Can I just say how thrilled it am that there have been so many comments on a tricky topic. This has been the greatest number of comments so far and it is really gratifying that so many of you have chosen to engage and to converse with one another.
There will be another post out on Monday and possibly another as well on the Broadcasting scene (still in the "I must think about this before I push send" basket) and then I will take some time off until early next year. But I will be gathering material and I am sure that the new lot in Wellington (if they ever get to make up their minds) will provide plenty of fodder for my pen - yes - every outline is written with fountain pen on paper.
This shines a real light on a subject I've struggled to understand. In this endeavour I've waded through various explications of critical theory and postmodernism eg some of the Stanford explanations, but they all have in common the criticism made by Rex Gibson, who argues "that critical theory suffers from being cliquish, conformist, elitist, immodest, anti-individualist, naivety, being too critical, and being contradictory." Couldn't have put it better myself.
Once again, thanks for your lucidity David, and the time it might have taken you to untangle it to make more digestible sense!
What I find so hard to understand is why a so-called 'woke' Govt (Labour) were so blind to the power imbalances that their Covid policies enabled - especially vaccine mandates and lockdowns?
PJ - the answer is in the final sentence - Critical theory is grounded in Marxism and postmodernism is a tool of the Political Left and seeks fundamental, and radical structural change of society through activism.
The Covid activity was just part of the fundamental changes that the Ardern Government wanted to effect using raw power to effect praxis.
It could be that part of the woke delusion is that the end justifies the means. The lack of objectivity means that woke thinkers dont have the critical thinking skills to evaluate the cost of their ideology. Simply put, they are too stupid and somewhat narcissic.
Yes, and very carried away by their own ideology. Although, having been in that camp along with many of my friends and colleagues, I don't think we are stupid, just self-righteous - after all, what we (they) are doing is for the "common good"!!!
I think being carried away by their own ideology, is the same as self-righteousness, and they focus on the "common good" because that is as much detail as they can cope with. Does everyone always agree on what the common good is ?
The common good - well that concept has been around for a while. In the Sixteenth Century it was called the common weal and referred to the desire for a peaceful ordered society. These days it seems to be shorthand for collectivist conformity, rather like "social cohesion"
Thank you David. I really appreciated this analysis, it shines a light on so much I have recently struggled to understand. What you outline also underlies the UN International Health Regulations and the WHO Pandemic and Preparedness Treaty. A group of us have made a Delegation to the Human Rights Commissioner and the Attorney General outlining our concerns about the far-reaching effects these will have on future health policies and domestic law (including censorship and surveillance) let alone the huge financial contributions involved. I can offer much information on the topic should you be interested (it dovetails beautifully with your recent posts). Here's a NZDSOS article for starters; https://nzdsos.com/2023/11/06/eyes-on-un-world-health-organization/
Thanks David...it's all a bit much for this gal! Care to remark on the sort of people that this stuff appeals to? I think of myself as a sceptic by inclination and often apply what I call the 'smoko room test' to things, a version of the sniff test I suppose. I've been 'woke' to the woke nonsense permeating every damn thing for a while and boy do I mean every damn thing....I've even argued with the bank over the trans lunacy. It's like rocksnot, remember that?...strangling life & civics with its odiousness. I know that for many in academics it's a matter of job vs principles, and commerce too now, education, civil service et al. Everyone bows down to it like a religion with only one denomination...woke. I do my tiny bit for reason & proven values in these insane & testing times.
The type of people for whom Critical Theory has an appeal? Many in academia use it. Many in the State Service use it. Have a look at the Disinformation Project and, to a certain degree FACTAotearoa and InternetNZ.
I myself prefer the empirical Age of Reason approach. I find myself in agreement with much of Locke, Thomas Jefferson and John Stuart Mill
Me too. I really meant what their motivation is I suppose..apparently intelligent folk get carried away with theory that the average Joanne would laugh then roll their eyes at, if they even made it through the impenetrable thicket of jargon. I know about the Dis & Mis 'thought police' crowd paid to spy, those folks Ardern cultivated. Fashions in academia, etc. The media have abandoned scepticism and cosy up to it all. It's a fraught time.
To get the flavour of "the sort of people this stuff appeals to" have a look at some of the online interviews with Kate Hannah of The Disinformation Project, or watch the "Fire and Fury" propaganda piece put out by Stuff last year and "Web of Chaos" a TV [doco], in which she features. But perhaps you are way ahead of me!
NZ is a village and that can have its downside but it's also really hard to hide, happily. Yes, familiar with those, yech...it still baffles me why smart folks fall for it.
To get the flavour of "the sort of people this stuff appeals to" have a look at some of the online interviews with Kate Hannah of The Disinformation Project, or watch the "Fire and Fury" propaganda piece put out by Stuff last year, in which she features. But perhaps you are way ahead of me!
I'd actually meant my comment to go to Hilary Taylor - I've read your previous excellent articles. I'll have another go. I think I've posted before, but having read Ms Hannah's open letter to Waikato University, as well as seeing her in action, it gives me the chills to think of her in charge of any further endeavours in this misinformation/disformation arena.
They are all a bunch of gutless wonders. I emailed Kate Hannah about some possible disinformation from Willie Jackson, and of course she ignored me, even though that is her actual job. She might realize that her disinformation days are coming to an end.
Can I just say how thrilled it am that there have been so many comments on a tricky topic. This has been the greatest number of comments so far and it is really gratifying that so many of you have chosen to engage and to converse with one another.
There will be another post out on Monday and possibly another as well on the Broadcasting scene (still in the "I must think about this before I push send" basket) and then I will take some time off until early next year. But I will be gathering material and I am sure that the new lot in Wellington (if they ever get to make up their minds) will provide plenty of fodder for my pen - yes - every outline is written with fountain pen on paper.
This shines a real light on a subject I've struggled to understand. In this endeavour I've waded through various explications of critical theory and postmodernism eg some of the Stanford explanations, but they all have in common the criticism made by Rex Gibson, who argues "that critical theory suffers from being cliquish, conformist, elitist, immodest, anti-individualist, naivety, being too critical, and being contradictory." Couldn't have put it better myself.
Once again, thanks for your lucidity David, and the time it might have taken you to untangle it to make more digestible sense!
My pleasure
A first class analysis and summary of the philosophies underlying the recent "cultural wars" – especially the anti-Enlightenment stance. Thank you.
Thank you Barry. Much appreciated
What I find so hard to understand is why a so-called 'woke' Govt (Labour) were so blind to the power imbalances that their Covid policies enabled - especially vaccine mandates and lockdowns?
PJ - the answer is in the final sentence - Critical theory is grounded in Marxism and postmodernism is a tool of the Political Left and seeks fundamental, and radical structural change of society through activism.
The Covid activity was just part of the fundamental changes that the Ardern Government wanted to effect using raw power to effect praxis.
It could be that part of the woke delusion is that the end justifies the means. The lack of objectivity means that woke thinkers dont have the critical thinking skills to evaluate the cost of their ideology. Simply put, they are too stupid and somewhat narcissic.
Yes, and very carried away by their own ideology. Although, having been in that camp along with many of my friends and colleagues, I don't think we are stupid, just self-righteous - after all, what we (they) are doing is for the "common good"!!!
I think being carried away by their own ideology, is the same as self-righteousness, and they focus on the "common good" because that is as much detail as they can cope with. Does everyone always agree on what the common good is ?
The common good - well that concept has been around for a while. In the Sixteenth Century it was called the common weal and referred to the desire for a peaceful ordered society. These days it seems to be shorthand for collectivist conformity, rather like "social cohesion"
...team of 5mill...
Thank you David. I really appreciated this analysis, it shines a light on so much I have recently struggled to understand. What you outline also underlies the UN International Health Regulations and the WHO Pandemic and Preparedness Treaty. A group of us have made a Delegation to the Human Rights Commissioner and the Attorney General outlining our concerns about the far-reaching effects these will have on future health policies and domestic law (including censorship and surveillance) let alone the huge financial contributions involved. I can offer much information on the topic should you be interested (it dovetails beautifully with your recent posts). Here's a NZDSOS article for starters; https://nzdsos.com/2023/11/06/eyes-on-un-world-health-organization/
Peta Joyce - petajoyce9@gmail.com
Thanks David...it's all a bit much for this gal! Care to remark on the sort of people that this stuff appeals to? I think of myself as a sceptic by inclination and often apply what I call the 'smoko room test' to things, a version of the sniff test I suppose. I've been 'woke' to the woke nonsense permeating every damn thing for a while and boy do I mean every damn thing....I've even argued with the bank over the trans lunacy. It's like rocksnot, remember that?...strangling life & civics with its odiousness. I know that for many in academics it's a matter of job vs principles, and commerce too now, education, civil service et al. Everyone bows down to it like a religion with only one denomination...woke. I do my tiny bit for reason & proven values in these insane & testing times.
The type of people for whom Critical Theory has an appeal? Many in academia use it. Many in the State Service use it. Have a look at the Disinformation Project and, to a certain degree FACTAotearoa and InternetNZ.
I myself prefer the empirical Age of Reason approach. I find myself in agreement with much of Locke, Thomas Jefferson and John Stuart Mill
Me too. I really meant what their motivation is I suppose..apparently intelligent folk get carried away with theory that the average Joanne would laugh then roll their eyes at, if they even made it through the impenetrable thicket of jargon. I know about the Dis & Mis 'thought police' crowd paid to spy, those folks Ardern cultivated. Fashions in academia, etc. The media have abandoned scepticism and cosy up to it all. It's a fraught time.
To get the flavour of "the sort of people this stuff appeals to" have a look at some of the online interviews with Kate Hannah of The Disinformation Project, or watch the "Fire and Fury" propaganda piece put out by Stuff last year and "Web of Chaos" a TV [doco], in which she features. But perhaps you are way ahead of me!
NZ is a village and that can have its downside but it's also really hard to hide, happily. Yes, familiar with those, yech...it still baffles me why smart folks fall for it.
To get the flavour of "the sort of people this stuff appeals to" have a look at some of the online interviews with Kate Hannah of The Disinformation Project, or watch the "Fire and Fury" propaganda piece put out by Stuff last year, in which she features. But perhaps you are way ahead of me!
Thanks for the comment Aroha. Not ahead of you but perhaps travelling the same road.
Before I got started on Substack I ran a blog using Wordpress and did a piece on Fire and Fury there - see https://theitcountreyjustice.wordpress.com/2022/08/21/fire-and-fury-and-fear/
The themes of that article resurfaced here
https://theitcountreyjustice.wordpress.com/2022/11/13/theres-something-happening-here/ and here https://theitcountreyjustice.wordpress.com/2022/10/18/eroding-freedom-of-expression/ and I did a lengthy muli-post on the Disinformation Project as one of my early Substack forays
I'd actually meant my comment to go to Hilary Taylor - I've read your previous excellent articles. I'll have another go. I think I've posted before, but having read Ms Hannah's open letter to Waikato University, as well as seeing her in action, it gives me the chills to think of her in charge of any further endeavours in this misinformation/disformation arena.
They are all a bunch of gutless wonders. I emailed Kate Hannah about some possible disinformation from Willie Jackson, and of course she ignored me, even though that is her actual job. She might realize that her disinformation days are coming to an end.
Here's hoping!
yea verily & hallelujah, the top will come off the bubbly if & when, lol.