary 01:14:27 2.3 Prescriptions: Art in the Good State 01:21:31 2.4 Prescriptions: Science in the Good State 01:28:15 3. Contemporary Relevance of the First Discourse

[@bobsmith4978]

What would Girard make of Rosseau? There appears to be a fair bit of overlap in what they both say?

[@pugawugum7458]

God bless you

[@ehsantehrani4038]

Your performantive style is exactly what makes your lectures engaging and doesn't let me get distracted with my thoughts. Philosophy is not supposed to be boring!

[@shawnfaison5118]

Exactly 🎉

[@doclime4792]

You got that right but this is the teaching of philosophical ideas, not philosophy itself. Philosophy is done usually by ones self and without the aid of an instructor and there's only about 4 or 5 every generation that go down as their generations philosophers, the rest end up as teachers, students, novelists, plumbers, etc.

[@hamidhamidi3134]

Exactly

[@DavidWisely]

You have the talent. Please create full philosophy lecture series like these. You will probably the only one that will make generations of students learn philosophy.

[@obadiah60623]

A first-time viewer’s immediate reaction: Michael Sugrue lives on! Your organic delivery, your comfort and ease, the dynamic flow, the feast of a combination of diachronic and synchronic knowledge, the extraordinary erudition,, well done! While I still mourn Sugrue’s death (there never will be another just like him) Johnathan’s authenticity, genuineness, and monastic like commitment to his craft makes this (and I hope many more to come) video a classic, worthy of listening to every year or two. While it may not be Gospel, your video made my world a whole lot brighter today. You caught me at the ver first line. “If you clicked on a two hour video on philosophy you must be…” Thank you!!!

[@bi.johnathan]

His style was a great inspiration!

[@squeakytoyrecords1702]

The more I learn the more I realize how little I know. Thank you for the enlightenment.

[@tdmoor]

On the one hand, I really enjoyed this lecture and learned a lot from it. On the other hand, it's a poison and an existential threat to society.

[@bi.johnathan]

Glad you got the message :)

[@Freer07]

It seems like an antidote to a degenerate society as the West is, and a threat to those in power or elite in social sphere.

[@Rob-ik3fd]

​@@bi.johnathan I love it when asian people try to be supercilious, it's like seeing a monkey on roller skates, means nothing to them - funny for the rest of us.

[@agape13]

Dear KZbin, thanks for your existence 🕊️! This is what the YT Platform was supposed to be in service for increasing knowledge. This young human choose a path of creating and virtue, instead what nowadays many young people do, destruction.

[@spanglestein66]

Stumbled upon these excellent lecture …..having recently discovered Oswald Spengler “ the decline of the west “ ….and now this ….has given a perspective to the recent nightmarish view of my reality as a citizen living in London England in 2024 …. I’d been feeling as though a witness to real time moment by moment destruction of my way of life …right before my eyes and not via the benefit of the retrograde hindsight Thank you 🙏🏻

[@Mathematchit]

I feel like i stumble upon a forbidden house of thoughts, logic and reason. Like, im in a private boarding school for the highborns, those never televised schools where an monthly intuition fee is $150K, no matter, now im part of it. Thanks for this Lectures Johnathan, you make school look fun and worthy of the name. Genius.....for now.

[@Reinhardisbetter]

Thats not an alternative to studying actual philosophy, this is philosophy for ppl into “self help”

[@goofyahhh254]

Your pursuit of philosphy and you being available on KZbin reminded me of the late great Dr. Michael Sugrue. All the best and i wish to see more from you

[@goofyahhh254]

Of course your oratory skill is certainly there, hone it! Again, all the best

[@The_Talisman.]

R.I.P Michael Surge😢

[@alessandraverdi6495]

I commend you for remembering Dr Sugrue. He continues to be the perfect example of a professor.

[@VanCliefMedia]

I think the most challenging part of this for me is not looking at the concept of pridful intellectualism as a viewpoint that "proves" why I am right and should dislike many individuals in academia today but rather the opposite and understand this is the very viewpoint Rousseau is warning to be weary of. To instead point that view at my own self, to appreciate what I have learned and apply it to my self as a way of life and incorporate it into my actions. These actions then offer a view point better than any contranian statment I can make to another. It also builds on to the view of AI. As we blame and belittle machine learnings systems for "immitating" art or being simple and borining in its ability to dictate, we are falling victim to prideful intellectualism instead of appreciating the systems that lay in front of us in the first place. Or making those same criticisms of our selves. We argue where the hand is pointing instead of appreciating that we have a hand in the first place.

[@steponme2160]

Yes.

[@jumo5893]

This content is top tier. I can't wait to see where this channel goes

[@sketchesoharlem]

Absolutely loved this lecture. In the 21st century, I think the wisdom from this discourse reminds us that true art should empower us to live better lives. The tragedy of our times is that such enriching art is getting harder to find due to the rise of mimetics and commodification. It's up to us as individuals to discern and seek out art that truly matters and has depth. Rousseau’s point about the next generation of wise individuals not needing teachers but following the spirit of virtue in the arts by intuition is inspiring, it reminds me of Herbert Marcuse and The Great Refusal. It emphasizes that our attention is precious, and we should focus it on subjects that have genuine substance and depth. To not abandon art, but rather, strive to appreciate and support art that enriches our lives. Again, great talk, looking forward to your next video!

[@alexandermonzon8165]

Coming from the Gutter myself im extremely grateful i have found this Material Thanks Brotha once again for the knowledge hope one day i can visit these lectures in person till them keep Grinding Carnal...

[@jeremiahbok9028]

It's such a pleasure to have found your channel! Your work is so clear and easy to listen to as you explain these ideas so many people would consider inaccessible. I slide in and out of philosophy KZbin, so thank you for pulling me back in! I'm working my way eagerly through you Girard videos, I knew nothing about him and now I find him fascinating. Also, I'm sure you're told some variation of this a lot, but you dress to the teeth, sir, you always look sharp as a tack! Thank you for providing such high-qaulity content, from the picture quality to the editing to your gently passionate discussions and lectures, completely for free, this is a tremendous resource! Cheers.

[@WildAirCoach]

The whole purpose of being here is to enjoy and explore. This is why both science and art are essential. One could argue that studying the Earth's curvature or even Darwin researching butterflies... might seem insignificant on their own. However, if they spark curiosity and inspire a deeper exploration of nature, then they fulfill their purpose.

[@paungchandal2788]

I'm very much delighted after watching your explanation, it allows me to see a different perspective and it's refreshing. keep it up bro!

[@cristinavaldez7229]

I recently discovered your program, I love it. At the beginning, in the introduction, the music prevails above your voice. I don't hear clearly what you say. Thanks for sharing 🤩

[@WildAirCoach]

It is the most important practice to remind ourselves daily that we are energetic beings.. coming here over and over to explore the material realm. Death is an illusion. I never get caught up with how intellectual or distinguished one becomes.

[@Maybeabandaid9]

Feeling called out a minute into a video two hours long is wild.

[@bi.johnathan]

there's more where that came from :)

[@sketchesoharlem]

And yet here I am, love a challenge.

[@JeffersonsTreeHouse]

@@bi.johnathanit used to be that being right was what was important, however being challenged and proven wrong on different issues is now much more important. At least in my opinion, honor, humility, and integrity. It’s my belief that pride can be replaced with those three words. Am I mistaken.?

[@pressiyamu2187]

😂😂😂 great candor my friend

[@Siferlash]

Excellent lecture and a cogent reading of Rousseau

[@juliolin8211]

Love the performance style. Made it very entertaining.

[@PaulLumen]

listening to this immediately after Ralston College's "Education without Indoctrination: Can it Exist?" is giving me deep identity whiplash, and this as someone who has always loved philosophy and eschewed a formal university education in favor of the path of an auto-didact. especially in light of the inescapability of mimesis/reverse-mimesis on the decisions I've made. well done Johnathan. so glad to have discovered you through David Perell, as i have many other remarkable writers and thinkers. you've compelled me to write, discover, and re-examine. thank you so much.

[@warriorhealer]

Your style is very unique on KZbin. Glad to come across your channel.

[@John-qy5rq]

Thank you very much for exposing me to these great hidden works. You've earned yourself a new subscriber

[@martgatz75]

Hey man this series you’re doing is awesome! Really enjoying each of these lectures.

[@florianm5756]

Fantastic lecture! If I remember correctly the Chinese phrase is actually the other way around: 书中自有黄金屋，书中自有颜如玉

[@F_A_M_K]

Incredible production value

[@seth_khaneki]

Seeming rather than being, splits your soul into two. @ 00:58:30🙏

[@SevenFootPelican]

This is excellent work you’re putting out here, Johnathan! Can’t wait to give this a listen. Thanks as always!

[@bi.johnathan]

Thanks for engaging with my work ... we are just getting started!

[@tarikmidzic5500]

Incredible lecture, you’re very engaging and clear in your speech, you explained the issue very well. I study philosophy and sociology and am looking for any help i can find online for my studies, and this was very helpful. Thank you very much, good luck with the work you do, hope it only gets better with time!

[@goodworksworldbasketball]

What an amazing lecture. Hooked.

[@InspireGreatness-ru4qo]

1:27:01 changed my life, forever I've focused on impact and making the world a better place, frustrated in believing that it's because of a lack of good teachers. I'm now reassessing this and seeing it as a fixed mindset. The best will aim to be the best regardless of resources but it feels morally right to make things accessible. these do not need to be mutually exclusive.

[@_mayankr]

1:14:46 yes! similar to athenian theater, can we make these philosophical talks be done in an open air theater and be open to all citizenry and not just closed off to ticket holders?

[@LeoulB]

can't tell if elaborate sardonic troll or somewhat self aware deliberate high brow poshness. Really owning it either way.

[@Joeyjojoshabbadoo]

Yeah, you're telling me. It's pretty clearly the latter, I would say.

[@LeoulB]

yep... they mean it. It's a modern take on Michael Sugrue's style. Suprised that world still exists. I except philosophers to be Zizek like.

[@adamqadmon]

@@LeoulB Michael Sugrue is quite awesome

[@LeoulB]

@@adamqadmon true, 🍻 just pointing that this esthetic was standard for the time... even the bare minimum of decorum. Today it's an acquired taste.

[@visalserei]

You preach what you are becoming :) There is madness in everything.

[@BSFan-c4j]

Well done Johnathan. Great as always, please keep it up.

[@AhmadElAcham]

Man as an Alexandrian, I really wish people would stop repeating this myth. The claim that Muslims burned the Library of Alexandria and the infamous quote that is unjustly attributed to Umar ibn al-Khattab were first mentioned several centuries after the incident allegedly took place and recorded by someone known for being prejudiced against Muslims. But these details, from the Caliph's quote to the incredulous six months it supposedly took to burn all the books, weren't written down until 300 years after the fact. These facts condemning Omar were written by Bishop Gregory Bar Hebræus, a Christian who spent a great deal of time writing about Moslem atrocities without much historical documentation.[1] There is no single reliable source that mentions this ever happening. Several other modern historians such as Edward Gibbon, Eusèbe Renaudot, Alfred J. Butler, Victor Chauvin, Paul Casanova, Gustave Le Bon, Eugenio Griffini, Kelly Trumble and Roy MacLeod all rejected this story and described it as a fabricated myth. The Library of Alexandria didn't even exist at the time. It was accidentally burned by the troops of Julius Caesar roughly 700 years earlier, and the establishment ceased to exist after a brief revival in the Roman era, but that was long before the Islamisation. A comment from quora.

[@awatahmad3299]

Thank you bro for ypur clarification.

[@Shvetaki]

i dont know who you are , but being Based + High IQ & having Money + Taste is a rare combo. combining all of them for creating masterpieces like these and giving them away in a charitable way to the masses is even more beautiful. Hope you find a good woman and birth at least 6 kids. The world needs more of this.

[@Qavsify]

lmao this is some kinda compliment

[@Shvetaki]

@@Qavsify ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[@SpeaksYourWord]

Wow

[@Verulam1626]

Lmao 💯

[@AdamBechtol]

​@@Qavsify:p

[@yazenbuklau]

So deep about intellectuals! At 9:32 “The great founders of the great intellectual traditions don’t write books.” Interesting to note that Mohamed set off a book-based tradition where he claimed he didn’t write the book himself. Have you read it, Jonathan?

[@-CIAV1647]

Amazing What a communactor ! Thanks for the summaries and understanding ! Put this man on all the medias and podcasts ! Is this how it is to study at ivy league !! ?

[@mao_lang]

Good video Johnathan, thanks for posting.

[@lightdarklightdarklightdark]

ahhhh i needed this one. less words less videos

[@E______]

So reality is self configuring self generative and you are the ultimate judge of yourself. Who is this mysterious self we all refer to?

[@iulianbaziru]

Wonderful lecture.

[@KD-rs6xx]

Excellent

[@edchao7595]

Would be nice to have your lectures numbered so I can make my way through them in an appropriate order when there is one, and know I’ve not skipped one along the way.

[@shaunwebb3729]

The new Sugrue. This time with Fight Club references in a Rousseau lecture. Love to see it!

[@johnnyroycerichardsoniii3273]

Hey, careful ascribing such comparisons! This guy is nowhere close to professor Sugrue and if he has any humility at all he would agree with me!

[@Joshs8707]

Would mind me asking where your suit is from?

[@zeekyzeke-c5o]

sherlock holmes

[@Annayasha]

Its really nice, must be bespoke, made for his measures

[@Kannot2023]

21:51 what makes a comunity is the common help given regardless of individual references

[@782YKW]

I love this ❤

[@christopherdowns2430]

Would love a lecture on GK Chesterton

[@animemantim]

How can we attend a lecture as an audience member?

[@BF-non]

This is an interesting format, but I much prefer the podcast setting with an expert. The 2 podcasts with Brian Leiter are the 2 videos that make me subscribe. Is less preachy and more an exploration.

[@esiabu2261]

Wonderful lecture infront great listeners

[@SmartEnglishHub555]

Caliph Umar didn't order the burning of the library. It's has something to do with the prejudiced nature of the orientalists who never lose a chance to malign Islam.

[@yvonnehyatt8353]

The human all of them In a good environment from birth . The intellectual knowledge of life. Thanks

[@UncleRaj1]

Excellent lecture. I would love details on how to attend.

[@199tea7]

How can I possibly. attend your upcoming lectures in-person?

[@yazenbuklau]

Isn’t Omar’s burning of the library of Alexandria debated? 2:15

[@aaronaragon7838]

Rousseau would've loved Television in the living room.

[@leondeiak]

Wow, that's awesome. I didn't know John Krasinski went into philosophy 👀

[@looogilo]

I could not find your book on Amazon about Rene Girard Thanks for the amazing lectures

[@ntdk1080]

I think it's not finished. He did put it on his website though.

[@evolun]

do you do live debates? would love to see one with Alex O connor

[@niranjanamin47]

9:25-10:05

[@zahid1909]

A failed entrepreneur found solace in Nietzsche. That's the crux of human rationalization of one's status; getting peace either in 'slave', or in 'master' mentality.

[@LoremLorem]

These arguments are not in balance - you can't say that "The art brings people together but all the wrong ways". No. To condemn a whole industry is hardly intellectual nor wise. By The way, it was delightful to see your book add soon after you had declared that great men don't need to write books - they'll be written for them! Sorry, the goal of being the moral superior asks for critisism - you know, that is the way to become superior, to get past a tighter critisism. The end goal of moral critisism is to bring about the higher character in another, but immoral critisism aims to destruction for its sake. I hope all the best for you brother!

[@m.imamurreza2763]

why didnt i got this channel in my recommendations.. i missed a lot

[@sharedknowledge162]

good video

[@I-AM-KingPaulWall]

That's that pimp shit mein dude. You are heavily appreciated for your insights, my beautiful brother❤️‍🔥

[@idontknow8299]

what is this piano music bro

[@niranjanamin47]

01:01:04

[@yaminkakroo]

good lecture

[@niranjanamin47]

29:43

[@ronjohnson4566]

speaking of Athenians being tricksters, your words are cloaked in wordplay and the poetry of language. Something you are set against. Athenians believed in many gods. the Spartans believed in many gods and in general both communities believed in the same gods and praised both the same way. you are putting the idea forward that says, heroes are better ways to live than intelligence and art. but our country was founded by people who believed just the opposite. they believed the pen was mightier than the sword. that is why this country has a constitution that defines our laws. we are not ruled by an elite god-like group. our civil war showed quite clearly that war is not the answer. during both ww1 and ww2 America was reluctant to enter either war. if we went to war our "heroes" would suffer the most. if they came home at all it would be with broken hearts and minds not to mention a few legs, arms, and other body parts. what this lecture says is that a young person has only developed his body and not his mind. before he thinks, we the elite, will conscript him/her into the armed forces and send him to the front lines. Just like king David did to get rid of his loyal hero. you are saying king david was a voyeur, luster, a massagist, and some kind of power-seeking hero. if you want a woman, go out and take her. seems caveman to me. the truth of the matter is that civilization today claims to be positively affected by the arts. the arts show intelligence and the freedom to think whatever you want to think. your spartan world believes might is right. Of course, Jon Bi will be back at home enjoying his fine wine, reading a book beside the fire with his lapdog and his wife will be preparing dinner like she should be.

[@Because_Reasons]

Certainly something fascinating and true concepts, however I still think in as much as democracy produces more bad ideas, in aggregate it still by far produced way more 'good' ideas as well. The ratio is still highly skewed towards bad ideas, but without democratization of communication and media, those good ideas would be buried and never have the footing they do today either. Welp, Rousseau certainly nailed "Hollywood made America" didn't he?

[@1229e8]

I would love to hear your take on these “issues” based on your own experience, not history.

[@niranjanamin47]

1:02:50

[@404errorpagenotfound.6]

Is this a scene from a long movie, the camera, the set, the attractive audience, the clothes, the editing... this is not your local philosophy club. Also has a strong Review Brah vibe. Also subbed and i dont even like philosophy.

[@brandonzhang5808]

contemplation is a supplement to living, not the main course

[@NtwampeSepakela]

How am I watching an intellectual telling me intellectualism is not good for me so I should stop pursuing intellectualism.

[@_mayankr]

johnathan, are *you* living the good life?

[@ShahryarKhan-KHANSOLO-]

Bi's style of presentation seems heavily inspired by the young Michael Sugrue

[@Verulam1626]

Can confirm this is true based on him telling me

[@leslietroy2869]

I don't understand why he has the music so inrense that it's hard to undersatnd what he is saying.

[@Kannot2023]

You could be a bad person even if the education. Science just amplifies you character

[@Zimboprenuer]

were did you come from

[@Hon_cb1kr]

Subbed

[@michaeltastad]

Have the intro music be a little quieter - that is the only improvement that can be made to this video lol

[@jamestan6747]

everything grows and then dies. not sure why the lengthy dissection. yes once the contrast in the gulf between delusional and the truly knowlegable has calcified, things break.

[@Luke-eo6kp]

One could say . . . that even this lecture is poison. And me thinking now that this lecture is poison is part of the poison of this lecture. There is definitely a trap in this mode of being. Maybe the trap is that the belief that everything is done by humans is in rational self interest and maybe that we need to super impose prescriptions and disregard axioms of the past. All I can be certain of is my ignorance.

[@Austin-e5u]

Then how do you grow at all? Not just in an intellectual manner. But at all, with this approach? This is why human error or sin exists at all. We will all have vices and things we long for that may be of error...but attempting to live a perfect life denying this leads to that same thing yet in a way worse way.

[@Luke-eo6kp]

@@Austin-e5u The way to true growth is through quicker, deeper, and more joyful repentance.

[@Sas1256x]

14:30

[@rafaelludicanti2]

2h? Thanks.

[@Friskojack_]

I dont think umar burned down the Alexandria liberary

[@joahchewbhaka5679]

It looks like Johnathan could fix the next James Cameron movie.

[@OS3667-e6p]

Seems like an interesting lecture but I can’t get past the performative style of communication. It seems forced and not natural. Also contemporary academic research shows caliph Umar didn’t actually order the burning of the Library of Alexandria.

[@MrMrbrianna]

I find his oratory style engaging. It's a lecture and he's well prepared and excited about the material and it comes through in his speech

[@OS3667-e6p]

Nah, the more I hear him the more pretentious he sounds. You can be excited and be subtle with it. This is Bro-Philosophy.

[@FermanEduServices]

He or some other one destroyed the one in Persia.

[@sambarryofficial]

You’re just a jealous hater. This is extremely engaging. For people that have difficulty understanding these ideas and concepts his teaching style makes this knowledge accessible. I’ve learn more about Nietzsche and Rousseau in 1 hour than on my own trying to dig into the actual books.

[@OS3667-e6p]

@@sambarryofficial there lies the problem for those not bothered or educated enough to read a few books on the subject, believe they “learned something” from a presentation laced with sophistry. I’m guessing you’re American. No wonder your democracy has led you to having to choose between a corrupt senile has been and a corrupt incompetent demagogue.

[@honestlyforreal6304]

Dial back the passionate inflection. It's interupting the content like bad acting. Just read the audience and naturally convey the message.

[@Itsjtothet]

I find it really hard to get into this format of filming. It’s too scripted for me.

[@JesseSieff]

Close the KZbin app

[@JscottMays]

What does it mean to be a domesticated human? What is it to be human?

[@Wolf-g7j8r]

The Printing Press and Its consequences

[@Jimi-ix9ed]

Johnny B Good!