The video embedded below is a conversation between Russ Roberts (Econtalk) and David Deutsch – a hero of mine, a quantum physicist who is incredibly thoughtful and erudite about government, democracy and society – read his “Fabric of Reality” and “Beginning of Infinity” if you haven’t already.
Their topic Deutsch’s thesis, is antisemitism as “The Pattern” – a meme existing long before “Jews were held responsible for the killing of God in the body of Jesus” – the impulse to legitimise hurting jews – whether big historical genocides, pogroms and lethal terrorisms or not, it’s there nascent in everyday life. In that sense they are “bottom-up” atrocities, not primarily decreed by authorities, except in some specific infamous “holocaust” cases where The Pattern was exploited by authorities. And it’s the impulse to legitimise hurting, not necessarily actively hurting, let alone killing. And the meme is not itself “Jew-hate”, that’s a symptom arising regularly from The Pattern.
It obviously conflicts with many other moralities in other (eg Christian) cultures, but has always been “accommodated” even if that is reducing in more recent history. The Pattern sustains, without actively being worked against. The accommodation – of the legitimisation impulse – is built into society’s world-views, quite formally and explicitly so by Augustine and Martin Luther, say. These are often rationally perverse and contradictory, often intended to help Jews, softening the impulse from active killing, without reversing the impulse.
That it exists and persists has clear evidence over 2500 years, even if we cannot clearly say why, when or where it arose. The whole interview is excellent on historical and modern examples through renaissance and reformation to today. (Dated after October 7th, just prior to the Bondi Beach atrocity.) “Anti-semitism as a mind-virus?” is the host’s sceptical summary, which I would also adopt non-sceptically as Deutsch’s memetic thesis. (He used “meme” at the start, but baulks at “mind-virus” – I’m OK with either. Strong intersection with the empathy meme / impulse – more later – often not real empathy or compassion, more part of post-rationalisation of one’s own impulses.)
“This [the pattern] isn’t the only irrationality going around.” Deutsch.
I’ll say! – Pretty much my agenda, where the antisemitism and islamophobia cases are mere examples. If we had the right / better understanding of the phenomenon, surely we’d be better placed to address it, opines David. Hear, hear!
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My thesis is that both antisemitism and islamophobia (and other public irrationalities) are about problematic self-identity in public, and the only reason I asked David for the above link to explain “The Pattern” was because of the dialogue arising on X after he had posted this:
[“Him” being yesterday’s Golders Green terrorist.]
I need to elaborate where I last raised these as “identity” issues.
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