Empathy and Existentialism Michael Burns 2025-09-12 | Stay informed on breaking news and improve your media consumption habits by subscribing through my link https://ground.news/michaelburns for 40% unlimited access this month with the Vantage Subscription.Why is children's entertainer and educator Ms Rachel able to speak about the situation in Gaza with more moral clarity than democratic leaders like Pete Buttigieg? And what is gained when we use complexity to avoid moral and ethical commitments? This video explores those questions with reference to the existential philosophy of Simone De Beauvoir. Buy Simone De Beauvoir's The Ethics of Ambiguity from an independent bookstore: bookshop.org/a/116177/9781504054225My full recommended reading list: bookshop.org/lists/recommended-reading-michael-burnsPalestine Children's Relief Fund: pcrf.netLIVE EVENT October 10th in San Francisco with @dr.fatima and @cjthex: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/kill-the-internet/how-the-fuck-did-we-get-here-a-kill-the-internet-summitSupport my work and join my book club on Patreon: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420Follow my @SideBurns420 channel for stream clips and more casual videos: youtube.com/@SideBurns420note: this video includes reference to the work of Charlie Kirk, and was written and filmed before his recent passing. I updated the video with an acknowledgement of that but wanted to note it here as well. Written/Hosted/Produced by Michael BurnsEdited by Henry ArrambideResearch and creative support from Michael Luxemburg and Dave Mesing Thumbnails and Graphic Design by Joshua Hardmanhttps://joshuahardman.cargo.site/0:00 intro4:07 Kneecap 7:36 existentialism and freedom 18:30 Ms Rachel's radical vision of human freedom 24:40 hey kids, let me sing you a song! #msrachel #existentialism #philosophy
Philosophy YouTube is Broken Michael Burns 2025-08-29 | Get an exclusive 15% discount on Saily data plans! Use code burns at checkout. Download the Saily app or go to saily.com/burnsPhilosophy is the love of wisdom. YouTube is the love of attention and algorithmic data. So how is it possible to make philosophically engaging content on a platform that thrives off of drama and slop? This video tries to figure it out, to varying degrees of success. Join my Patreon for access to my book club, early ad-free videos, and more: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420Check out my reading list on Bookshop.org: bookshop.org/shop/michaelburnsSelected works discussed in this video: Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freirebookshop.org/a/116177/9781501314131The Culture Industry, Theodor Adornobookshop.org/a/116177/9780415253802An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, David Humebookshop.org/a/116177/9780199549900Platform Capitalism, Nick Srnicek bookshop.org/a/116177/9781509504879Featuring: @dr.fatima @cjthex @epochphilosophy @whatsleftofphilosophy @_jared @Sisyphus55 @GregoryBSadler 0:00 intro 3:10 the philosophy youtube landscape 11:10 what is philosophy?18:30 youtube's platform capitalism27:32 philosophy and the media 34:20 PhilosophyTube and the problem with video essays 38:46 the reality of the situation 48:46 the problem of community 55:25 bedtime for michael + credits Research and creative support:Michael Luxemburg David Mesing Edited by: Gregory Elek#philosophy #youtube #education
this is why nothing ever happens Michael Burns 2025-08-08 | Join my Patreon community for my reading group, early access to videos, and exclusive content: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420Use my affiliate link to buy The Present Age from an independent bookseller: bookshop.org/a/116177/9780061990038in 1846, Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote a book that seems oddly suited for 2025 and beyond. It's called 'The Present Age', and in this video I talk about how this book changed my life, and how we can use it to help fight back against the disease of "internet brain." This video was edited by Henry Arrambidefollow Henry at @TechnoPoverty Thanks to Michael Luxemburg and David Mesing for their help on this. Huge thanks to all of my patrons and ESPECIALLY all of my BIGGEST DAWGS. You are truly the wind beneath my wings.written/hosted/produced by Michael Burns 0:00 intro 1:20 my first encounter with The Present Age5:15 Passion vs Reflection 9:26 Kierkegaard's Critique of Capitalism 12:28 let's all go and do our things #philosophy #kierkegaard #internet
the REAL problem with the left Michael Burns 2025-07-26 | Frederic Jameson reading group on Patreon: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420In both "real life" and online circles, there is constant discussion about what is and isn't "on the left", and who is a "good leftist" and who is a "bad leftist." But does this have more to do with actual politics, or with adhering to particular brands and identities? In this video I try to get towards some answers to this by exploring the historical and philosophical foundations of leftist thought. WATCH MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH ANNA KORNBLUHyoutube.com/watch?v=pOOG72fquSMRecommended reading: The Social Contract, Jean-Jacques RousseauThe Concept of the Left, Leszek KołakowskiAlain Badiou, Thirteen Theses and some Comments on Politics Today versobooks.com/blogs/news/5526-thirteen-theses-and-some-comments-on-politics-today?srsltid=AfmBOoojwB96T7WzQdW6ktTgWFodnU9bxpdvGlUVX2h4s95FGNksLQGWAnna Kornbluh, Immediacy0:00 intro 1:50 the origins of "the left" 6:30 leftist philosophy 11:52 the immediacy of the online left 15:17 it's not all bad though 16:41 shoutout Michael Brooks Edited by Henry Arrambide (AKA Producer Henry)@TechnoPoverty Written and produced with help from: Michael Luxemburg Dave Mesing #philosophy #politics #socialism
the TRUTH of conspiracy theory Michael Burns 2025-07-11 | Go to surfshark.com/burns or use code BURNS at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!it's easy to dismiss conspiracy theorists as a bunch of goofy idiots who are falling for bad alt-right ideology, but what if they're actually doing the right thing, just in the wrong way? this video explores that idea with reference to the work of comedian conner o'malley, philosopher frederic jameson, writer naomi klein, and more. Frederic Jameson Reading Group and More over on my PATREON: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420Check out streams, reaction videos, and more on SIDE BURNS:youtube.com/@SideBurns420ARTICLES REFERENCED IN THIS VIDEO: e-flux.com/notes/633672/always-jamesonizee-flux.com/notes/509069/conspiracy-theory-without-theory-on-don-t-look-upclereviewofbooks.com/feelings-over-facts-conspiracy-theories-and-the-internet-novelbookforum.com/politics/how-naomi-klein-s-dubious-double-explains-the-current-media-moment-252830:00 intro 1:00 the truth of conspiracy theory2:30 frederic jameson on conspiracy and capitalism 9:15 conner o'malley and the mind of conspiracy 13:25 naomi klein on modern conspiracy 16:08 is critical theory conspiracy theory? 19:21 what we can learn from conspiracy theorists 24:44 hot take alert 27:50 does being right actually matter? If you haven't yet definitely go watch Conner O'Malley's videos over at @omalleyrock. EDITED by Gregory Elekgregoryelek.comwritten/produced/hosted by michael o'neill burnsThanks to Michael Luxemburg and Dave Mesing for their help on this video. HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF MY BIGGEST DAWGS OVER ON PATREON. Thanks to @offbeatninja for letting me use these tracks in this one. youtube.com/watch?v=3KYxz1xatcEyoutube.com/watch?v=4Kg1fBB5xpg#philosophy #conspiracy #politics
How a YouTube Channel Dies. Michael Burns 2025-06-23 | Getting laid off sucks. Especially when it leads to the end of something you really believed in. In this video I talk about my experience in getting laid off from Wisecrack, what really happened, what I learned from it all, and how it's all informing what I'm doing now on THIS channel. Check out my video on WHY EVERYONE GETS POSTMODERNISM WRONG: youtu.be/_4k26xGx1zIFYI - I KNOW THE AUDIO IS SLIGHTLY OUT OF SYNC FOR THE FIRST FIFTY-SECONDS OR SO but then it mellows out. My Bad. Hope it's not too distracting. Support My Project on Patreon: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420Watch my Streams and clips here: youtube.com/@SideBurns420 0:00 Let's Get It Started (in here) 0:50 What REALLY happened at Wisecrack4:15 Ceased and Desisted 6:58 The Contradictions of Digital Media as Profit Machine 10:57 But It Wasn't All Bad (Shoutout the homies) 12:31 New Channel . . . Same Michael. 15:44 Less Money, More Problems. 20:06 The Moral of the Story 20:52 Love Bombing Check out @CheyenneLin's recent video 'Is YouTube Dead' which I reference in this video: youtube.com/watch?v=uGV-mlXBlLM&t=4s&pp=ygUMY2hleWVubmUgbGluCheck out some of the projects my former colleagues are working on: youtube.com/@GTAnalysisyoutube.com/@fightopera6030youtube.com/channel/UCd2YFp4abLqOTYKvYduPdaQ youtube.com/@gregoryelekfilmreallyjustamanda.substack.comMusic provided by Lud and Schlatts Musical Emporium: @ludandschlattsmusicalempor6746Original music by Spencer Hillman (@spencerhillman6280), Matthew Telle, Michael Burns#philosophy #work #wisecrack
heres whats ACTUALLY wrong with postmodernism Michael Burns 2025-05-30 | Stay informed on breaking news and improve your media consumption habits by subscribing through my link https://ground.news/michaelburns for 40% unlimited access this month with the Vantage Subscription.Almost all of the discourse about "postmodernism" seems to be missing the point. So in this video I tell you what postmodernism actually refers to, and how understanding this can give us the tools to better analyze, and maybe even change, our world. I do it with the help of two guys that wrote really long books that no one actually reads, David Foster Wallace and Frederic Jameson.WATCH MY VIDEO ON DEPRESSION AND CAPITALISM: youtube.com/watch?v=4IT9-zDJFBMJAMESON'S ESSAY ON POSTMODERNISM: https://web.education.wisc.edu/halverson/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2012/12/jameson.pdfBENJAMIN KUNKEL'S OBITUARY ESSAY ON JAMESON:newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/singularityJEET HEER ON JAMESON NAMING THE SYSTEM WE'RE STILL FIGHTING:thenation.com/article/culture/fredric-jameson-science-fiction-obituary-marxismPATREON: patreon.com/MichaelBurns4200:00 - Introduction 1:15 - Postmodernism is NOT a philosophy1:50 - David Foster Wallace and Infinite Jest 4:36 - Frederic Jameson is the Dr House of Philosophy 8:17 - Always Historicize10:30 - Nostalgia is Not History 12:55 - Postmodernism is not a morality15:02 - The Dialectics of FUTURE 15:21 - Postmodernism is NOT Marxism 18:15 - The Solution to Postmodernism EDITED by Gregory Elekgregoryelek.comMusic provided by Lud and Schlatts Musical Emporium: @ludandschlattsmusicalempor6746#philosophy #postmodernism #marxism
Capitalism is Ruining Our Mental Health Michael Burns 2025-05-16 | Stay informed on breaking news and improve your media consumption habits by subscribing through my link https://ground.news/michaelburns for 40% unlimited access this month with the Vantage Subscription.Join my Patreon to support my work and get extra things: patreon.com/MichaelBurns4200:00 - Intro 2:40 - Capitalism and Mental Health 4:52 - This Is Your Brain on Capitalism 5:50 - Okay but . . . What Does This Mean? 9:12 - Neuroscience and political resistance 11:58 - Depression as Political Problem 13:48 - it's not your fault Bibliography: https://www.self.inc/info/mental-health-personal-spending-report/spectrejournal.com/mental-illness-and-capitalismlareviewofbooks.org/article/future-no-future-depression-left-politics-mental-healthaljazeera.com/opinions/2022/10/10/mental-health-day-us-capitalism-is-bad-for-your-mindfordhampress.com/9780823229529/what-should-we-do-with-our-brainpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8145185archive.org/details/mythofchemicalcu0000monc/mode/2up?view=theater&ui=embed&wrapper=falsepmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10315660EDITED by Gregory Elekgregoryelek.comMusic provided by Lud and Schlatts Musical Emporium: @ludandschlattsmusicalempor6746#philosophy #capitalism #mentalhealth
The History of WISECRACK (and more) with Jared Bauer! @JaredBauer Michael Burns 2025-05-05 | The people have been asking for it, and it's finally happening. Michael is going to hangout and chat with his former boss @JaredBauer about the history of Wisecrack, their favorite memories of the channel, Jared's solo work, the state of media criticism, and more.Catch out my Patreon: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420Be sure to subscribe to Jared's channel: youtube.com/@JaredBauer#philosophy #media #reaction
my final jordan peterson video Michael Burns 2025-05-02 | #philosophy #jordanpeterson #bible Jordan Peterson wrote a book about the bible. And while it's a horrible work of scholarship, it gives us some very clear insights into who Peterson is and what he believes. I read (most of) the book so you don't have to, and in this video tell you why Jordan Peterson HATES women, and probably LOVES Mark Wahlberg. Support me on Patreonpatreon.com/MichaelBurns420Check out my video on Bryan Johnson's Nihilist Philosophyyoutube.com/watch?v=2bJJAXfcEm4Rowan Williams Review of the book: theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/20/we-who-wrestle-with-god-by-jordan-b-peterson-review-a-culture-warrior-out-of-his-depthMatt McManus Review of the book: jacobin.com/2024/12/jordan-peterson-bible-conservatives-review0:00 intro 0:23 Jordan Peterson Hates Women 2:05 The Poor Are Bad5:02 Jordan Peterson, Defender of The West 7:31 God, and Jordan, Love Bros
the problem with living forever Michael Burns 2025-04-21 | Go to my sponsor aura.com/MichaelBurns to get a 14-day free trial and see if any of your data has been exposed. Bryan Johnson isn't just a weird tech millionaire who is using his wealth to extend his life. He's created a whole philosophy and religion all oriented around creating eternal life. But in doing so, he falls into a sort of nihilism in which life ITSELF doesn't matter, only the EXTENSION of life. I explain with reference to philosophers like Plato and Kierkegaard, and American heroes like John Brown. Maybe living forever actually . . . sucks? Support me on Patreon for early access to ad-free videos and more: patreon.com/MichaelBurns4200:00 intro - Bryan Johnson wants to live forever 1:00 Part One - The Philosophy of Don't Die 6:17 Part Two - Not Life, but a GOOD Life 10:02 Part Three - The Dead Don't Die EDITED by Gregory Elekgregoryelek.comMusic provided by Lud and Schlatts Musical Emporium: @ludandschlattsmusicalempor6746Featuring Battle Hymn of the Republic by The U.S. Army Band#philosophy #technology #politics
the REAL reason conservatives HATE empathy Michael Burns 2025-03-13 | Recently right-wing weirdos like Elon Musk and thought-leaders in the evangelical community have both been attacking empathy, pointing out it's potential risks, and criticizing the way that progressives and leftists have "abused" it. So do they have a point? OF COURSE NOT. But in this one I talk about the attack on empathy and share some thoughts from philosophy that can help us see the political and social importance of being empathetic. 0:00 intro 0:48 evangelicals hate empathy 1:40 funny book reviews2:12 why empathy is under attack 3:36 the phenomenology of empathy 4:55 Aristotle on justice and friendship 7:16 wrapping things up 8:00 goodbye i love you If you want to support my channel and get videos early and without ads along with other perks, consider joining my patreon: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420The essay on phenomenology and empathy i referred to in the video: dermotmoran.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2022-From-Empathy-to-Intersubjectivity-The-Phenomenological-Approach.pdfAristotle on Justice in the Nicomachean Ethics: https://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.5.v.html#empathy #philosophy #politics
how the right-wing went POSTMODERN Michael Burns 2025-03-03 | Postmodernism has become a sort of bogeyman for right-wing activists and politicians, for whom the concept signifies the death of truth and attacks on everything from religion to traditional gender identity. But if we look at what's going on in American politics right now, it seems that the right (and president Trump in particular) are taking advantage of postmodernism to re-shape the nation's political culture. This video explains how with reference to philosopher Fredric Jameson. 00:00 intro 00:35 what is postmodernism?02:30 how American conservatives went postmodern 05:26 why Trump is the perfect postmodern president 06:47 what is this doing to us? 07:59 is there a solution to this? kind of. If you want to support my channel and get videos early and without ads along with other perks, consider joining my patreon: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420/membershipIf you want to read the Frederic Jameson essay I refer to in the video it's available here: https://web.education.wisc.edu/halverson/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2012/12/jameson.pdfIf you want to read a more in-depth piece on this phenomenon, check out this article by political theorist Matt McManus: quillette.com/2018/05/17/emergence-rise-postmodern-conservatism#philosophy #politics #theory
Will Trump Save American Christianity? Michael Burns 2025-02-08 | Trump did another executive order. This one is about how American christians are being persecuted for their faith. I couldn't resist diving. If you're interested in supporting this channel and getting exclusive streams and early access to videos check out my Patreon: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420/membershipSPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO MY BIGGEST DAWGS: Emigre_Esquire, Zach, Chad, and "Patreon" #politics #christianity #reaction
How Trump and Vance use Christianity as a Tool Against the Oppressed Michael Burns 2025-02-02 | At a recent prayer breakfast, Donald Trump and JD Vance were deeply offended by a Christian Bishop who kindly asked them to have compassion for marginalized folks. So how can these politicians and their followers claim to be Christians, while actively rejected the underlying ethics of their faith? How does this adventure in missing the point put both faith, and our political system, at risk? I talk about it with reference to Ernst Bloch and Soren Kierkegaard. If you're interested in supporting this channel and getting exclusive streams and early access to videos check out my Patreon: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420/membershipSPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO MY BIGGEST DAWGS: Emigre_Esquire, Zach, Chad, and "Patreon" Sarah Jones article referenced in the video nymag.com/intelligencer/article/maga-god-religion-donald-trump.html #christianity #politics #philosophy
How To Be a Christian Atheist Michael Burns 2024-12-07 | German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach famously wrote that "the secret of theology is anthropology." But wtf does that mean? In this video I talk about Feuerbach's philosophy, and how it can help us appreciate religion while still be grounding in a materialist, and humanist, type of analysis. If you like this video, and want extended cuts of videos and access to exclusive streams, check out my Patreon: patreon.com/MichaelBurns420Special shout out to my BIGGEST DAWGS: Chad and Zach. If you feel like reading some Feuerbach after this, here is his text, The Essence of Christianity. marxists.org/reference/archive/feuerbach/works/essence#religion #philosophy #theology
Socrates Would HATE Self-Help Culture (And You Should Too) Michael Burns 2024-11-24 | This video is inspired by a recent Esquire article (linked below) that promises that Socrates can "optimize your life." I use it as a jumping off point to discuss why Socratic wisdom is not self-help, and how it can help us fight problematic self-help influencers and those who mix political and self-help language for insidious purposes. Subscribe to my Patreon for EXTENDED CUTS, exclusive streams, and more. patreon.com/MichaelBurns420Thanks so much to all my Patrons and especially my Big Dawg, Joseph Melchionna. Here is the article I am referring to in this video: esquire.com/lifestyle/a62921833/how-to-think-like-socrates-donald-robertson-excerptIf you want to start reading some Socrates:https://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html#philosophy #selfhelp #reaction
How Jesus Turned Me Into A Marxist Michael Burns 2024-11-17 | While lots of politicians and hucksters would like you to believe that Christianity is antithetical to Marxism and Communism, they're absolutely wrong. I explain in this video about how my own experiences with Christianity led me to a radical politics grounded in Marxist analysis. If you're interested in supporting this channel and getting extended cuts of these videos check out my Patreon: patreon.com/c/MichaelBurns420/membershipIn the extended cut I talk about colonialism and evangelicalism and religion and capitalist realism.#christianity #marxism #philosophy
