Mike and Darren: Unplugged ep. 7 

RIP🙏❤️ Professor Michael Sugrue.

glad to hear michael as outspoken in his critique of wokeness as, frankly, anyone who truly loves the humanities ought to be at this point in time.

I am grateful, really grateful for these conversations. I love it. It gives me life.

This conversation was a medicine for the soul.

Dr. Sugrue is the greatest lecturer of the 20th century.

Fantastic beer horn. Laughed at the eyeroll at spiritual, not religious. I'm a student in political science somewhere in the murky waters of 3rd or 4th year, if all of my education up to recently was laying copper wire, your work has electrified it. In one of the videos on Plato's republic you noted that there are sudden landslides of understanding, and I think thats what your work has done. Really enjoying the unplugged series too! I've never seen my intuitions about the world reflected in other people like you guys.

"If the world isn't anything then we should all go get honest work." LOL

I agree with Dr Pete, Meritocracy is gone, out the window. He also nailed it when explaining why many of us subscribe and lean on this channel.

The world needs this convo streamed on the 6 O’clock news

I was worried there wasn’t a post in some weeks, glad to see not only no weight loss but a pint in his hands.

Michael you are nothing short of a National Treasure. Thank you for continuing these engagements.

Amazing! This channel is my fav on RU-vid. Dr. Sugrue's lectures are a poem. Please do a longer podcast if you can (2 3 hours). Greetings from Romania! ❤️

I've only recently found you guys, but since then you've both quickly become some of my absolute favorite speakers/teachers- just wanted to let you guys know how much I appreciate your work

Yes!!!! Got worried when we didn't see yall for a few weeks.

my wife was very happy to hear from me that episode seven finally dropped. I was getting grumpy and nervous and worried for Prof. Sugrue these long four weeks...

So good I watched it twice. An eloquent and beautiful group therapy session of three brilliant old guys lamenting how things just aren’t the way they used to be. More please. I also have a glass drinking horn, and always fill it when a new episode of unplugged is uploaded.

Wow i love this discussion, great to hear real intellectuals speak on the strange culture of our times

Love to hear you again!

What a jewel of conversation. Muchas gracias

This is great to see. I've been waiting for a new release.

My thoughts immediately go to Roger Scruton and Camille Paglia, who sounded the alarm to these issues years ago, and from very different political perspectives.

This channel always makes my day thank you !

Professor Darren was the most compelling on this panel. I love that he brought the discussion to a more nuanced and interesting perspective as I feel in this episode Professor Sugrue and Peter went a little too far into ranting. However, it was still wonderful to hear all 3.

another wonderful discussion!😍

great ep, worth the wait

loved it......

Three old legends.

I check this channel daily for new uploads. Finally, a new episode!

Glad to see u back

I wish I could say something that would stand out but clearly I can't. You guys are just the best. We would have lost such an intellectual gold mine had you guys decided not to get into the RU-vid world. Thank you so much just for being you. I'll never forget the first lecture I saw by Dr. Sugrue, namely, that on Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic Ideal. I've been hooked ever since I saw that first lecture, probably Dr. Sugrue at his finest!

This one was tense! Thanks for the talk

Gratitude vs. Resentment is a very profound and deep topic.

The three musketeers are back again 😍

Was there a glitch/stutter at 32:35 for anyone?

Photos on the wall, beer horn and some favorite books, miniature library, chess and a warm mug.

I have always thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Sugrue, Dr. Staloff, lectures, and now this series with Dr. Field. This is now the 4th time I have listened to this since 4:00 a.m. and now it is 9:00 am. I was so excited going through it twice listening to them. I was asking myself why this would be so early and whether it was live? The 3rd time, I listened to the live chat and found it bizarre. The 4th time I have listened to the transcripts speaking. I agree with all 3 of their insights about the humanities, history, and theology. High culture, the well-educated and colleges, and wealth associated. Why have people quit reading? Harold Blum, another professor I greatly admired. RIP❤ I would like to comment more. Frankly, I don't know who I am commenting to, which frankly disappoints me. With the deepest appreciation and respect for Dr. Sugrue, Dr. Staloff, and Dr. Field for their wisdom. Music and creative arts are well blended, with philosophy and history. Theology contains a richness where their is sane thinking and not religious divisions, but what lies underneath the reasons why.

That was an Awesome conversation!!....the current "Cancel Culture" has chilled everyone's ability to put forward ambitious and courageous ideas for fear of being labelled imo..

I would love to see the boys give us a bit of a guide on how to approach independent study. As in, where to start, best things to read etc. I know they said best to start in your own back yard, but where should we begin?

support the "Free A Education System"! Why do schools charge tuition to students who excel and are motivated? (or at least get a kickback) Charge the students who are there out of necessity!

The conversation at around 42:00 regarding the origins of Renaissance humanism-- very interested to hear more about this if possible!

Thanks for putting out new content. It was great! Dr. Sugrue with a beer horn should be a shirt.

Students are inventing their own vocabulary

Fascinating discussion.

Great discussion, from three great teachers who know what they’re talking about.

The best thing I ever did during my creative writing Ph.D. was attending a "creative classics" workshop run by classics Ph.D. students. We would look at a piece of urn, or a section from Hesiod, for example, and then do 25 minutes of free writing, after which we'd share and have some fantastic conversations. I thought it might be a good idea to bring these classical texts into my own creative writing seminars, and the response has been largely positive.

Loving Dr Pete with the SpicyBoys hat 😂😂😂

I thought you were dead, man - for some reason. Loves your TTC lectures. Totally preach, bro

Completely agree with the doctor in regards to the new Yorker jumping from the 100th floor. Our trajectory is already determined and our destination is the scene of the accident

Mike, your eye-watering criticism of education, particularly it's wokeness is a powerful message. "99 floors down: See, we're fine". Did any of you gentlemen meet Prof Carroll Quigley? Tragedy & Hope. Loved this unplugged.

May I ask what the writing on Peter Field’s hat means? I find it rather odd

I must say I‘m so relieved to see that Dr. Sugrue is still alive, I couldn‘t help but think, whether everything is still alright with him, and the day after you all upload this video. I really hope you still find pleasure in this world, but I must admit, you do seem a little bit tired. I really wish you the best, Dr Sugrue. Take care! And Dr Staloff! I may repeat my self here, but I‘m getting to appreciate you more and more, especially the „old“ you that you are now! There‘s something about this firmness and combative stance with which you defend and hold your positions that I really appreciate, and is shown so much more (and often) than in the older videos. I really like that. Although the news from the insides of humanities department are rather timid and depressing, I really hope to see more of you all.

I can't believe this!

"The contemplation of truth and beauty is the proper object for which we were created, which calls forth the most intense desires of the soul, and of which it never tires." -William Hazlitt

Thank you for the authentic discussion. I think we should also highlight the importance of philology as one of the precursors of humanities. You tackled it partially by talking about poverty of vocabulary in humanities today.

I like the distinction between the immovable spirit of religion and the ever acceptability of spirituality being at play that Sugrue threw wrenchingly at everyone.

Despite what some commenters have said, Sugrue was actually the most moderate on this panel. The other two seem less willing to criticize the Left.

An understanding of life, philosophy supercedes psychology and psychiatry because it teaches people an understanding of Nature, of which they are a part and cannot be separate from. Phycology and psychiatry treats only the symptoms because it sees individuals as things in themselves.

That's so interesting to me that there is a mentality among students not to study high culture because of _imminent collapse_ when here I'm trying to build a cultural ark (in my mind or elsewhere) for precisely that reason. What better time to salvage what is of value? I have to say Dr. Sugrue was a big part of setting me on this course. Thank you and God bless.

A genuine question for the professors: I tend to hear a lot of critique of the young liberal left (“woke mind virus”) world view, especially in regards to over sensitive outlooks making it hard to teach (in this case humanities). In the news recently there was an article about a principal that was forced to resign for showing a picture of Michelangelos David because it was “controversial” (ie nude), and this is the same language used in the “don’t say gay” bill, and the upcoming Parental Bill of Rights. At what point does the reaction to “wokeness” become as destructive to the studies of humanities as wokeness? It seems to me that giving parents broad powers to veto lessons that make them uncomfortable is largely the same thing as students and liberal professors taking the curriculum hostage. I do not have any background in academia so your insight is truly appreciated. Thanks for all the free content.

Humour is the fastest route to the subconscious

Great videos, I would greatly appreciate it if there were titles for the coming videos. It would make going back to rewatch specific episodes much easier. Loved this video ❤

That's true Darren, we'll be home schooling ourselves.

In my view the behavior of a populace is generally a reflection of the external structures and systems that honed them. What is it about our societal structure and expectation that is producing people who aren’t interested in humanities? I feel that’s the genuine question. The speculation on that answer is far too easy to hinge on emotion and blame on a loud subsegment of society, something we all fall victim to in the age of Twitter wars. Our employment structure greatly rewards STEM and punishes all else - who today can afford to get a philosophy degree rather than go straight into coding? And that is to speak nothing of the student debt crisis which nobody who can count on their hands could deny. I think it’s crucial to not fall into crying out “kids today!” as all elders have since the dawn of days, and instead think about the larger picture and environment that is producing the kinds of people we might take issue with. Make education affordable again. Make humanities relevant in the economy again. Criticize the large corporations who make no room for anything in the economy but tech workers. I love this channel and send love and respect to you!

Lads, I'll tell you straight out, that was hard work.

I loved that beard and the beer!

RU-vid is great for arguing the periphery. Thanks for getting to the heart of the matter. I don't care for the new religion much.

Students being unwilling to go into 5 or 6 figure debt for a degree in an interesting subject, but one that will not give them marketable skills is not the fault of any new religion, it is the fault of the market. Tuition is considerably more expensive now than it was in the 80s when these gentlemen were in school. Basic ROI can’t be ignored.

I really enjoyed this conversation. It's fun to have a beer with you Dr. Sugrue, even if it's virtual :-) I think in general, it's important to criticize higher education in the United States at this point because it has really become more about making money than developing the next generation. At 38, I feel bad for the generation younger than mine, because I think they have less opportunity and the world has gotten more expensive. I think there is less shared optimism and more shared trauma. It's hard to retreat into books as refuge at any age because, for one, we may not know where to start, and that seems at least partially by design. I was in my early 30s before I even knew about James Baldwin or Thomas Paine. That's a pretty big failure of the Texas public school system. One subject that I wish you would touch on is the wonderful power of the internet in terms of being able to access high quality information and how it could be better leveraged to develop critical thinking skills for young people. Your youtube channel is a wonderful example of this. Your lectures will echo through eternity, or at least as long as we still have power. Very kindly,

"Going back to this" ;-) 🍺🍺

Sugrue is such a poet! If Nietzsche is the Antichrist, Sugrue is the Antinetzsche! A proverb machine.

The video seems to undergo a technical error at 32:36

Dr. Sugrue is correct about "lenses" in class rooms and although a seemingly small issue at first glance, framing devices as such are often used to discourage scepticism and critical thinking among students. A teacher once told me and other students that we were going to look at geography, of all things, through a "Marxian lense", which is in my eyes a striking example of how certain academics look at education. School facilities should no longer be centers for learning in its broadest sense, that is to teach students about subjects as fields of general knowledge. Consider how much information is lost by framing topics entirely through particular lenses. Not only will every generalized view of geography (the bulk of the subject) become distorted by ideology, it may even go as far as to make Marx (or anyone else for that matter) an undue authority on the subject that will be preferred over all the conventional knowledge that geographers, geologists, economists, historians, etc.. has to offer.

It's shocking to me that 100% of the viewers of our Q&A with Dr Sugrue are male. It just goes to show how much social media is impacting what kind of information we are exposed to. On the flipside, I think social media has the potential to spread love for the humanities, rather than religious hatred for it. Much love for all you do to create love for philosophy ❤

The return. Thanks for doing these videos again. They’re very helpful and nice to listen to. Also, Is Derrida a sophist?

In the spirit (maybe pun) of a purely non-critical adherence to proper protocol, cheers, Dr. Sugrue. Damn that beer looks good! Second, memorization? I think I understand why Dr. Field said that, but just to be sure, I thought I’d ask for clarification. I’m a 57 year old grad student (returned after retiring from a square career, and after the kids grew up), and I’m loving every second of it. I’m “that guy” in class. Patronizing and curious. I can’t help it. Political science is the art, so philosophy is obviously part of every class. So naturally, I’ve watched all your lectures. Is Dr. Field referring to simply committing the literature to memory? Again, cheers.

The eye roll at “Spiritual, but not religious” 🤣

Have you moved with the times, have you considered the huge impact memes are having in conditioning society. They are pure Art.

This is hardly because we aren't trebling the trauma any more, is it? That was the main banger that I agreed with 100% from the last one. A man has to have the courage of his convictions. Did someone say something 🤔

The grading system is being diluted to improve the reputation of the University. Grades for sale.

Hate to double comment but Dr. Field asked the question at about 47:00, what is the value of the humanities. And He arrives at the viewership arriving on Dr. Sugrue's channel finding the humanities. Dr Field then states that the viewers are finding the humanities, but also the broadness. (sorry for the confusion I've had a few drinks) When I stumbled upon Dr Sugrue's channel, I personally felt like I was grasping for the lightswitch in the dark. I wanted to understand philosophy in general, but like anything if you dont know the landscape, or the language of a field, its really hard to get your bearings that one will be interested in. Being able to compare someone like Michel Foucault to Ludwig Wittgenstein helps immensely without spending a chunk of change on books first and finding out after the fact that I dont want to read this guy first. Many days I feel like I have a hard time learning from others or teachers in a straightforward way. My learning style is imitate then innovate(not in a plagiarism way of course), and if I dont know what to imitate, I have immense difficulty reading say a math concept, and applying it, without any practical examples to compare to(I have a difficult time with philosophy haha). Back to the point, Dr Sugrue's channel for me offers philosophers in a bite size format to make broad generalizations about if I haven't read their works. On the other half if I have read their works Dr. Sugrue adds a lot of well thought out wisdom and comparison to other works I either didn't come to on my first reading, or wouldn't have come to without reading another work. Immediate example being his lectures on Nietzsche and Kierkegaard. in sum I think Dr. Field's assessment is correct that many viewers greatly appreciate the deep understanding of the wider landscape of philosophy provided by Dr. Sugrue's channel, and I haven't seen anything like it anywhere near the same excellence/competency/skill/techne.

Funny that dr. Staloff mentioned the Hemingway passage about going bankrupt "gradually and then suddenly", it is also mentioned by someone I've been listening to quite a while these days.

Hi Have you read any of Ibn Arabi's work? Would love to hear a lecture on it. Kind regards, K

Hold on 😀, I may get my beer. I really may get one of those horns.

Yes, you're supposed to study Chaucer. Great idea for another episode! Geoffrey is very underappriciated today.

How is Dr.Mike setting his drink down???

Dr Pete is very considerate and realistic. I agree that we are either predator or prey. When I think of humanity there are still humans suffering from basic needs, In Africa roughly 9% of children involves with life risk works, in south Asian countries poor street children take drug to avoid hunger. What Dr Sugrue suggested about being resentful and being grateful, I think according to these two classification resentful people represent working class people mostly rely on religion to vent their resentment, on the contrary grateful people are aristocrats do not have to rely on religion.

So many questions…. First. What kind of beer is in that beer horn? Thanks for this, what a pleasure to watch. -Kyle

The boys are going off this time

It's been a couple weeks since the last post. I was getting a little worried about professor Sugrue.

Invigorating talk. And to your point, I still can't get ahold of the humanities department in North Korea, seems the line is dead.

32:38 curious what Dr. Starloff said here

The three amigos

10:14 A New Religion 23:05 Apologetics for an Apex Predator

I'll tell you the problem. The illusions of grandiosity amongst the academic hierarchies.

Do it again.

lol PF's arguments driving MS to drink (or to sip) 🍺#TeamSugrue

I recently saw the debate between Foucalt and Chomsky. The close up frames of Foucalt biting his nails made him look alien to me. His bald head, his sometimes seeming lack of eyebrows due to camera quality and his deepening gaze into nothing. It was all very interesting. Not for the content per se but in comparison with what we have today. I was wondering if someone with a broader perspective such as yourself, professor, would know this better. Where have all the giants of philosophy gone? Is it a lack of talent or are we incapable of constructing those kind of figures in our societal conciousness? In other words, is philosophy now boring or do we just not care anymore?

Do you believe there are any graduate programs in the humanities in America that are worth admission? I was looking at St. John's Liberal Arts graduate program. Any thoughts to that institution or others?

The agon is here 😀

Excuse the STEM Geek reference, but this episode on the state of the Humanities reminded me of the plight of the Horta and Spock's mind meld