#1191 - Peter Boghossian & James Lindsay

Episode Timestamps

• 00:00:00

  Exposing Academic Nonsense with James DeMor and Helen Pluckrose

  • Collaboration between James DeMor, Helen Pluckrose, and Mr. Lindsay to expose preposterous fields of study
  • Writing academic papers to highlight the absurdity and flaws in the peer review system
  • Examples of fabricated studies such as 'dog humping in Portland, Oregon' and 'fat body building'
• 00:02:06

  Undermining Social Justice Norms in Academic Publications

  • Critique of social justice bias in academic publishing
  • Discussion on the acceptance of papers that mock social justice topics like 'South Park' and 'The Simpsons'
  • Highlighting the bias that allows racism against white people while censoring other forms of criticism
• 00:10:30

  Stifling of Dissent and Racism towards White People

  • Left-leaning individuals pushing narrow paradigms and stifling creativity
  • Co-opting the Civil Rights Movement while preaching against hate
  • Promoting racism against white people under the guise of fighting against various -isms
• 00:11:59

  Post-Modern Notions & Intersectionality in Academic and Cultural Spaces

  • Adoption of post-modern philosophy focusing on power dynamics related to groups
  • Intersectionality emerging in the political correctness era of the late 1980s
  • Academia's influence seeping into politics, media, and tech sectors, leading to the suppression of creative freedom
• 00:20:56

  Grievance Studies: Problematizing Allyship & Transphobia

  • Academic work in grievance studies pushes further into ideology and madness
  • Problematizing allyship becomes necessary for paper publication
  • A paper explores the concept of transphobia and exposure therapy
• 00:22:31

  Back Door Remediation: Self-Penetration to Reduce Transphobia

  • Advocating for self-penetration as a way to remediate transphobia
  • Paper titled 'Going In Through the Back Door' presents provocative ideas
  • Controversial paper on self-penetration and transphobia undergoes publication
• 00:31:19

  Dissent in Grievance Studies: Challenging Progressive Agendas

  • Many scholars in grievance studies aim to tackle racism, sexism, and discrimination issues with progressive agendas.
  • Challenges arise when scholars feel constrained to question established beliefs for fear of being labeled as aiding racism or being alt-right.
  • The lack of room for dissent and the fear of going against the moral orthodoxy in academia lead to a stifling academic environment.
• 00:33:53

  Competitive Victimhood and Grievance Jockeying in Higher Education

  • The culture of competitive victimhood leads to a constant rivalry in claiming victimhood status for social and academic leverage.
  • Individuals may seek to gain access to privileges by emphasizing their status as victims, perpetuating a cycle of grievance jockeying.
  • The academic landscape, fueled by peer-reviewed literature and entrenched ideologies, presents challenges to open dialogue and genuine intellectual exchange.
• 00:40:56

  Discussion on Blackface and Consequences

  • Blackface controversy and firing of a woman for her comments
  • Missed opportunity for a learning moment by involving black scholars
  • Perception of punishment vs. addressing the issue
• 00:41:42

  Impact of Power Dynamics on Society

  • Society constructed based on power dynamics and imagery
  • Shift in perception leading to an idea being deemed 'dangerous'
  • Critique of approach taken in dealing with controversial ideas on television
• 00:51:51

  Lisa Wade's Ideology Critique: Destroying Masculinity and White Supremacy

  • Lisa Wade advocates for the destruction of masculinity as an ideology, attributing it to Trump's impact.
  • Critics exaggerate and problematize issues, practicing extreme measures to combat perceived problems.
  • Academic criticism extends to all men, reflecting frustrations towards Trump's policies.
• 00:52:51

  Academic Integrity and Research Falsification Debate

  • Scholarship standards are debate as falsified data tarnishes research integrity.
  • The importance of upholding research quality and ethical standards is questioned.
  • The blurred line between credible and questionable research practices raises concerns.
• 01:00:45

  Fat Acceptance and Bodybuilding Debate

  • Discussion on fat shaming and fat acceptance.
  • Critique of the medicalization of obesity and preference for using the term 'fat.'
  • Exploration of 'health privilege' and rejection of medicalized terms.
• 01:02:10

  Fat Studies and Academic Controversy

  • Introduction to the interdisciplinary 'Fat Studies' journal.
  • Criticism of biased studies promoting obesity as healthy.
  • Concerns over academia influencing perceptions on health and body image.
• 01:10:32

  Documentary Collaboration with Mike Naina

  • Mike Naina, the documentarian from Australia, collaborates with the authors to create a compelling documentary.
  • The decision to commit to transparency in the documentary-making process despite the risks involved in exposing academia.
  • Discussion on the potential risks to academic careers due to involvement in controversial projects.
• 01:12:40

  Challenges in Higher Education and Freedom of Speech

  • Exploring the challenges in higher education institutions regarding free speech and ideological conflicts.
  • Critical analysis of incidents where freedom of expression was suppressed on college campuses.
  • Reflecting on the importance of open debate and intellectual diversity in academic settings.
• 01:20:48

  Heteronormativity and Power Structures

  • Discussion on the dangers of reinforcing heteronormativity and power structures
  • Importance of challenging ideas with better concepts rather than silencing speakers
  • Critique on the negative impacts of reinforcing dominant views and infantilization of young adults
• 01:22:25

  Infantilization & Ideological Diversity in Education

  • Issues related to infantilization of students and the need for ideological diversity in education
  • Importance of engaging with opposing ideas to strengthen critical thinking
  • Call for diverse voices and discourse to combat rigidity in thinking and foster intellectual growth
• 01:30:42

  EU Parliament's Gender Initiative and Climate Agenda

  • EU Parliament reaches out for advice on gender initiative due to previous work on social constructs like 'conceptual penis'
  • Policy decisions impacting Europe's interaction with Africa linked to climate change theories
  • Engagement with policymakers and institutionalization efforts spark discussions and requests for help
• 01:36:27

  Rebels Against Identity Politics and Growth of Intellectual Rockstars

  • Swedish professor Bo Rothstein criticizes identity-based disciplines like grieving studies
  • Rise of intellectual figures like Jordan Peterson and Sam Harris attracting global attention
  • Shift in interest towards ideological debates and growing disillusionment with traditional academia
• 01:41:14

  Impact of Social Fragmentation in Politics

  • Discussion about fragmentation among people of color and black indigenous people of color based on different levels of privilege
  • Critique on how segmentation undermines building a strong coalition in politics
  • Impact seen in Democrats losing legislative seats and Trump's election in 2016
• 01:42:16

  Debate on Cultural Appropriation during Halloween

  • Conversations around cultural insensitivity in Halloween costumes, including reference to simple Jack from Tropic Thunder
  • Discussion on the problematic nature of certain costumes like indigenous attires and implications of cultural appropriation
  • Debate on the changing perspectives and restrictions on costume choices, including being Asian and dressing up as Bruce Lee
• 01:50:06

  Impact of Diversity Education in Tech Industry

  • Educational focus on diversity in the tech industry since the 90s
  • Increased representation of women in tech through educational initiatives
  • Formation of a tech echo chamber influencing workplace culture
• 01:51:03

  Polarization in Universities and Political Fringes

  • The dominance of left-leaning individuals in universities
  • Ideological attacks within the left leading to self-criticism
  • Comparison of left-right dynamics in political movements