The Repetition of History | Prof. John Gray

[@FOURTEEFIVE]

“I think the reason that people both young and old have a weak historical memory is that the lessons of history are usually quite chastening”

[@alexritter8899]

I’m reading The Gulag Archipelago to try and gain some insight. Very sobering content.

[@juliemauger6183]

You may enjoy watching videos by Dr Jordan Peterson on how reading this book (amongst others) shaped his views on the capacity for evil that people (including himself) have.

[@alexritter8899]

@@juliemauger6183 preaching to the converted sister! 👍

[@mohamedali2858]

The end declares itself but its owner does not believe it. And the beginning sneaks in so that its owner doesn't realize it. This is how the most important events in human history were formed.

[@grantmantz4204]

I could listen to these two fine gentlemen speak all day!!!

[@Digiphex]

Thank you for having Gray on, I enjoy his books.

[@timsharr5436]

this discussion was fascinating. So clear. But most will not want to look straight at reality.

[@reggieduquesnoy]

May I refer JG to Gaston Bouthoul who attempted to lay the foundations of "Polemology", the study of the periodic return of wars, from the need of rich societies to throw it away all: going back to the pig cycle of the Papuan tribes...We did it twice on a mega scale in the last century. And the prime beneficiary of our addiction, "the land of the free" is doing a brilliant repeat performance- bis repetita placent- in their own inimitable Hollywoodian style. Carthago delenda est!

[@nolanolivier6791]

Straw Dogs changed my perspective on the World...

[@elmonixon4392]

John, I love your blogs and you. Would you please clarify for me precisely what you mean by the term " history " when you ask John Gray is it cyclical?

[@neilcreamer8207]

The Progressive idea that cultures get better and better, or should do so, is an idea not borne out by history. There are cycles and they’re longer than a human lifetime which might be why few Western commentators are discussing the current, terminal decline of the Western hegemony. While the economic cycle of the world order is inevitably moving to a new centre of gravity in Asia, the liberal values we take for granted in the West will probably not move with it. The question is whether liberal values really are superior to those which will replace them and on what basis that evaluation could be made.

[@robertaspindale2531]

The Russians have historical memory too; they remember being invaded by the Teutonic Knights, by Poland-Lithuania, by Sweden, by France and by Germany, -- all the kind of people who, under US control, are spending billions in trying to invade now.

[@paulbestwick2426]

think you missed off the Muscovite overlords the Mongols.

[@robertaspindale2531]

@@paulbestwick2426 Yes, because they came from the east.

[@jo9732]

Completely agree with you. But sadly cnn and nyt disagrees. Actually. Twitter and KZbin disagree too. And we just keep sending money...

[@louisburke8927]

The mic!!!

[@chrislennon3925]

so what moral standard do we use to judge these things if there is no 'narrarive' to give meaning john? the actors simply disagree with your personal moral feelings

[@simonvirus6417]

Study NATO / US aggression, provocation for profit. That along with some independent , factual reporting which 99 % of Journalism has lost would be great.

[@marylinsmith4290]

I wonder if anyone has ever suggested to the professor that history is actually linear and it is indeed headed "somewhere" and that "somewhere" and the process and that takes us there is clearly foretold in scripture... which is what makes the bible believable (the fact that it is coming to pass before our very eyes, just exactly as predicted) and therefore God is perfectly able to hold us accountable for what we did with it...... just wondering.....