Why do we conservatives hold intellectuals...

-Self | epigone73

[epigone73]

quick question, been bothering me for ages.

Given that the average leftist is a barely verbal barbarian, why do so many conservatives not relish our own cultural superiority?

I mean, for G-d's sake, why defend a culture the practice and refinement of which we seem to deride? ("eggheads", "intellectuals," "philosophers" seem to be terms of contempt.

The left, and others outside us, want to bring us down as a whole. It is all well and good to smash the faces of the barbarians, and even necessary and commmendable to do so, but why do we so often turn against those who are our natural allies, i.e., the conservative thinkers and scholars. Trust me, they need our help and support.

[epigone73]

I do not presume to speak for others, but only for myself:

i believe that it is the duty of every civilized man to uphold and defend his nation and culture when they are threatened, whether from within or from without.

I believe that all men are created equal insofar as all are capable of rational action and thought; i do not believe that this moral equality translates into universal rights of all to everything, or for all men to share all things. Socialism, communism, Fascism, and in short anything which constrains the free market is terribly inefficient, does more harm than good, and should be critiqued with both doctoral theses and with bricks.

I have supreme confidence in the superiority of the West's intellectual and cultural traditions over any and all comers, past and present. with that said, my enthusiasm does not extend to unquestioning adherence to a narrow set of beliefs within our tradition.

AS a conservative, zionist Jew who loves america and wouldn't trade my native country (4 generations in the states) for any other, I fear very much that our culture lacks the strength and the will to assert itself and to survive.

I do not think that some "Great Books" program, or "Shakespeare for the troops", or any other wacky, National endowment for the Arts program can do anything other than harm our culture.

[epigone73]

that's my whole point.

[epigone73]

Aristotle?

learned greek so i could read him in the original. no, nothing wrong with his logic, but he points out, as do his commentators, that a practical syllogism (or any syllogism) can be formally correct without being true.

and aristotle, particluarly in the politics and the Nic. eth. points out some serious problems with the life of the political man, and indicates that philosophy is the only truly self-sufficient, quasi-divine activity in which man can engage.

AS for plato, these are deep waters, my friend. You dont's honestly think that we can hope to begin to decipher what 'Plato' is teaching i nthese dialogues, do you? See l. strauss, anywhere in his writings, to get a good intro to the hermeneutical problem.

(We do have a letter by plato, however. he tried to get involved in politics in syracuse, and was lucky to escape with his life. he advised against political activity altogether.)

[JRandomFreeper]

I fear very much that our culture lacks the strength and the will to assert itself and to survive.

I disagree. The jihadists poke a stick in middle America at their own risk. We're the generation/nation that trademarked 'shoot, shovel, and shutup'.

You have to be on one of the coasts. You should travel more. See fly-over America. Call one of us a bad name. See what happens. America is strong. Bring an extra pair of eye-glasses. I always carry a spare set.

'a shalom

/john

[cornelis]

You sound like a converted Thrasymachus.

[epigone73]

close;

moved from boston to texas as fast as I could (took me over a decade)

No income tax, right-to-carry, and the death-penalty: a hat-trick, really.

As for the heartland, trust me; their children are going to the coasts to be brainwashed, and they mortgage their houses so their children can spit on them.

Seen it a million times.

Shalom, y'all.

[Riley]

Here you go again about the 'West's intellectual and cultural traditions' and 'unquestioning adherence to a narrow set of beliefs within our tradition' without naming a single one of them, and again evading my questions.

There is not one iota of doubt in my mind, that you are here to play games with us, and I am usually given to giving the benefit of the doubt to new posters.

Look Epigone, one thing that we do respect here is honesty. If you were to just openly admit that you are of a contrary political persuasion, and you'd like to engage in a civil debate of values, you'd get a lot farther than you will with this hoked-up 'we all hate intellectuals' bogus line of nonsense. We do have a few liberals who post regularly here. They get away without being banned because they are civil, and everybody knows what they are about. No subterfuge, none of this pretense.

Or aren't liberals capable of that much honesty? Why can't you come over from DU or wherever, and post something like, "Hey, I'm a leftist, I disagree with Freepers on a lot of things, but I would like to have an honest and civil discussion about these things upon which we disagree?"

What's wrong with a little honesty?

[epigone73]

Very close. Had ambitions once -- not for tyranny, you understand.

A wise teacher set my feet on the path of righteousness and noble obscurity, saving me from a fate worse than death.

Republic trivia:

why does Socrate suddenly re-integrate thrasymachus after having silenced him for so long? Al-farabi knew why, but do you?

[JRandomFreeper]

You dont's honestly think that we can hope to begin to decipher what 'Plato' is teaching i nthese dialogues, do you?

As a Texan, I do have some expertise in seperating BS from truth. Plato begs refutation. And was as an unorganized a grabasstic sob as ever existed.

It's a shame you're not a nhilist. I've got a really good response for those. ;>)

But remember, you're arguing with a cook. I make meals for a living. So go easy, Mr. Philosipher.

/john

[epigone73]

check out my previous vanity post:

"the ugly american - mission and destiny"

trust me, a thinking conservative is not a cloaked lefty.

[T'wit]

> what concerns me is that the left has captured the cultural and intellectual high ground

Perhaps the pertinent source is Antonio Gramsci's "Long march through the institutions." Gramsci's road to communism was capturing the culture, and it is certainly more destructive and enduring than any armed revolutionary uprising.

But if we have lost that fight for the soul of western civilization, it does not mean that the truth is dead or that the war is over. Much remains to remind intelligent young people that they need not be slaves to the dreary culture of the Left. Indeed, I would not say that the Left has captured any "high ground" at all: only the intellectual fever swamps, nourished by a mountain of tax dollars.

[epigone73]

Probably was Gramsci.

no, i don't think the truth disappears if we don't believe in it. The logos is not like twinkerbell.

but, these fever-swamps have spread their malarial infection - to extend the metaphor- into new areas, and their graduates are spreading the contagion all over the country. It's as bad as the madrassahs, really.

[JRandomFreeper]

I gave up on schools and began my education when a teacher questioned why I listed 'Civil Disobedience' by Henry David Thoreau on some BS form that I was 'required' to complete.

I literally had to teach the teacher that HDT wrote more than 'Walden Pond'.

Later that year, I was asked to teach the teachers how to diagram a sentence.

Higher education... isn't.

And because I never studied Greek, my grandfather considered me illiterate. Even with Hebrew and Latin and English and french.

I wish I had an education from 1840.

/john

[JRandomFreeper]

i don't think the truth disappears if we don't believe in it.

The truth will out.

I agree with you on that.

/john

[Riley]

You cannot, or will not answer simple questions. An appeal to your honesty had no effect. And you act as if you're the only thinking person around here.
(Hint: we don't do snobbish elitism)
You also tend to refer to conservatives in the third person.

Could it be more clear?

Go back to DU. You'll be happier there. Which is a shame. You seem to be reasonably well-read. I would have enjoyed discussions with you. You aren't ready for this place yet. When you are ready to have an honest discussion with us, without all of the pretense, then come back. We'll still be here.

Good night.

[epigone73]

unimaginable arrogance parading as ideological insight!

I gave what I thought was a fairly coherent thumbnail of my beliefs; I have attmepted to satisfy your requests for assurances of my conservative bona fides; have patiently endured unwarranted questioning of my motives and intent.

And I am afraid that in so doing, you have only confirmed the pseudo-intellectual left's worst suspicions about us.

[epigone73]

"I wish I had an education from 1840."

I'd trade my left kidney for one from even 1900

[epigone73]

But if it will make you happy, and will actually end the cross-examination, then fine:

i'm a running-dog bolshevik Maoist Swede with a performace art grant from the NEA. I drive a solar-powered Volvo to earthfirst rallies and coven-meetings.

Now, as an outsider, please tell me what it is that conservatives ought to conserved and how they should go about doing it?

[JRandomFreeper]

please tell me what it is that conservatives ought to conserved and how they should go about doing it?

Honesty. Making Gorelick resign and go home. After she testi-lies.

Or did you want the stratigic answer? It's not that easy, plato boy.

/john

[epigone73]

i agree, she hs to go, and one wonders why she was even around in the first place.

so, we get rid of her, and of thousands like her. throw them bodily out of office.

what ought ot be in the hearts and minds of those whom we would like to replace these miscreants?

Forest for the trees, mustn't let tactical concerns blind us to strategy, and vice versa, of course.