Brent Cooper on the Role of Sociology in Metacrisis Discourse

I came across Brent Cooper’s writing while looking for more cogent explanations of what’s happening in the global metacrisis. There were often pieces missing from the narrative in various spaces. When I came across Brent’s writing, something clicked. I began sending his article to other sensemakers, and they remarked that Brent’s perspectives expressed exactly what they were seeing.My journey through epistemic spaces has been filled with many insights into the unconscious drivers that form people’s biases. Everyone’s different and we’re not here to have everyone think or act the same. However, the problem today is that people are hiding, in denial of larger realities because they’re afraid to transform and change into higher versions of themselves. That is our problem today.If you’ve come across or even been hooked by various names in the online space of so-called public intellectuals (e.g., Jordan Peterson, Steven Pinker, Sam Harris, Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, Eric Weinstein) and if you’re looking to become more adept at being present to the complex challenges of our world today, this episode is for you. I don’t hate any of these people, but I have serious issues with their thinking. If they’re going to send out distorted frequencies and ideas to the not-self collective and make careers out of them, they should expect some pushback.Key Topics00:00 - Introduction00:58 - Start of Conversation02:19 - Being an “Anti-Professional”03:17 - Sociology & Beyond Integral Theory05:36 - Brent’s Content and Relationship to Integral07:30 - Integral Theory’s Ceilings and Dead Ends08:55 - New Paradigm Creation & Epistemic Tension10:08 - We’re in the Darkest Timeline & Decolonization12:16 - The Importance of Sociology in Epistemic Spaces15:26 - The Lack of Sociological Consciousness in Society19:02 - The Abs-Tract Organization + What Is Abstraction?26:08 - The Intellectual Dark Web Is Leaving Things Out28:44 - “Epistemic Humility” and Weaponized Incompetence31:22 - Dealing With People’s Structures of Interpretation31:58 - Optimizing Response Through Fierce Grace35:00 - How the World Was Gaslit on Capitalism37:00 - The Dearth of Aesthetics of Communism39:26 - Whole Careers Are Built on Hatred45:48 - Giving Everyday People Access to More Ideas49:38 - The Race to the Bottom of the Brainstem54:45 - Systems Thinking, Dogma, and Brent’s Books57:26 - The Problem with Steven Pinker’s Work1:02:40 - Brent’s Work, Patreon, and Links1:06:36 - Good Abstraction Is Getting RealBrent CooperBrent Cooper is Executive Director of The Abs-Tract Organization, a meta think tank and transmedia project committed to solving the world's systemic problems through a process of complexity reduction known as abstraction. In this episode, Brent and I talk about the critical role of political sociology in 21st-century issues, the limitations of Wilber’s integral theory, the dynamics of modern discourse, and the true meaning of independent thinking as it pertains to complex topics. Brent brings a political and sociological perspective that grounds epistemic thinkers and philosophers in the realities of people’s lived experiences.Resources & Affiliate LinksVicious Abstract and Systemic Racism by Brent CooperWoman Warrior: A Training for 21st Century Systems Change by Rayner Jae LiuInventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a Future Without Work by Srnicek and WilliamsThe Power Elite by C. Wright MillsThe Sociological Imagination by C. Wright MillsWhite Collar: The American Middle Classes by C. Wright MillsThe Meaning of Truth by William JamesGuest Links & ContactThe Abs-Tract Organization and Contact: abs-tract.orgAbs-Tract Medium: medium.com/the-abs-tract-organizationAbs-Tract Twitter: twitter.com/tato_tweetsAbs-Tract Facebook: tinyurl.com/abs-tract-fb-pageAbs-Tract YouTube: youtube.com/Abs-tractOrgAbs-Tract Patreon: patreon.com/abs_tractContact me about being a guest or invite me on your show: raynerjaeliu.comSubscribeThis podcast would not be possible without the support of our paid subscribers. Consider offering a one-time or recurring gift here or become a paid subscriber and support the longevity of independent publishing while getting exclusive access to the comments section, bonus episodes, and all future benefits. Get full access to New Paradigm Knowledge at raynerjaeliu.substack.com/subscribe