Conservatives for Stagnation

New Ideal, from the Ayn Rand Institute

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Nikos Sotirakopoulos and Elan Journo discuss recent calls by Tucker Carlson and other conservative voices to resist technological and economic progress in the name of preserving traditional values and lifestyles. Among the topics covered: Conservative policy proposals that oppose economic and cultural progress; How conservatives are torn between the contradictory goals of promoting individual freedom and preserving traditional ways of life; Why traditionalism is a philosophy of stagnation, and the dynamism inherent to capitalism is the exact opposite of traditionalism; Why the constant, ambitious pursuit of new knowledge and technological advancement is a fundamental human need; Why the “right to stagnate” mentality leads to hatred of production and innovation and sets people against one another; Why a fear of progress and a desire to stagnate reveal a profound lack of self-esteem. Mentioned in this podcast and relevant to the discussion are Ayn Rand’s essay “The Age of Envy” published in Return of the Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution and “The Missing Link” published in Philosophy: Who Needs It as well as “The Divine Right of Stagnation” by Nathaniel Branden. This episode was recorded on May 18, 2023. Listen to the discussion below. Listen and subscribe from your mobile device on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Watch archived podcasts here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=299nLFmdrkA Podcast audio: