Western Self-Contempt: Response to Critique

Dr. Beckeld answers the most common points of critique against his book "Western Self-Contempt: Oikophobia in the Decline of Civilizations".
(Sorry for my raspy voice! I was just convalescing from a cold.)
"Western Self-Contempt" at Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Western-Self-C...
Barnes&Noble:
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/west...
Cornell University Press:
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/...
"Micro-Digressions" philosophy podcast with Spencer Case:
www.buzzsprout.com/956725/113...
Readings from: Benedict Beckeld, "Western Self-Contempt: Oikophobia in the Decline of Civilizations", Cornell University Press, Ithaca 2022.
Facebook: / benedictbeckeld
Twitter: / benedictbeckeld
My website: www.benedictbeckeld.com

[@jebjeb1498]

Excellent critique of 'the critics', Ben. I concur .By the way, the book cover is a teaching in itself.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you! And yes, the cover is very clever, by a reputable designer.

[@Proud_Troll]

I admire you.

[@slimbroski5335]

I’ll be ordering this book soon. Thanks for your work, your videos and your responses to the criticism your book has gotten. We definitely need more of what you are doing in this confusing and fast paced time we live in. Thanks.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you very much! Encouraging words like yours help me keep going. I hope you'll enjoy the reading!

[@slimbroski5335]

@@BenedictBeckeld just got your book yesterday lol I know I’m a bit late but better late than never! Haha! Can’t wait to be able to sit down and read it!!! 😃

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Great, I hope you'll enjoy it! And feel free to share your thoughts afterwards if you like (here or on Amazon).

[@slimbroski5335]

@@BenedictBeckeld absolutely!!! Will do. 👍 thanks for all that you’re doing. Happy to support your work.

[@baltvdb]

Is an audiobook version coming? Thanks

[@BenedictBeckeld]

None is planned at the present time, unfortunately. I think Audible found it too intellectual, or something like that, if I correctly understood the subsidiary rights manager's message to me on the subject. But if the book sells well enough, that might be reconsidered, in which case I'd announce it here and on my social media.

[@Proud_Troll]

This is the precise field of philosophy that I'm interested in. I might buy the book. Only problem is that I hate to read. Is there an audiobook?

[@selimgure]

With all due respect, hatred of reading and love of philosophy (at least in the modern, academic sense) do not really go hand in hand.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

I'm afraid there's no audiobook, no. If that changes, I'll announce it here and on my social media. Perhaps you can read it in smaller increments.

[@Atomb]

I started one review of your book and it immediately criticized the book because China and Indian were long running civilizations. As if that wasn't dealt with in the book! Criticism is valuable. This was an attack.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Yes, you must be referring to Goldman's review. In the most recent video on this channel I address that review in detail (kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWHXeJ96fNx4h6Msi=BYs1wKJhHRN9Hj9j). And indeed he had to ignore and misconstrue so many parts of the book in order to write what he did, that it's difficult to avoid the conclusion that it was willful.

[@Atomb]

@@BenedictBeckeld Yes, our overlords (Google) had it prominently displayed. The price you pay for going against the narrative.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

That's indeed the reason I made that more specific reply-video, because so many people were seeing that review. There are many positive reviews as well, but one has to scroll longer to get to them.

[@Coolan_Gatta]

I wonder if some of the "criticism" you're getting if it isn't old-fashioned academic envy from as I like to call them the intellectual lepers?

[@BenedictBeckeld]

I confess a similar thought has occurred to me, but it sounds better from you than from me! I have too much experience with academics who react instinctively and viscerally against whatever is different from what they're used to.

[@Coolan_Gatta]

@@BenedictBeckeld In my mind when I look at the influence of the 60s counter-culture which in its essence has turned out to be toxic to the point that these are the people in power now. esp in academia that teach self-hatred aka Oikophobia to the youth who then come out as a generation that wants to obliterate the family/God/country. Think the riot & burn summer of 2020 all the in the name of "equality" which has always been a ploy and what has always lied underneath it is the quest for power & control.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Yes, I think that's right. Indeed the 2020 riots receive an "honorable mention" on the very first page of the book.

[@Coolan_Gatta]

Why is it I cannot see "Amin the Reader" even though it seems a notification was generated with comments? Is it a bot of some sort?

[@BenedictBeckeld]

@@Coolan_Gatta No, but he was being very rude and insulting in another thread, so I finally removed him. I told him he was being rude, which just made him even ruder. But I've probably reached a point with this channel where I shouldn't try to reason with those who show from the beginning that they're only here to fight and not to discuss. So in the future I think I'll just leave such comments unanswered.

[@pazitor]

Phobia is unfounded or pathological fear of something that is not a danger, threat or lawless act in the measure thought. There are many legitimate criticisms to be made, especially given who has been dropping the most bombs for the last century. As for "philosophy", if your title is "Western Self-Contempt", you are talking _political_ philosophy. This makes your disclaimer in the opening minutes rather embarrassingly disengenuous.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

It's not a disclaimer; I'm explaining what the book is about. If you had read the book you would have known that it involves many philosophical facets, and my point was that reviewers, if they wish to understand the book, must include those philosophical facets in their consideration. Please don't come here and accuse me of acting in bad faith when you haven't even read the book.

[@martinpospisil3747]

Look if the West is so terrible pack your stuff and move to China or Saudi Arabia. I will stay in this patriarchal evil west. Once the West collapses will you guys be finally happy?? Its just sad leftards have no idea what will come next.

[@plekkchand]

Q.E.D. This is merely another superficial hit-and-run. "There are many legitimate criticisms to be made " . No kidding. The author is talking precisely about criticisms motivated by the definition of "phobia" which you appear to offer as enilightening (true, it would be news to a 12 year old). It looks as if you are merely quibbling with the title, which suggests you haven't engaged with the arguments in the book. And if you want to use what is one suspects for yourself a posh word like "disingenuous", your already low credibility will further decline unless you spell it correctly.