In the previous lecture I mentioned three things which are perhaps the most influential legacies of the 20th century: science, the "victory" of the free market and mass media/internet.
How the media will control our future can be seen in China. Artificial Intelligent, computer learning, big data, facial recognition systems and far reaching social control.
In our own life we too are confronted with the suction power of the internet, which proceses us by means of all big data, so that we can be buried under personalized advertisements.
And this because selling and buying, consumerism and liberal economy has become the worldwide standard.
This brings us to this "victory" of the free market. From a historical perspective the 20th century has made us witnesses of amazing events.
Events that will change the geo-political order on this planet. When you, like us, are in the middle of the process you hardly are aware of the huge changes.
Until, for instance, you run into a review of the book "The Light that Failed: A Reckoning" by Ivan Krastev and Stephen Holmes (2019).
Then you realize again, that the fall of the Berlin Wall, on 9 November 1989, was a pivotal event in world history which marked the falling of the Iron Curtain.
And not only the fall of the Iron Curtain, but also the fall of an ideology, of communism. And that forced the question on former communist countries,
what kind of social and economical organization
should we choose to continue our existence?
Historically there was no option to choose at all. There only was one system left: the (neo)liberalism and democracy, which could be copied from the Western countries.
When communist systems collapsed, not because of war, but because their own leaders lost faith in the communist future,
there was only one system left, a system that was worth imitating. Once, liberalism and Western capitalism became synonymous with modernity.
The world wasn't divided anymore in democracy versus communism. As Fukuyama said, humanity had reached "not just ... the passing of a particular period of post-war history, but the end of history as such:
That is, the end-point of mankind's ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government".
It would be wonderful, if that is the legacy of the 20th century for this world. However, it is too good to be true.
The term illiberal democracy was introduced by Fareed Zakaria, an Indian-American journalist and political scientist, in a 1997 article in the journal Foreign Affairs.
An illiberal democracy, also called a partial democracy, low intensity democracy, empty democracy,
hybrid regime or guided democracy, is a governing system in which although elections take place,
citizens are cut off from knowledge about the activities of those who exercise real power because of the lack of civil liberties; thus it is not an "open society".
Several former communist countries are developing into this direction
And what price did we pay? Now that history had shown that the working class actually is not a threat for the upper class,
at least in the Netherlands, social solidarity has been removed from the list of political and social standards and the liberal individualism has become the standard.
It all shows that we live a world still in the making and I wish that our ideas and considerations here may contribute to it for the good.
This lecture concludes our present project "The 20th Century Revisited". I hope you enjoyed your participation as interesting and educational.
Furthermore this is the final lecture of this year 2019 and I'll be back with a new project in January 2020.
Thank you all and Happy Holidays for you and your loved ones.....
The Discussion
[13:20] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman:)
[13:20]
[13:20] th3runner: Thanks Herman
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): puh finally
[13:20] CB Axel: Hi, Bejiita.
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): damn computer/sl
[13:20] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Bejiita:)
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): wel well
[13:21] herman Bergson: Hello Bejiita...
[13:21] herman Bergson: We already were worried a little about you :-)
[13:22] th3runner: Thanks so much for the lecture
[13:22] th3runner: are there going to be any discussion session after?
[13:22] herman Bergson: My pleasure the3runner....
[13:22] herman Bergson: yes yes...always :-)
[13:22] Al Michigan: so, that is why they started to censure the internet, to prevent us from listening to alex jones!
[13:23] herman Bergson: who is alex jones, Al?
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): there got it all
[13:23] CB Axel: I wouldn't listen to him anyway.
[13:23] herman Bergson: Oh..is that this right wing journalist....US..?
[13:24] th3runner: He is a conspiracy theorist
[13:24] herman Bergson: A Trumpist....?
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not heard of I think but not followed this stuff much
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok
[13:24] Al Michigan: alex jones is a man, he started to generate news, but he has succes because of his formula to present it, altho he is reporting about the aliens regularly landing in the garden of the white house, some times he is just right with his ideas but he is also evil, not a good source, but lotsa like his news
[13:24] herman Bergson: Yes..seen him now and then :-)
[13:25] herman Bergson: So..he is some amusing comedian?
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): is he like "THE ALIENS ARE HERE; ITS THE END OF THE WORLD WE ARE DOOOMED! DING DING DING!"
[13:25] Al Michigan: but alex jones is a well not a very good example there are now private journalist, working placing everything straight on the net, like TimPool and all
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that sort of dude?
[13:25] CB Axel: He is a right wing, white supremecist, conspiracy theorist horror.
[13:26] herman Bergson: But what is your point, Al?
[13:26] Al Michigan: tim pool is not tho.
[13:26] Al Michigan: if they want the ppl dumb, and uninformed they have to censure the internet and make it impossible to get to a dark web
[13:27] Al Michigan: and that is what seems to have started
[13:27] herman Bergson: who wants the people to be dumb?
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well China does its best
[13:27] CB Axel: We don't need to censure the internet. We need to educate the people.
[13:27] Al Michigan: \the govenrments you mentioned, mr Bergson!
[13:27] herman Bergson: I agree CB
[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): very true CB
[13:27] Al Michigan: lemme look for the line...
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): corrupt rulers who fear they will loose their power want the people dumb
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like in north Korea
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and similar places
[13:28] herman Bergson: Yes, China as number one perhaps create its own information internet
[13:28] Al Michigan: here it is: 13:17] The term illiberal democracy was introduced by Fareed Zakaria, an Indian-American journalist and political scientist, in a 1997 article in the journal Foreign Affairs.
[13:17]
[13:17] An illiberal democracy, also called a partial democracy, low intensity democracy, empty democracy,
[13:17]
[13:17] hybrid regime or guided democracy, is a governing system in which although elections take place,
[13:18]
[13:18] citizens are cut off from knowledge about the activities of those who exercise real power because of the lack of civil liberties; thus it is not an "open society".
[13:18] Several former communist countries are developing into this direction
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a bit like this in china too
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes censoring everything and watching over every move of over 1 billion people and punish them for every misstep
[13:28] herman Bergson: Yes, that is happening...
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats oppression for ure
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(
[13:29] Nasty Calamity is online.
[13:29] Al Michigan: like this one dude, what s his name, joe biden..
[13:29] Al Michigan: he is as corrupt as hell, he uses Ukraine the put us tax dollars straight in his pockets by the millions.
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that name I've heard a few times
[13:29] CB Axel: Biden did no such thing.
[13:29] herman Bergson: Let's keep US politics out here, Al....
[13:30] Al Michigan: yes he did CB
[13:30] Al Michigan: okay! lol
[13:30] CB Axel: Fine. Believe what you want.
[13:31] Al Michigan: yes that is the problem , more and more we believe what we want, because the old fashioned press is disappeared
[13:31] herman Bergson: Major issue here is this weird event that only democracy and capitalism appeared to be the only feasible systems left
[13:31] herman Bergson: and besides that....that communist countries have adopted this system...to some extend....
[13:32] herman Bergson: and that at this moment the US has dropped out of the power relations in this world....China is taking over
[13:32] herman Bergson: it has more diplomatic posts today all over the world than the US
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): al is writing a novel:)
[13:34] herman Bergson: His memoirs, I guess :-)
[13:35] herman Bergson: A lot of Americans write books these days.....
[13:35] CB Axel: Too many write books.
[13:35] herman Bergson smiles
[13:36] Al Michigan: but, but,.. the free market model and all, gives way more possibilities to bribes and corruption to certain groups industrial groups, then communists countries(maffia connexions) So it is very lucrativ for industrialist to corrupt a ''socialistic'' country, after demanding the us to bomb everything back to the stone age, ... all support money for rebuilding will be stolen by the politicians, and industrialists that were involved or get involved, all the money will flow in the pockets off politicians and their industrial friends, and the ppl will never see 1 dollar, see Libya and all
[13:36] herman Bergson: was my impression too, CB...^_^
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): jeez...al
[13:37] Al Michigan: i was mild...
[13:37] herman Bergson: I guess your statement is a little too broad to come up with proof and evidence, Al....
[13:38] herman Bergson: That is a problem in many discussions....
[13:38] Al Michigan: well, look how biden is filling his pockets.
[13:38] CB Axel: I think you're confusing Biden with Trump. :)
[13:38] Al Michigan: this is so ... clear how this is going.
[13:38] herman Bergson: A beloved stand of certain politicians.....it is all based on hearsay....
[13:38] Al Michigan: nonono, biden.
[13:39] Al Michigan: do you know that hunter biden is friend with the biggest criminals in the Ukraine?
[13:39] Al Michigan: not just some, no the biggest.
[13:39] herman Bergson: I am sorry AL, but if something illegal happened regarding the conduct of any Biden....we need to see the proof, like we see it in the conduct of Mr. Trump
[13:40] Al Michigan: indeed, i agree fully here.
[13:40] herman Bergson: Is it illegal be be friends with other persons?
[13:40] Al Michigan: no, but see, tell me who your friends are, and i tell you who you are,.... that s all
[13:41] herman Bergson: Maybe he is to get them away from criminal behavior....teach them about Jesus...
[13:41] Al Michigan: yeah both in front of the fire, cozy reading the bibles psalms
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol
[13:42] CB Axel: Now you're confusing him with Pence.
[13:42] herman Bergson: yes...who knows....
[13:42] herman Bergson smiles
[13:42] herman Bergson: No..Pence may participate too CB :-)
[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:43] Al Michigan: this is a problem, indeed, i wanted to look to the logics, and add to logical thinking, but see, there so a difference between you all and mine, i take a lot of time looking for news and trying to check it, also possible, that in the end, you see patterns, they might not be true, but it s hard for me to concentrate on logical thinking, and not get distracted.
[13:43] herman Bergson: The remarks of AL at least show how mass media and internet control our thinking
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well these have great power indeed and its a 2 edged sword
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): can be ued for both good and evil
[13:44] Ciska Riverstone is online.
[13:44] herman Bergson: Indeed Bejiita...
[13:45] herman Bergson: But just see how we already take the use of Internet for granted....
[13:45] CB Axel: I check the news, too. I look for legitimate sources who have told the truth in the past.
[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): just like electricity and computers in general
[13:45] herman Bergson: Just think about the rise of radio in the early 1920s.....how information was distributed in those days...
[13:45] Al Michigan: to me you see totally biased, you accept that biden is an angel, trying to get ppl on the right path, but see for your self on the net, joe biden was visiting his voters in this district, and this old man asked him( from the public) i am not saying any wrong had happened, but what is the real story off your son, because they say you installed him there. The reaction of you biden tells the whole story.
[13:46] Al Michigan: he is not an angel. he hides stuff.
[13:46] herman Bergson: then the visualization of the information in the late 1950s by television....
[13:46] CB Axel: I don't think Biden is an angel, but I'll believe him over anything Trump says.
[13:46] Al Michigan: hi is not protecting his son. he is protecting himself.
[13:46] Al Michigan: so then going from there, you ll find out what he is actually protecting.
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the most I know about him are the comparisons of biden and bidet
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:46] CB Axel: LOL, Bejiita.
[13:47] Al Michigan: trump is a second car salesman.
[13:47] herman Bergson: Why should we be interested is some Biden person here...this is a philosophy class :-)
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): esp here in Sweden
[13:47] Al Michigan: i try to talk about bias
[13:47] Al Michigan: in the convo here.
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Joe Biden / Jo, biden! (Yes the bidet!)
[13:47] herman Bergson: What philosophical bias do you mean AL?
[13:47] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol Bejiita:)
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:48] CB Axel: People no longer listen to legitimate news sources. They prefer to get their "news" from anyone with a website or Twitter account.
[13:48] CB Axel: No one checks sources anymore.
[13:49] herman Bergson: Yes...very weird behavior, CB
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sadly no
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and Trump continues polluting twitter like an open sewer on full flow
[13:49] herman Bergson: That gives me the belief that the US is a lost cause in international politics these days....
[13:49] Al Michigan: i said before the papers are no longer there, they are propaganda outlets, it s clear how you see they wanted to get trump out
[13:49] herman Bergson: You ar eno longer taken serious
[13:49] Al Michigan: but no one sees what the democrates are doing.
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed, it just about lies and shit talk it seems today
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like toddlers in a sandbox
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): noting serious indeed
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and that is a HUGE problem when it comes to the mightiest in the world
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): behaving like that
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): behaving
[13:51] Al Michigan: indeed
[13:51] herman Bergson: That's obvious AL, Mr. Trump doesn't belong on the position he occupies now from a moral and professional point of view
[13:51] herman Bergson: the man is not capable
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): at least he havent caused WW3 to beak out
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YET
[13:52] herman Bergson: I really have been afraid of that Bejiita!
[13:52] Al Michigan: I agree he is a danger, he made the world a very dangerous place, he kicked usa 8 years back in time, it 16 , because it ll be 8 more years to repair,.. i agree that.
[13:52] Al Michigan: but remember that Hillary Clinton would ve started the war right away
[13:52] Al Michigan: and this war would ve been here already
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well none of them were really great alternatives indeed
[13:52] CB Axel: Trump has been a con man his whole life. He should have been in jail for decades and not in the White House.
[13:53] Al Michigan: hilary clinton is a person wit an empty skull , totally mean , and laughing about suffering.
[13:53] herman Bergson: that is speculation AL, doesn't belong in a philosophy class
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): he should have been in a white padded asylum cell welded shut
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but at least we are still here, and no great war seems lingering so far and im not very worried at moment
[13:54] CB Axel: I've hated that son of a bitch since the 70's. So, before it was cool to hate him.
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): I hope it will stay that way
[13:54] Al Michigan: trump being a bad preident is also speculation, because the democrates had tried to block him every ay, no one knows what he could have achieved.
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and that all will sort out in the end
[13:54] Al Michigan: what did you mean by liberal, herman , in the opening statement?
[13:55] herman Bergson: Let's drop American politics....we can go on for ever otherwise
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): trumps wet dream is to make fossil fuel the ONLY source of energy
[13:55] CB Axel: He had all 3 branches of the government for 2 years. Congress isn't blocking him. The Senate has blocked every bill the House has passed. Please stop trying to tell me what's going on in my own country.
[13:55] Al Michigan: but still what did you mean with liberal, herman?
[13:55] herman Bergson: What I wanted to tell you is, that this is the last lecture of this project...
[13:55] CB Axel: You're right, Herman. I'm sorry.
[13:55] CB Axel: AI will never change his mind and i sure as hell won't change mine.
[13:55] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): I have to go..i'm tired
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its been an interesting journey for sure
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): this project
[13:56] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): have a goodnight:))
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok Cu beetje
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:56] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): sorry herman
[13:56] CB Axel: By, Beertje. Good night.
[13:56] CB Axel: Are we taking a break after today?
[13:56] bergfrau Apfelbaum: good night Beertje:-)
[13:56] herman Bergson: The basic belief of the liber is, that you can achieve what you want, and will achieve everything you want, by your own efforts
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the conclusion can be that we brought both good and bad progress through the century
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): up to today
[13:57] herman Bergson: Indeed we did Bejiita....
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but the good will hopefully win
[13:57] herman Bergson: from good medicine to A-bombs
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:57] herman Bergson: and all that in just one century
[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yep
[13:58] herman Bergson: There has changed more in that century than in the previous 15.000 centuries
[13:58] CB Axel: It was a wild one, for sure!
[13:58] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:58] herman Bergson: Yes CB....very...
[13:58] herman Bergson: And then I am even not talking about the women :-))
[13:59] herman Bergson: Just the facts
[13:59] Al Michigan: but that is a problem in itself, for women a ot changed, but the rest of society didn't with all the grave results imaginable.
[13:59] herman Bergson: So...let me thank you all again and dismiss class for the last time in 2019
[14:00] Al Michigan: well thank you mr bergson!
[14:00] CB Axel: When will class start up again?
[14:00] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well happy Christmas and new year all
[14:00] herman Bergson: A new start in early January in 2020 :-)
[14:00] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu with a new great project after that
[14:00] CB Axel: Have you picked a new topic yet?
[14:00] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[14:00] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa let him surprise us
[14:00] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[14:00] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Thank you Herman and class:-)
[14:01] CB Axel: Good idea, Bejiita. :)
[14:01] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu all
[14:01] Al Michigan: bye!
[14:01] CB Axel: It will be like a late Christmas present.
[14:01] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): have some great weekends now
[14:01] herman Bergson: I have two possible topics on the shelf, CB :-)
[14:01] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YAY! (yay!)
[14:01] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu around
[14:01] CB Axel: Welterusten, y'all.
[14:01] herman Bergson: Happy holidays to you all :-)
[14:01] Al Michigan: bye cb
[14:01] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Thank you for your commitment Herman
[14:01] bergfrau Apfelbaum: ***** APPPPPPPLLLLAAAUUUSSSSEEEEEEE***********
[14:01] CB Axel: Thank you very much, Herman
[14:02] herman Bergson: My pleasure CB :-)
[14:02] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yeah Happy Holidays!
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