Solzhenitsyn and the Gulag - Daniel J. Mahoney

Daniel J. Mahoney
Author, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: The Ascent from Ideology
Assumption College
This year marks the centenary of the Russian Revolution. This first CCA of the 2017-2018 academic year will explore that revolution’s leaders, its animating ideology, and the 70-year history of the tyrannical regime to which it gave birth.
Watch more from this CCA seminar at www.hillsdale.edu/educational...

[@thinkmackay8954]

All people who consider themselves as thinking human beings should read the GULAG Archipelago. I was educated by Dr Jordan Peterson and read the complete book, and planning to re- read some parts. I will never see the world and humans with the same eye. Thanks for a wonderful lecture on this book and author. You answered some of my questions.

[@breevestal]

I also read Gulag after listening to Jordan Peterson and it has forever changed my outlook on history:)

[@jnknsr6514]

I’m on Part Three!

[@aschu234]

Reading it now! Finished 1984 last month. I don’t know how people still call for socialism in the USA

[@worldpeace8299]

I consider myself to be a thinking human being. I have read the gulag archipelago. For all its greatness and its size and scope it is not an argument against socialism at all, whose basic tenets seem to me to be sound and practically applicable. The strongest argument in Solzhenitsyn's book seem to me to be against the danger inherent in the act of revolution itself. If it were a problem of ideology in general all social structures ought to end the same way.

[@jophoenix3919]

the revote ws Ied y foreig, JEWS

[@sydneykendall7125]

I was immune from the siren call of totalitarian ideologies from early in my life. Ironically, this was a result of my questioning mind that lead me to doubt the existence of God, which led me to understand why a mind, a human being, needs to be free to think and to openly dissent under the protection of the law. Whether one believes in a god or a faith or not, the human mind and spirit needs the liberty to keep itself honest. It's unlikely any mind will get everything right. We all have a struggle to grasp reality as it is, to get it right, to self-correct. But the active, honest mind knows that its job is to keep working at it, to not fake belief in any realm, to not corrupt itself by wishful thinking, and to know that all other minds have the same job and the same struggle, though we all start in our own circumstances and have our own particular obstacles to overcome. It's this respect for the individual mind's need for honesty and integrity that liberty under the law, the individual's right to legally be free to think, to speak, to honestly and peacefully pursue one's values/happiness, that is the essence of respect for spiritual needs. Whatever an individual concludes about religion and the existence or nature of a god, the *ideology* of individual liberty that protects person and property under the rule of law is essential for human spiritual flourishing. You can't change human nature and the needs of the human spirit, but you can oppress the life out of it.

[@mariussielcken]

The prophet Daniël was a rebel against the ultimate totalitarian empire of Babylon, where emperor-worship originates.

[@andrewteece3496]

I've been profoundly affected, influenced and enthralled by the works and words of Dr Jordan B. Peterson over recent years. It's clear, from listening to this talk, just what a huge influence Solzhenitsyn has been on Dr Peterson.

[@andrewteece3496]

@@martyroth2994 Marty Roth, on the other hand, with his 2 KZbin subscribers, is a fountain of eminent wisdom!

[@mashintotters858]

@@andrewteece3496 lol his sub count has doubled

[@Devin_Stromgren]

@@martyroth2994 If you're going to make a claim, provide some evidence.

[@Devin_Stromgren]

@@martyroth2994 I didn't make a counterclaim, and as the first person to make on it would fall upon you to defend your position first even if I had. Also, IF Dr. Peterson is a fool, that should be far easier to prove than someone attempting to prove he isn't.

[@Devin_Stromgren]

@@martyroth2994 Not particularly, but I genuinely want to know why YOU consider him to be.

[@martinhanley9524]

I wonder what Solzhenitsyn would have to say about the mass coordination of the Western Media and High tech to censure ideas that are the necessary fruit of a liberty and a free democracy as enshrined in our Bill of Rights . I’m sure Lenin was considered a progressive for his time .

[@masoudsarvin6117]

Well put sir., well put indeed.

[@Johnconno]

Solzhenitzyn would laugh at your 'Bill of Rights'.

[@martinhanley9524]

@@Johnconno I’m assured you have no library let alone sat down and read his works . Huxley predicted your rise .

[@pn5721]

Martin, he pretty much summed up his opinion on that in his 1978 Harvard Address which Dan Mahoney discusses here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWPEgGaYnc5gjKc

[@martinhanley9524]

@@pn5721 Yes he did . He was very disillusioned with the United States lack of confidence and support of its best traditions . Think C.R.T and identity politics all derived from the Frankfurt school with a umbilical chord stretching to Marxist ideology. The fifth column has a long game Snd they never went away but are in our Academic institutions , our once pro America Democratic Party.. Our liberties are threatened by Corporate ‘wokism’ and overreaching big government !

[@margyeoman3564]

Delighted with your lecture on this great man. When I was young in the 1970's, we read Solzhenichyn. All his books we could get a hold of . He was quite known about in Calgary, Alberta. And it was not read only by university students. My sister was a secretary, I was in my first year of college. We were paying attention. The next generation did not seem to have the same interest.

[@wolfwind1]

Excellent, substantial lecture with a great question period.

[@criscavi19]

Here is an interesting and quite motivating introduction to Solzhenitsyn's Gulag Archipelago reading. Thanks!

[@edgilchrist6374]

Fabulous presentation and outstanding Q and A.

[@AneTix101]

What a great discussion. Loved his response to Solzhenitsyn's thoughts on suffering and Western decadence.

[@donthasselthehoff5753]

Whenever you say anything about alleged "Western decadence", remember that in Russia you can legally marry your sister.

[@mordentus]

@@donthasselthehoff5753 that's a lie. СК РФ Статья 14. Обстоятельства, препятствующие заключению брака Не допускается заключение брака между: лицами, из которых хотя бы одно лицо уже состоит в другом зарегистрированном браке; близкими родственниками (родственниками по прямой восходящей и нисходящей линии (родителями и детьми, дедушкой, бабушкой и внуками), полнородными и неполнородными (имеющими общих отца или мать) братьями и сестрами); усыновителями и усыновленными; лицами, из которых хотя бы одно лицо признано судом недееспособным вследствие психического расстройства.

[@catholic3dod790]

I can't wait to buy his book with the English translation.

[@matthewtreacy6994]

Brilliant stuff.

[@barrygoldwater7030]

That good evening was powerful

[@litourguide]

Why we are so lucky to be Americans

[@sicktheory7575]

Lol we were… it’s game time baby. Time to cash in our esoteric research from the past:)

[@davidperi2646]

at 44 min...the lady asked a very good question.

[@sheemondallasgeorgia]

Very good, Doctor. Very good indeed

[@marydolan587]

Capitalism without greed but generous to labor is still the best . Socialism keeps people from improving the,selves . Well all give an account n how just we were in our lives. The greatest of these is love.

[@Johnconno]

These young people of today could do with a spell in the Gulag, it might put some lead in their pencils. Make them grateful.

[@sheemondallasgeorgia]

I was introduced to the gulags by my grandparents and my father who were invited guests of the Soviet communist party during WWII. They qualified by the very ownership of substantial business in Lithuania, some of which still stand today. I was assured by my father and grandparents that not only Mr. Solzhenitsyn is accurate, but actually, things were a lot worse than he described.

[@piushalg8175]

I am all in for voluntary, but mind you: completely voluntary, metanoia.

[@traceeburris511]

Sounds like what is happening here, now.

[@pn5721]

Dan Mahoney discusses Solzhenitsyn's famous 1978 Harvard address here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWPEgGaYnc5gjKc

[@Peter-rl4nc]

many died in about 1903 from a famine outside Moscow under the Tzar

[@ingridlinbohm7682]

The difference between starvation under the Tzar and Stalin was that first was due the element whilst under under Stalin it was deliberate. Stalin sold food abroad rather than giving it to the Ukranians.

[@Peter-rl4nc]

@@ingridlinbohm7682 Hi well aware of that as I am from there

[@edubz1906]

What truly made the holomodor such a tragedy setting itself apart from any other famine was the psychological torment inflicted upon the people, which caused greater suffering than the actual act of starvation itself. The peasants who were forced into the collective farms, were surrounded by food fields and fields of it, for which they spent every waking hour of every day of their existence focused solely on growing, tending, caring for and harvesting this food only for every scrap of it to be taken from them and they spent everyday knowing it. The suffering torment this caused is a fate worse than any death.

[@Peter-rl4nc]

@@edubz1906 Hi yes I know that as I am from Russia and I have books written by Solzhenitsyn

[@raygon8]

Sounds like your a Communist apologist

[@Peter-rl4nc]

nothing really happened until 1921 1922 when the civil war was over

[@svetv2]

Applebaum BOOOO

[@thefredkalis]

Communism always ends in starvations and genocide

[@dalegribble1560]

The NWO=Communism. A one world, stateless government that is totalitarian of course.

[@MECX3490]

They are batting 1’000 and the crazies are prepared to drag our fair nation into the “Gulags of history”!

[@redflagaesthetic4223]

Yup neither of those things happen under capitalism. Oh but that's "corporatism", I forgot...

[@mdqquinn2513]

You just violated Solzhenitzen's entire message and the opening words of this lecture! ANY IDEOLOGY CAN BE USED TO JUSTIFY ATROCITIES BY IT'S ADHERENTS!

[@jg0943]

Great idea, wrong species.

[@raygon8]

and 85 thousand priests and nuns were executioned in 1937 @22:25

[@michaelnice93]

Interesting how in the beginning Mahoney says Solzhenitsyn was not going after communism that he really wanted to focus on the actions of the revolutionaries. Yet the argument that Marxists and communists make is just exactly that, communism works but the implementation of it failed.

[@michaelnice93]

I understand that he had his target based on his direct experience, but so many use him to bash communism. If Solzhenitsyn himself was not condemning communism then there is a big opportunity for commies to put their finger on. Perhaps I misunderstood the speaker or perhaps it’s more complex and subtle than that. Just seems like a, no pun intended- Red Flag.

[@memphiskennedy9541]

NEVER REPEAT the Communist's LIES!

[@Peter-rl4nc]

Its all Stalin as Lenin died before it in 1924, there are other books on the gulag in russian I have read