7 BANNED books (and why you should read them)
Audio Brief
Show transcript
This episode explores significant philosophical works banned by governments and religious institutions throughout history.
There are four key takeaways from this discussion. First, reading banned philosophical works reveals what powerful institutions historically feared. Second, critically examining censorship helps distinguish between genuine public safety concerns and a desire to maintain power. Third, understanding the difference between an author's depiction of an idea and their endorsement is crucial. Finally, historical arguments for freedom of speech remain highly relevant today.
Banned works like Nietzsche's critique of "slave morality" were seen as hostile to collectivist ideologies, leading to a decades-long ban in the USSR. Machiavelli's *The Prince* advocated rulers act immorally for stability, prompting condemnation by the Catholic Church. Engaging with these texts offers insights into ideas powerful institutions sought to suppress.
Censorship often targets ideas challenging political power or dominant moral views. It is vital to question whether bans serve the public good or consolidate control. John Milton's *Areopagitica* famously argued against pre-publication censorship, trusting truth to emerge from open discourse.
Aldous Huxley's *Brave New World* exemplifies the misinterpretation of intent. Banned for perceived promotion of promiscuity and anti-family sentiment, it was in fact a satirical critique of such a society. Censors often misunderstand a work's critical purpose.
The struggle for free expression against controlling "dangerous" ideas persists. Arguments from thinkers like Milton centuries ago about open discourse continue to inform modern debates on censorship and intellectual freedom.
Ultimately, understanding these historical acts of censorship offers profound lessons on power, truth, and the enduring importance of intellectual freedom.
Episode Overview
- This episode examines several historically significant philosophical works that have been banned or censored by governments and religious institutions.
- The host explores the reasons behind the censorship, ranging from direct challenges to political power to moral and religious objections.
- It covers specific thinkers and their controversial works, including Nietzsche, Machiavelli, John Milton, David Hume, and Aldous Huxley.
- The central argument is that these banned books are important to read precisely because they were considered dangerous, offering valuable insights into the nature of censorship and power.
Key Concepts
- Censorship: The suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. The episode explores how censorship has been used against philosophical ideas that threaten the status quo.
- Freedom of Speech: The video implicitly and explicitly discusses the tension between free expression and the perceived need to control "dangerous" ideas for the public good.
- Nietzsche's Philosophy: His concepts, such as the critique of "slave morality" and his pro-individualist views, were seen as fundamentally hostile to collectivist ideologies like that of the USSR, leading to a decades-long ban.
- Machiavellian Realism: The idea, popularized by Machiavelli's The Prince, that rulers must sometimes act immorally or brutally to maintain power and stability, a view that led to condemnation by the Catholic Church.
- Dystopian Critique vs. Endorsement: The banning of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World serves as an example of how a satirical critique of a society can be misunderstood as an endorsement of its values (e.g., promiscuity, anti-family sentiment).
- The Marketplace of Ideas: John Milton's Areopagitica is highlighted as a foundational argument against pre-publication censorship, trusting that truth will emerge when all ideas are allowed to compete.
Quotes
- At 00:00 - "He who destroys a good book kills reason itself." - John Milton - An opening quote that sets the theme for the entire episode, emphasizing the profound value of books.
- At 01:20 - "So it's no wonder that his entire corpus was banned in the USSR from 1923 to 1988." - The host explains the direct ideological conflict between Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy and the Soviet state.
- At 02:36 - "He thinks they all promote 'slave morality'." - A concise summary of Nietzsche's critique of Christianity, socialism, and humanism, which he believed suppressed the will of strong individuals.
- At 08:42 - "It is much better to be feared than loved, since that will keep people in line." - The host paraphrases one of Machiavelli's most famous and controversial pieces of advice to rulers in The Prince.
- At 16:47 - "Sometimes a work is banned simply because it is deeply misunderstood by the censors." - Highlighting the irony of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World being banned for the very societal ills it was written to condemn.
Takeaways
- Read challenging and even banned philosophical works to understand what ideas powerful institutions have historically feared.
- Be critical of censorship and question whether it stems from a genuine concern for public safety or a desire to maintain power and control.
- Learn to differentiate between an author's depiction of an idea and their endorsement of it, as this is a common source of misinterpretation.
- The struggle for freedom of speech is not new; arguments made by thinkers like John Milton centuries ago remain relevant in modern debates.
