Youtube Extremism

Youtubers have a certain tendency to side on one extreme of an issue or the other. Democrats, Republicans, Atheists, Theists and so on. Opposing points of view are important and should be encouraged, yet there should at the outset of any conversation, be at least some attempt made at some middle ground. The music is Debussy's Suite Bergamasque: II. Meneut (Andantino) - C.

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People & Blogs

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• Extremism
• Youtube
• Feminism
• Atheism
• Theism
• Creationism
• Republican
• Democrat
• Communism
• Ideology
• Skateboarding
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• aristotle

[iwentdowntotheriver]

I think it is more a way at approaching an issue then as an end in itself. I mean the position mid-way between two evils may still be an evil. But its the idea of approaching a problem where consensus is the aim rather then absolutism. In terms of the radical feminism I embrace, I really don't think that it is that 'radical', it is more people's perceptions of what these terms mean that makes it seem so far from a possible mean. Hope this helps.

[bucketoflead]

I have absolutely adored all of your videos so far. I have to raise one issue. I have mostly studied psychology and sociology, and philosophical background is not very extensive, so I hope you'll pardon this - how does one, when seeking a "Golden Mean," avoid running into false compromise? You've said you identify with some aspects of radical feminism, as do I, and we would feel justified while this represents anything but a "middle ground" for many.

[iwentdowntotheriver]

That is a fair point- The Golden Mean can be looked at differently depending on one's bias- The middle ground does not necessarily fall exactly in the middle; I'm sorry if I did not make this clear, e.g. Aristotle thought it was better to be closer to pride then humility.

[1nceuponathyme]

River, I am working on a video about Margaret Mead. I do not believe that her ideas are complete, but what do you think about cultural relativism? Do you believe recognizing cultural difference relative to individual cultures themselves an important step in understanding them?

[iwentdowntotheriver]

At the anthropological level it is very important to understand different cultures. It allows greater self-reflection and understanding of the human condition across various environments. At the moral level, however, I am no relativist. Some cultures quite simply have their morals wrong.

[onelilearthquake]

Thanks for this video : )

The part about extremely loving great beauty and extremely great hating cruelty makes me think a little of the categorical imperative. Could be off on that; I hated reading Kant.

[iwentdowntotheriver]

I am a bit of a quasi-realist about morals, after Simon Blackburn, so am not fond of the categorical imperitave myself. When I finish my dissertation on quasi-realism I'd like to make a video about it, it might help theists who beieve there to be only two sides, moral realism or relativism.

[bucketoflead]

Thanks for your reply. I am partly grateful that many serious extremists, particularly the far-right, are exposing themselves on YouTube. They do a better job at it than the media could, and sometimes it seems to put what "moderates" REALLY think out there on the table. I am more annoyed with the usual childish "trolling" that remind me of the old Yahoo! News forums - infantile antagonism for the sake of it. Hateful words are still hateful words, though.

[Janvierireland]

I TRY to find a middle ground.This video is funny especially the end.The "i surrender" bunny is cute.

[1nceuponathyme]

Yes, I agree with you here. I hope that a video on Margaret Mead will make lucid the point that it is important to understand and study cultural groups before judging them from a moral standpoint.

[onelilearthquake]

I will have to read Blackburn. I was very frustrated with Kant because I remember thinking "so, what, there's only universal morals and relative morals and the categories are mutually exclusive?!" Seemed to me a reinforcement of the old bipolar mentality. But, I only got to take a handful of philosophy courses, and the prof actually wrote in circles on the board.