Conversations with Tyler Ross Douthat on Decadence and Dynamism
Mar 25, 2020
Ross Douthat, author of "The Decadent Society" and New York Times contributor, dives into decadence as a technical state of society, not just a moral judgment. He discusses Kanye West as a force against stagnation and critiques modern architecture's mediocrity. Douthat examines how changing masculine roles impact family and fertility, while exploring the influence of Thiel's ethos on conservatism. Delving into the complexities of morality, he contrasts Mormonism with other Christian communities, and even touches on the allure of UFOs and ghosts in modern narratives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Catholic Distinctiveness
- Douthat is concerned that young people don't understand the differences between Catholics and Protestants.
- He believes the decline of Catholicism's distinctiveness is part of its decadence.
Priestly Celibacy
- Douthat opposes allowing Catholic priests to marry, viewing it as abandoning a distinctive element of the faith.
- He argues that celibacy promotes diversity of human types and experiences.
Catholic Universities
- Douthat believes many Catholic universities have become too secularized.
- He sees hope in the Notre Dame model, which maintains a strong Catholic subculture.
