Slavoj Žižek: Trump, Himmler, Putin and 'Atheist Christianity' | Žižek's plot to save the West 

I am amazed that Slavoj is 75 years old and his nose is still attached to his face. Love him.

I would call Trump and Putin Griftians. They are not Christians but they grift on Christianity to get bonus points.

Let's not forget he is 75 during this interview. I can only wish to be so alert/smart/etc at that age! Slavoj has so many important points to make it make me dizzy.

It is so typical of Western Europe to say "oh we didn't see that coming" and "we must never let it happen like this again". We should listen to our Baltic friends, they, if any, know what Ukraine and the rest of Europe need to do to secure our future. Right now, Ukraine is paying the highest price for its survival and for our safety, now we must all give everything we can to help them. It is our damned duty. Do your duty and earn your rights. We simply have to stop seeing the world as we wish it to be and start seeing it for what it is.

Introducing Zizek by saying he debated Jordan Peterson is ridiculous. Really? Is that one if his greatest achievements? Peterson is nowhere near Zizek's level of intellectual greatness and moral fortitude.

“There will be a need for radical change.” It’s a shame the “adults in the room” absolutely refuse to face this fact.

It just struck me that he's right about the introspection/extrospection thing. As Carnegie said "no man is a criminal in his own mind". We can all invent our own private narratives to justify our actions whatever they are, even the vilest of murderers. We need to be judged on what we DO, and we need to judge ourselves that way.

As Žižek said - naivety is dangerous thing! Believing that all this will stop by its own is naivety!

I like how he is pronouncing Ukraine very slavic ❤

Thanks Mr Zizek, a true intellectual with a moral compass.

I love Zizek, and now that I'm hearing about this book and I'm about to go see if there's an audiobook... with all due respect, NEVER have I hoped the author is NOT the audiobook reader harder, ever before.

He’s such a brilliant guy. Unique in the way he presents things. Extremely articulate in his explanation of complex human and political problems. I love listening to him! The way he speaks always makes me smile.

Spot on Žižek, we live in dangerous times

I love this guy ! ..sniff

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 The fact Ukraine has not taken delivery of much aid these past three months yet Russia's full 24/7 war economy is still only able to move slowly is astounding. The resistance of Ukraine is beyond belief. It cannot however last forever without scaling of European assistance and hopefully more American aid packages. This is borrowed time, but what it should demonstrate is that if the West shifts its weight enough to lean on the scales harder than it has before Russia can definitely lose this war. For now it is still up to the West, although the clock is ticking.

Half an hour is never enough when Zizek is speaking

Happy birthday Slavoj! :)

Zizek is so refreshingly right about this

The spirit of community is already here - so very true. When thoughts turn to achieving good outcomes amongst people in a group, then the spirit of community is awakened.

What an amazing man! Thank you.

Great interview with lots of valuable thoughts! Hvala, Slavoj!

I feel as jiterry and affected as Slavoj after listening to so many years of ruZZian state propaganda! It really takes a toll on your mind! You start going crazy!

Spot on, as always.. Though the bit about the Bhagavad Gita is sadly misleading: if understood as intended (proper commentary is essential), it is such an invaluable guide for life. That Himmler took its teachings the way he did, is not its fault, in much the same way it’s not the Bible’s fault that Christians (or rather, “Christians”) used it to justify all sorts of abhorrences throughout history. As they say, the Devil, too, can quote the scripture!

Ladies and gents, this is one of the best interviewees ever. With the exception of supporting trump over hillary, he is spot on about the issues that face humanity today and how we arrived here. Describes exactly how the younger generations truly feel. One of the only few people who have the intellect and communication skills to speak the truth.

We need a lot more Slavoj (and those with a similar analytical approach) in the discourse

Interesting that Zizek, who has provided leftist critiques of ideologies and of capitalism, is so adamant here about support for Ukraine and taking a strong position against the aggression of the Kremlin regime. I had not identified that group of 'Western Buddhists' he mentions, but I know what he means. I'd like to see Zizek talk with Tom Holland, author of 'Dominion'.

I love this gentleman. I became a fan.

The winners create the history we learn, and Shakespeare plays a part in that retrospectively

I like this man, and I want to read his book (s).

Are they crazy he asks. Why yes they are. And crazy like stupidity loves company.

"Well, What do you think now of the French Revolution??" -- "Well, it's too early to say!" Love it, Love it. Bravo!

Ngl, this is Zizek's best 1 on 1 chat to date. Dialectics at it's purest, pure ideology.

When you say democracy, you actually mean a minority ruling class with divine mandate of being liked

Dam!.missed out on ths awesome man..my new idol!😊👍

It’s good to see Slavoj healthy and in good spirits! I hope he remains with us for many many years ❤🙏

Bravo! Thank you!

Brilliant, on all three subjects that were discussed He has the ability to vocalise many of the opinions and thoughts that I have

Now listen to Zizek's exchange with Piers Morgan. Good too.

Why does she say @7:15that Putin wants to recreate another Soviet Union (as if she's agreeing with him) when Žižek just finished saying @3:40 that Putin wants to return to a pre-revolution Czarist Empire?

Outstanding. I freaking love the direction that Mr. Zizek has taken. Beautiful.

Deep good analys 😊

The unique quality of the Nazarene was that he understood how difficult it is for humans to be good. 🤔 ("Green Fire", IngramSpark, geoff nelson hill ) 🌈🦉

Bravo Slavoj Zizek!

I am not sure I agree with Slavoj ( even if I agree with everything else he saysk) about Europe as merely a 'museum' state. Where does China and the US buy all their high-end stuff from? Europe, of course! Planes, cars, military, technology, champagne, clothing, food, etc....

Remember, Trump was only President in U.S. history to have "secret meetings" w Putin w/o a U.S. interpreter present! Flash drives exchanged?

Democracy does not work in a two-party system.

This is the kind of discussion that we desperately need in Europe to get in shape for a new era. Mr. Zizek’s hologramic approach in relation to current affairs is brilliant. What is happening today is reliant on what we do tomorrow. 26:40

Fascinating

Amazing interview thank you Times .. thank you Slavoj . Glory to Ukraine 🇺🇦

Brilliant!

Nice to hear some new thinking rather than the same dumb down pro/anti opinions on things. Lots to mull over. Thanks times radio.

6:38 in what way were they oppressed?!? They had the same citizen rights, there were schools that taught in Russian everywhere and the media was almost completely Russian altough most Ukrainians are Ukrainian speakers. It's rather even the opposite - the Ukrainian speaking majority was oppressed. If you didn't speak Russian before 2014 you could be discriminated at your work, in school in the media and if you spoke Ukrainian some Russian speakers would even physically attack you. I'm not kidding. The majority being oppressed by a minority is nothing special - it happens in basically every colonial country like in South Africa where an even slimmer minority oppressed the indigenous majority.

I’m sorry, yet you don’t seem to have given any thought to the questions you’ve asked. As if we are not already aware of the situation and how it’s developed after two years. Anyone who does not understand Putin lies and the injustice by now, should be asked to leave the room.

thank you!!! I never thought I would see this conversation here; ❤❤

Such a wonderful interview. Thank you for having Zizek on for this conversation.

Okay I'm listening

Absolutely Fascinating! To say the least. Incite insight!

Times Radio does a lot of great work. This is some of the finest. Thanks.

I don't know if this is what himler said about the bhagavad gita or whether this is zizek's misinterpretation but this is not what the Gita says. The Gita says that even though you love peace and non-violence, sometimes a war against evil is necessary and when you engage in that war you should not identify egoicly and hate your enemy but rather just do what you know is right. Zizek completely misunderstand the profoundity of that text which actually points to spiritual transcendence that is not just a mental idea but an actual realization.

Slavoj is a great mind and I certainly agree on many things with him, yet sometimes I get the feeling that he only follows certain paths or directions in his Ideas why disregard others that are forcing themselves on to the person following his explanations. His ideas on moral and religion make perfect sense and are, as far as I can say, absolutely conclusive. Others seem to be taught through only in certain directions, treating questionable or debatable assumptions within his thinking as given facts. The topic I find this treat of his most obvious is Ukraine. While admitting that Ukraine maid many mistakes and there certainly where reasons to intervene from the Russian standpoint, he then goes on to claim that Putin without any doubt is an imperialist that will go for the rest of of post soviet countries if not stopped in Ukraine. While I do agree that Putin has an imperial mindset, claiming that he would go on to conquer the rest of Eastern Europe is an fix idea with utter disregard to the reality of the geopolitical situation on the one hand and the fact that the Russians where the only of the directly involved parties (the West, Ukraine, Russia) to bring an and to the conflict by negotiations. As John Mearsheimer says, one would need to provide evidence for the case that Putin thought this is desirable and feasible for Russia and such a case never stood firm against the argumentation of Mearsheimer. It is simply a fairytale designed to excuse the western imperialistic politics. And the reason that democracy is ending is not Russia. Democracy is not ending in the east, since it never was as prominent and embedded in the culture there. It is ending in the west, ending by erosion from within. Ending by corruption within the system, by the deep state, by remodeling the socioeconomic structure (techno feudalism), by erosion of Western culture mainly, rule by consent (corruption and lack of liability for political class), freedom of speech (corruption in media, political correctness or wokeness), the rule of law (constitution being undermined and bend by ruling parties). The west ist destroying it self while pointing the finger at others! This is our problem, not Putin. The western politics do not fear China because of their authoritarian style they envy them and will do anything to get the same grip on society China has on theirs.

The Bagavad Gita isn't recognized as a Buddhist text. And Buddhism holds that Nirvana is actually here and all it takes is realization, very similarly to Zizek's take on Christianity in this interview. And Buddhism says not to do painful things to others because of the damage it does to the doer as well as others. I like Zizek and I never caught him taking such bad shortcuts before just to make a point.

with thunderous applause

À réal great guy thinking deeply ! Bravo !

Don't say "The West". Say "The Free World" It drives Putin NUTS !

10:22 the thing he's talking about also exists in Buddhism and Taoism. Another term for it is "involved detachment" though that usually has a more positive connotation. It can be used to find peace in a dark world. But it can also be used for evil.

Very interesting interview. The only problem is that Slavoj falsely stated that there was a persecution of the Donbas people. Such a fundamental misconception.

The Genius strikes again.

This is exactly what I needed to hear. Many public figures appear disconnected from reality, but Žižek really speaks the truth!

Brilliant stuff , thanks guys

Not too late, but, this is the time to stand up for FDR'S Social Democracy ❤😊 Vote as if your life depends on it, we've been through this before...Never bend the knee to a Tyrant ❤

I feel bad to say never heard of mr. Zizek until now. I find this kind of discussions enlightening, like THIS is what we should talk and think about more often. I'' try to find more about him. Thank you!

Bas tako g. Zizek, do sada sam vas slusao i nisam se slagao sa vama od sada sam protiv vas.

I needed to hear this discussion. Mr Zizek (apologies but I cannot apply the necessary accents for his family name) is a rational and morally measured character who provides a direct and judicious assessment of religion, politics and various social structures based on their geographical regions.

Would be interesting to see a poll in England and Wales for a return to monarchy over squabbling party's.

Was struggling to find my philosophical compass but not anymore.

Quantum superposition of possible outcomes - very apt. I don't often agree with Žižek, but in this particular interview, it's like he's channeling my own thinking....

terrific post, you two!

We won’t need NATO when the Russian Federation is broken up into 25 separate and independent states not controlled by Moscow.

I didn't expect an X-files reference. 😂

Thank You Sir for this enlightening discussion topic. Much food for thought! Well done to you and your interviewer.

Interviewers probably wiping their faces after this one.

Interesting conversation indeed. Can agree fully what he said abt big corporations, todays world is controlled by big tech corporations.

No, Russians or Russian speakers were never oppressed anywhere in Ukraine ever. There has never been separatism in Ukraine, even in Crimea, other than what Moscow incepted, funded, organized, commanded and controlled. Ever. I know because I served in the Russian military.

Brilliant interview.

Paradoxically, the only one who has truly understood Putin is only Macron. Simply unbelievable.

Sum GOOD points dude....

Unfortunately for the argument, the Bhagavad Gita is not Buddhist

Absolutely love Bernie Sanders ❤ The best of us ♥ Support Ukraine 🇺🇦, whatever she needs, fighting for their lives, their families, their homeland, their Democracy, & Democracies around the world 🌎

Why does she say "he debated Jordan Petersen" as if it was some accomplishment for Zizek? It's like congratulating Paul McCartney for collaborating with Kanye lol 😂

Fascinating and i take this very seriously but cant help but keep being reminded of Sylvester the cat throughout the entire interview.

Starts at 1:37

Bonkers.

Falling in love with philosophy beyond newtonian mechanics (there is always a "force" which meets a "reaction"), mixing itself with "superposition of states", "interferences" of quantum mechanics! Looking forward to "Orbitals", "eigenstates" and "quantum tunnellings"!

😂😂😂😂 what a comesy guy he is , has nothing in his head

A great video from the Times Book fair today. I see we had two books on sale today. I think it would be a great idea if there was a price tag & any promotions on a card next to said book.

I can disagree with his conclusions but his observations and reasoning are most of the time spot on. Another paradox (or perhaps an actual joke) is his autodescription of ”conservative communist.

8:01 "cheat with truth itself" lol. Dude, if we need to hear lies to feel normal, that's a problem.

Wow how good - Putin as a dangerous illegitimate leader. The two of you are brilliant. Putin needs a long starchy dress to get into the role of his Czarina Catherine the Great. She's his alter ego. He needs to start to wear a lotta lace to bring back the 1700's.

wow and yet they call this brother a philosopher

18:57 that's what I was talking about for some time now - giant corporations tend to behave themselves like an authoritarian states