released 6/21/2024
In this wide-ranging conversation from 2005, historian John Lukacs (1924–2019) discusses the relationship between institutions and character, popular sentiment versus public opinion, the distinction between patriotism and nationalism, and the very nature of studying history. Lukacs emphasizes the shaping power of ideas and the necessity of curiosity for a historian. The bombardment of ideas and images people experience today, he argues, leads to confusion about what is real. Finally, Lukacs explains how language and thought inform each other. John Lukacs is the author of several books, including Democracy and Populism: Fear and Hatred.
36 minutes
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