Why Cormac McCarthy Created Judge Holden

Judge Holden in Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian" is one of the most legendary characters in literature. So much so that Blood Meridian bro's take Judge Holden's words as gospel. However, how did Cormac McCarthy want us to read Holden? As a prophet or seducer? In this video we will examine quotes from McCarthy scholars and quotes from Holden himself to try and figure this out!
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[@WriteConscious]

I understand that I conflated scientific materialism with solipsism, but it doesn't change my analysis or the conclusions made in the video! Sorry once again, filmed this at 4AM and read a definition of scientific materialism that was wrong! Peace!

[@twoface4458]

Peace!

[@InstruMentalCase]

1:59 major correction needed: “Materialism is a form of philosophical monism which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all things, including mental states and consciousness, are results of material interactions of material things. According to philosophical materialism, mind and consciousness are by-products or epiphenomena of material processes (such as the biochemistry of the human brain and nervous system), without which they cannot exist. Materialism directly contrasts with idealism, according to which consciousness is the fundamental substance of nature.”

[@FrancisGo.]

Let me tell you why that correction wasn't needed. Materialism always gets redefined whenever it's debunked. Newton was mocked for his theory of gravitation by the leading minds over in France because of the action at a distance his theory called for. Do you think quantum physics contradicts materialism? Materialists don't. But your definition doesn't include any description of the various quantum fields from which particles emerge.

[@Barklord]

​​@@FrancisGo. There's more to the material universe than what's in our individual consciousnesses. The video states that scientific materialism means there's nothing outside consciousness. That's solipsistic nihilism. Too often, materialism and the 'material world' get confused with the phenomena of experience. Clearly science is a project that begins with empirical evidence and goes far beyond that with conceptual models.

[@FrancisGo.]

​@@BarklordEven idealists like Schopenhauer agree that there's more to the Universe than our subjective experience. My point was that the definition of materialism is totally empty and malleable. Zizek unironically calls it materialism without matter.

[@Barklord]

​@FrancisGo. I'm a modern neoplatonist. My point wasn't to argue for materialism. My point was that you missed the point of the original comment. The point was that the video misrepresents what materialist perspective claims to be. What the video describes is a type of idealism, i.e., "its all in the mind."

[@FrancisGo.]

​@@BarklordHope I don't sound like a jerk. 😅

[@eglspl425]

Re-reading Moby-Dick at the moment. Came up to the sermon in which the sailor-priest is described as a "great favourite" and thought to myself "oh ho ho, I see what you did there Cormac my guy"

[@WriteConscious]

Lol!

[@GreatWaterCircus]

I think you missed the point... I think Cormac used these characters and the invisible that surrounds them, as a tempest with no materialistic or other interests other than the journey they pursue, be it a journey they are on for no reason that the reader can comprehend. The invisible is best seen in the Passenger, for all accounts is the most evil and frightening tempest of all, as you never meet or get to confront the force or tempest or what ever it was, and the book offers no conclusion, at best you are left standing in the cold... All his books have this tempest... John Fowles did the same thing in different ways with the Magus, you the reader are left with your ideas, and no answers... so what good are your feelings and ideas when the journey is all you really have, and it is a journey you have with little to no controll.

[@danakerjbam]

I love this forum so much. Thank you for taking us on this journey with you. For myself, I find Holden like the other pure antagonists in his fiction, one side of this eternal struggle between Energy and Entropy, Growth and Dissolution, Life and Death, Creation and Destruction, Existence and Time. This is why they always seem to “win” - you cannot escape their ultimate goal or point that all things must die. The universe itself moves until it doesn’t. And yet - the Boy in The Road finds a new family. The Father still carries a fire in a horn in No Country. Even the end of Meridian, seems to suggest, as Men demarcate and destroy their own earth, they do it to build and move forward. Until the last living thing is gone, reality is caught in this tension. Holden is a fact to be witnessed perhaps, but I don’t see it as a “criticism” that suggests a different path possible. The Man made his choice to join the Gang. The Boy in The Road made a different choice. Maybe the ultimate “point” is simply we are drawn to what we wish to believe. Because in the end, we all end.

[@waynejenski]

I appreciate your clear explanation of your thoughts in this and other videos

[@WriteConscious]

Thanks for the support brotha! A bunch more Cormac content coming soon. Having my favorite McCarthy scholar on the show in the next week or two.

[@tyler8902]

Hey man, I really enjoy your channel. I’d like to see some videos about you. For instance, why did you choose to teach? There are many discernible things about you in these rants, but I would like to hear your perception. Who you are (naturally) colors these monologues, so it’d be useful context. I respect if you don’t wish to share the personal info though. Godspeed

[@Feelings..519]

Wow you have a real view what judge is or could be. Thank you for this information

[@dynamicpurpose]

I feel the people are heading somewhere without purpose. A void where nothingness is all there is and will ever be.

[@penelopegreene]

Holden's obviously something to be resisted in the world. Otherwise, why wouldn't he have made a disciple of The Kid, our protagonist. No, I don't think Holden was the real protagonist, like the twist to the ending of N.P. van Wyk Louw's epic poem "Raka".

[@jeromebrown6626]

We weather our helplessness. We Just Don't Know.

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

Hail Mary

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN

[@WriteConscious]

MAKAVELI IN THIS, KILLUMINATI, ALL THROUGH YOUR BODY, THAT BLOWS LIKE A TWELVE GAUGE SHOTTY

[@WriteConscious]

WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE NOW? DO YOU WANT TO RIDE OR DIE?

[@George-z9m]

What does your diet consist of?

[@WriteConscious]

creosote

[@timmorrill1379]

I love your videos but if you title a video Why Cormac McCarthy created Judge Holden please do not mention similar characters from other books,Not everybody has read them yet.

[@keithhill4044]

On this vast place we call the Internet (KZbin rather) to get views requires a simple informative video title so to take into account spoilers when the video is about a character such as judge Holden is a little ridiculous

[@basementmadetapes]

Main character much?

[@fireball43]

I have never read a book or know how to read, he should refrain from talking about books, it makes my head hurt 😵‍💫

[@WriteConscious]

Lol, I mentioned three characters names who are supernatural like Holden with no other context or spoilers and you're upset??

[@WriteConscious]

One more is the kid in the passenger lol

[@JEBEmpires]

Your work is inspiring as always 👍

[@earinafield]

Was the Judge and Man showdown present in the first draft? You said the Judge's role in the early drafts was small. How different was the original ending?

[@andrewodom375]

What palindromes?

[@majorgrubert5887]

I just started watching some of your videos.. do to Wendigoons video.. lol I know you have your reservations about it but it’s brought me here so… anyways I enjoy your content and thoughts on Blood Meridian. I didn’t know you were a teacher but in this day and age you have your work cut out for ya lol ! This book is a fever dream and Holden is a fantastic character!

[@WriteConscious]

Thanks for the support brotha!

[@jakebridges_]

Would love to hear more videos on The Road. Everyone loves a good post apocalypse setting

[@WriteConscious]

Will do!

[@hamzasaid3368]

As a teacher, i wonder what your thoughts are on the media and stories the students you teach are consuming. The only media i watched as a kid only taught me basic life lessons, such as "treat others kindly," and "dont steal or bully," and so on. But today, especially with manga which is one of the most popular medium of entertainment for children and teenagers, the Lessons and queations it presents are much more complex. Even the ammount of death ane violence presented is something that would have been unacceptable years ago. Does any of this show in their writing?

[@mistaando9741]

6:19 you touched on something that I've been looking for the words to express, "based" indeed

[@WriteConscious]

ayyeeee

[@GudinoAutoDetailing]

It has to do with man’s inability to be satisfied. If you look at history, man is always searching for answers, trying to make things better, researching, discovering, etc. There is an innate desire inside of us as human beings to figure out how stuff works. But, while logic, science, mathematics are tremendously powerful instruments in navigating this thing called life, they are ultimately just instruments, no different than a piano or a tuba. Judge Holden is meant to be a foil to this and I think this connects to scientific materialism, how you said in the beginning, in the sense that Holden actually believes he holds the keys to the universe with these man-made instruments. How it says in the map-territory relationship, we will never be able to know the territory of this Earth, no matter how good of a map we create. It’s still just a map right? I think so at least. Holden is a such a good lier and manipulator that he makes it seem he is more than what he is, but he is no different from the idiot or any of the people in the Glanton Gang. This is a fallen world of people who have detached completely from any sort of humbleness, grave, dignity, and live fully in a world of lies. How it says in the Brothers Karamazov: “Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.”

[@shimtest]

great video, one of the most insightful I've seen

[@devinbartley5768]

Appreciate your thoughts on these matters.

[@whiskeybuck8985]

You find an inner peace with Christ or something? You seem to be doing ok. Either way great work.

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

Christ Reigns Supreme

[@George-z9m]

What does your diet consist of?

[@WriteConscious]

lol

[@johnnymisbegotten]

Thumbs up

[@samuelallen8945]

This is what I have been waiting for...

[@WriteConscious]

Yeeee

[@Misserbi]

I believe males who orient as females are actually creating an atmosphere that does not clearly explain a behavior. A behavior that is tipping a scale, if it becomes an ussue or problem, cannot be corrected if the individual does not attest to this imbalance. The same can be said about a younger sibling taking the lead away from the older one. It is literally deviant if you are not admitting creativity exists? That is how I explain it. A positive personality trait comes out when the possibility of danger is not present. In the end truth sets everyone free.

[@emiyohgracious]

I dont know to what degree McCarthy was influenced by Neitche, but I think of Holden as a sort of Neitchean Superman. Also, Holden's speech on war calls to mind Heraclitus, who said "war is the father of us all". Heraclitus being a favorite of Neitche

[@user-xd1xf9rp5p]

Thanks Ian! Your channel is great! Keep the videos coming!

[@Summalogicae]

I don’t know if you’ve fixed this in the comments, but the video content has an egregious error. You claim that “materialism is a philosophy that believes nothing exists outside your own consciousness.” This is categorically not an accurate or correct description or definition of materialism. What you said is closer to an ontological tinged form of solipsism, which is more often construed as an epistemic thesis and less an ontological one; I suppose also someone could argue that what you said is some type of subjective idealism. At bottom, materialism is the view that all that exists is matter and its causal relations.

[@WriteConscious]

I understand I accidentally defined solipsism, but it doesn't really change the analysis.

[@George-z9m]

What does your diet consist of?

[@WriteConscious]

Saguaro and ocotillo

[@acuerdox]

20:25 what?XD ecer heard of theosis?

[@WriteConscious]

Yes, and its objectively a very weak system compared to other modalities of obtaining mystical states. Unless you think you're going to heaven and then it all doesn't really matter anyway.

[@acuerdox]

@@WriteConscious ok then, but why obtain a mystical state thou? and to go to heaven you have to reach a higher enough state, otherwise it's like handing a gun to a toddler.

[@acuerdox]

@@WriteConscious do the Buddhist have more saints than the christians or something?