America Doesn't Exist - Jay Dyer & Pavel Schelin - Episode 4

America is conceptualized as a husk rather than an actual entity.

“a husk, the noble lie”

Traditional hierarchy is connected to divinization and not to oppression.

“hierarchy is not a system of oppression”

Hierarchy can exist without tyranny, as seen in the model of the Trinity.

“we can have hierarchy without tyranny”

The Enlightenment marked the separation of rights from responsibilities in governance.

“the trick of modern idea was absolutely genius”

Hierarchy is natural and attempts to eliminate it are deceptive.

“the idea that you could convince everybody of an egalitarian situation where there is no hierarchy is a deception”

Nominalism contributes to the breakdown of traditional power structures.

“there's a connection between the breakdown of the view of hierarchy and the breakdown of the possibility of metaphysics and philosophy and the rise of nominalism”

Power structures are manipulated through deceptive means.

“you're really just putting yourself in the position of becoming the new hierarchy”

The modern state functions as an external tool rather than a reflection of communal identity.

“state is basically a reflection of a cosmic divine order”

Governments do not genuinely care about the wellbeing of citizens.

“the assumption is that those in power are the ones that we see.”

People are treated as resources by modern states.

“people are just a raw material.”

The relationship between citizens and power is superficial.

“the system becomes in these elected officials become the visible focal point of the source of unity but it's a facade.”

Modern governance misrepresents the relationship of power.

“it's like the modern drone operator to a drone.”

The notion of a government caring about its citizens is historically and philosophically absurd.

“I see no power reason for it to care about it.”

The American educational system promotes a false narrative about representation in government.

“when you're a child... you're taught that anyone can become president.”

Political representation does not equate to genuine concern for the people.

“there's not even any reason to think that.”

The idea of utilitarian governance is based on false assumptions.

“this is also that enlightenment project of like moral calculus and Bentham.”

Modern states operate under a false pretense of sovereignty.

“the whole idea of state interest is just an illusion.”

Genuine power dynamics are rooted in hidden groups pursuing spiritual and ideological goals.

“the true question of power... is what different power groups are competing between each other.”

Modern states lack ontological existence, serving instead as instruments for power groups.

“most modern quote unquote states, they do not exist ontologically.”

America functions as a 'husk' or 'golem'.

“It is a husk. A golem.”

Weber highlights the lack of teleology in modern systems where their essence is self-perpetuation.

“the purpose of these things is to just simply further those things themselves.”

The Hobbesian conception of power is a manipulation of the masses through spectacle.

“we need to create this gigantic spectacle of power for the masses.”

Enlightenment transforms communities into meaningless populations.

“what actually happens in enlightenment is the destruction of people.”

In Orthodox political theology, people have ethical sovereignty over spirit, which limits kings.

“king is limited in what it can do.”

The Enlightenment was a rebellion against authority.

“the enlightenment era was really a rebellion of the lesser nobles and the merchant class”

Revolutions harm the population.

“the revolution always eats itself”

Capitalism is supported by state power.

“capitalism always happens through the state, direct state interference”

Political factions have complex allegiances.

“if you go far enough to the left, you'll come back around to the right”