Bloom interviewed 1 - "I am not a snob" [1987]

[AdventurousPutty]

I respect Mr. Bloom's opinions, but one has to wonder how someone who talks about "descending into the agora" can't be considered even a little snottish. Perhaps he could do with reading more Demosthenes or Lucretius than Plato.

[StevenJames1010]

Allan Bloom thou shouldst be living at this hour!

[ModernMaverick]

What a pleasure to see this so many years after reading the life-changing book for the first time. Some of the sweetest mind candy on You Tube!

[greatsea]

For folks who don't realize it Bloom's odd way of talking is due to a mild speech disorder. It has nothing to due with his personality, whatever you adjudge it to be. So cut the guy some slack on that and judge him on the content of what he is saying. What Bloom has done probably better than any other academic in his class is to show some of the follies of postmodernity.

[notagain001]

""I am not a snob" which is why he addressed Harvard faculty as "My fellow Elitists". He harangues against "obtuseness" but I guess that is lost on him.

[marcolopolis55]

I guess satire is lost on you.

[mahyarmohaghegh]

why is he talking like this

he reminds me of foucault flamboiant and smiling with his whole mouth.

i dont like bloom's views, they are very conservative and he is, sort of a hypocrite, situating his sexuality,

never the less Bloom's book was a brick to the face

[bgilles]

it does not surprise me that a fan of Allan Bloom would censor comments.

[mendelbot]

Why is that bgilles. Because that's what you would do?

[vanderbilt887]

No one is censoring you're comments, but when you're typing blague trifles that are intentionally provocative, don't be a whiner when someone gives you thumbs down. It's called freedom of expression.

[bgilles]

Bloom's ideas certainly deserve a response and here is mine: I can't help but note that his system taken as a whole amounts to a refined version of the arguments that led to the rise of fascism in Europe in the last century. Not fascist a la Hitler, but instead something more akin to the ideals of Mussolini. A society who's culture is directed by those in power towards "noble" goals, as opposed to free thought and progress. Belief in this requires faith of those in power. This never works.

[snagrom]

What specific aspects of Bloom's "system" do you seriously compare to fascism?

Because a well read educator such as Bloom points out that certain writings (Shakespeare, Plato) reveal more depth and insight and wisdom into human nature than other more fashionable, trendy writings is hardly a comparision to fascism.

[fomastephanovitch]

Imagine if all Americans were badass freedom lovers who hated PC!

Rather than just the odd intriguing individual.

Universities are full of sheep

[daizee106]

Well said!! Hell, most of the idiots coming out of univerities are wearing che guvara tshirts spouting off about the difference between pure communism and economical communism. Wow they have really succeeded in dumbing down the masses of sheeple

[gimonster]

Thank you for sharing this.

[hungerartist7]

What an inspiration to see and hear Allan Bloom. This is an intellectual treat and thank you for sharing it.

[JonWRowe]

Outstanding.