S14 E10: Conservatism Frustrated: America, 1865-1918

About this episode

The episode explores the impact of technological and societal changes on conservatism through the thoughts of four pessimistic American thinkers.

What happens to conservatism in a world full of technological and societal change? In this episode, we discuss four pessimistic American thinkers: James Russel Lowell, E.L. Godkin, Henry Adams, and Brooks Adams. While hurt by their pessimism for the American future, they still have deeply relevant thoughts on progress, the media, and economic conditions. We also discuss our run-ins with Stoicism and a self-professed Epicurean. Follow us on X! Give us your opinions here!

People in this episode

Hosts: Mark Bishop, Adam Bishop

Topics covered

• conservatism
• American thinkers
• pessimism
• technological change
• societal change
• Stoicism
• Epicureanism

Keywords

• conservatism
• pessimism
• American history
• Stoicism
• Epicureanism
• media
• economic conditions

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