Pill Pod 144 - Systems Theory Politics II (Exclusive)
Added 2023-10-27 13:37:59 +0000 UTCWe Cover Luhmann's Differentiation of Society and look at the case of a Canadian Politician being booted for supporting a ceasefire.
Comments
This series has been so excellent. I normally don't do the required readings but I was listening to this on a long drive and I am actually looking forward to getting into it when I get home.
Nafi Ali
2023-11-19 04:33:09 +0000 UTCComplexity reducing impacts of shock is a concept that goes to a lot of interesting places. Excess homogeneity becomes a shock to shock absorbtion capacity, Obesity likely an end state.
Alex B
2023-11-12 07:56:01 +0000 UTCMe to a small Palestinian child who's parents were killed: This was largely a symbolic attack.
Naughty Kitten
2023-11-09 19:08:14 +0000 UTCImagine thinking that it's a bad thing that our "extreme" views aren't represented in parliament: this is literally the entire point. This is because it means that our goals and ideologies as communists (or whatever similar label one might prefer adopting) cannot be coopted by the current political system which we actually want to dismantle and replace (difficulty and possibility of doing so for various reasons notwithstanding). The liberal imagination is perennially stunted. I can't imagine being aware of the myriad crises we face as a species and somehow think that simping for a reform of the status quo isn't the more extreme view. The point is to devise a radically new way of organising society which is antithetical to what we have now, and arguably different to anything that's come before. I, for one, am glad that bourgeois politicians don't give a fuck about us, as we don't give a fuck about them either, insofar that they're all equally replaceable in the political system they form a part of. Also, I doubt that any long-time patron of this channel thinks we can achieve communism while the capitalist state is healthy. Communism is stateless, so the state cannot exist for it to be implemented. Marx never advocated for equality either, so it makes sense that the state's theoretical attempt to treat everyone equally wouldn't work out. The complexity issue is, well, complicated, because on one hand, the political system exists to maintain the bourgeois status quo, and yet it is complex enough that one could theoretically use it to, say, radically change property rights, greatly expand social safety nets, implement a UBI, etc. But at the same time, the existing economic, legal and other social systems cannot integrate a set of social relations not predicated upon the logic of the value form, so a communistic society cannot exist within the systems we have now. The best argument for communism right now IMO is that even if we had to democratise capital ownership (like Varoufakis would like) and eliminate poverty, it wouldn't solve the climate crisis or Marxist alienation and exploitation, as surplus value generation, consumption, and endless growth is still the basis of the economic system.
anacidcommie
2023-11-02 14:48:46 +0000 UTCThe point is that systems are incredibly difficult to change or dismantle, which is why Pills talks about how cringe it is when leftists talk about destroying capitalism like it's something we can do overnight. You need great numbers of people to be actively, politically engaged with far (I'd argue post) left ideas and praxis in order to provide the kind of irritation needed to dismantle our current, global systems. And as Baudrillard elucidated, the masses don't give a fuck about who owns what, the coming climate catastrophes and any future financial crises. All that matters is that they've got food on their plates, alcohol in their glasses and the ability to indulge in their basic desires in the little free time they have left. And when starvation does come, you're going to get a proper fascist takeover (which arguably is already in the process of materialising in the west as a whole). It's a blackpill to be sure, but at least its realistic. Most people (including leftists) still think we can carry on with this project of modernity if we just replace fossil fuels with green energy as if a) this has anything to do with overcoming capitalist social relations and b) like we even have enough rare earth minerals to replace current fossil fuel consumption with alternative energy sources. Radical degrowth and reduced production of commodities in general is needed and nobody wants to address this because nobody wants to admit that all the comforts we're used to come at an unsustainable price.
anacidcommie
2023-11-02 14:19:30 +0000 UTCI would like to hear some thoughts about change with respect to systems theory. I do not find any suggestions of how one can use systems theory to do something, which might be its depressing conclusion. Luhmann describes society nicely on an abstract level but is there anything we can actually do? Can we, for example, spot and manipulate feedback loops? What I depressingly observe in my country is the use of moral language which destroys any change of resolution. What is the purpose of morality in systems theory? Furthermore, I would be interested about you guys opinion on art with respect to systems theory, e.g. what is the function of art in a differentiated society?
Dalia
2023-11-02 07:00:42 +0000 UTC“I don’t think the mainstream media’s influence on preference formation is nearly that strong” - guy (victor) who keeps centering Hamas as the primary instigator of terror while the IDF bombs refugee camps, hospitals, ambulances, bakeries, churches, etc..
john gautreaux
2023-11-01 19:09:28 +0000 UTC9/11 fever again. Which means that racist middle class homeowners can once again let out their hate freely and with aid by mainstream media. A nice cover to hate brown people openly.
Khemith
2023-11-01 05:38:26 +0000 UTCI wish I lived in a reality where human beings did not feel compelled to incessantly pile codified complex system upon codified complex system until everyones brains just spontaneously combust by the sheer weight of the bullshit we have collectively created in the name of progress or growth or whatever the claim is behind the bias towards analytic complexity. Just a bunch of Daoist chads abiding by the system of no system, living in deep understanding and awareness of impermanence, non self, and non attachment. Shitpost aside, I do very much appreciate attempts to diagnose or tie current events into theory/philosophy, of applying and not just sloshing it around in my smooth brain like some fine bagged wine, I think its a great, practical, anecdotal way to learn, and to that end I would have loved if that had been the focus, without almost equal time spent humoring Victors gleeful request to hear what people thought of his Gaza takes, or the clearly improvisational spur of the moment wife-beater analogy that followed.
ageOfBumFires
2023-10-30 12:33:35 +0000 UTCGreat episode. Also Victor, this lefty lunatic is fine not being represented by the political system as long as I can be libsplained to by you every Friday ❤️.
Fiachra O Raghallaigh
2023-10-29 10:45:47 +0000 UTCHey, I'm quoted!
Qoheleth
2023-10-28 10:20:54 +0000 UTCYou're right that England eventually became a differentiated monarchy (that's why I brought up the Magna Carta), though the HRE was not a Monarchy, it was as you say it was an electorate.
Plastic Pills
2023-10-28 01:52:21 +0000 UTCExcited for whatever arc you guys decide to take next, but it'd be cool to see some more "overdoses" as they were once called on specific philosophers. Spinoza or Bataille would be cool options, just to keep a balance between "theory" and "philosophy". The fight nights were always fun too if you could find an interesting debate. The Foucault v Chomsky one is kind of memed to death but it'd be easy fodder for an episode if nothing else since it won't take long to watch.
George Brown
2023-10-27 17:43:23 +0000 UTCI love the Luhmannian take on all this, but I'm looking forward to other topics. The "mass age" is the message; Baudrillard + Luhmann + McLuhan + an understanding and acceptance of technofeudalist realism = digital literacy. Staying on this topic, no matter the angle, is just staying in service to the duopoly that presents itself as billions of disparate takes but ultimately amounts to team sports. Listening to your episodes on the current resurfacing of this evergreen horror have been the most bearable conversations about it that I've encountered, but I'm looking forward to different topics of discussion.
Nance
2023-10-27 15:45:35 +0000 UTC
