John Cleese: Philosophy, Spirituality & Political Correctness
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2024
- John Cleese is the legendary star of Monty Python & Fawlty Towers. He also has deep interests in philosophy and psychology.
He is a friend of the historian Richard Tarnas, author of 'Passion of the Western Mind', who we featured on the channel last year: • Western Culture: Death...
He is also a friend of Iain McGilchrist, author of 'The Master and His Emissary' whose revolutionary work we've featured on a number of occasions: • Certainty and flow, Ia...
We grabbed him for a quick half hour conversation about philosophy, spirituality and the recent media storm over his tweet (first made in 2011 and repeated last month) that London "was no longer an English city".
To get access to more exclusive content, become a Rebel Wisdom subscriber: www.rebelwisdom.co.uk/plans
We've also just launched the Rebel Wisdom store! Buy T Shirts and more on shop.rebelwisdom.co.uk
We also have a Rebel Wisdom Discord discussion channel: / discord
Its so funny that our television news outlets couldn't hold a conversation like this.
Funny SAD
That’s a great point. JC is now effectively excommunicated from MSM. Just sad. But they are signing their own death warrant.
They'd have to want to do that.
It's not that they couldn't, it's that they didn't want to, because they know he would tear apart their virtue signalling crap and wake up many people they have brainwashed with their propaganda.
So much so that though I was aware Cleese was a smart and funny guy, I was never made aware he was such a deep introspective thinker. Excellent interview.
I am absolutely astounded that you have him as a guest. Well done.
Haha what?
@@DougRobertson Yes, well done. More of John Cleese and less of PC bullshit
John Cleese? My jaw dropped. Damn impressive.
Undoubtedly without fear of contradiction the best of the Pythons!
@@bennyhillschineseblokechar3689 What makes you say that, I wonder? Cleese himself has always been caught up in the analytical and has consistently been the most sour of the Pythons. He's not without his merits, but the best of the Pythons? A good fraction of his time has been spent shitting on Monty Python, an entity that brings happiness, and gave him his career. Very illogical.
a book he cowrote with I think psychiatrist question answer gave much insight on many things, mr cleese great thinker!!!
@@A1Authority Michael Palin was the one who said most of Monty Python's Flying Circus was rubbish, not Cleese. All of the Pythons tried distancing themselves from Python when they embarked on their solo careers, and all of them eventually stopped when they reached old age.
@@Apuleius_ All of them have done much to broaden their horizons and wallets. You can't trash them for relying on their #1 claim to fame when they choose to. If you don't know that Cleese was the first to walk away from Python, you need an education.
Absolutely wonderful conversation. Thanks to David for letting John talk uninterrupted. This was great.
I hate how he is being attacked by the progressives. Thank you Mr. Cleese for a lifetime of laughter. ❤️
I really dont think thats happening to any extent, and no more to say the least then when he was avidly against Brexit and used it as one reason amongst many to move out of Britain. Lots of Hyperbole these days to make ones self feel righteous
@@Wake-Less I think you are wrong:
th-cam.com/video/ZAeJJYvSok0/w-d-xo.html
I actually loved that. It's a badge of honor in these days -- The progressives don't attack easy targets for the easy ones would've bent over to them anyway.
The left hates the sound of laughter because muh it's offensive
@@palentier1 Jesus, a link to one of that clown's videos... I'd have preferred to have been Rick-rolled :/
"I know that Jordan Peterson has fallen foul with the PC crowd. Which means he must be a good chap" I like his thinking
Damn right. The people you're told are dangerous and should be silenced... These are the people you should make special effort to listen to.
When people react so violently to decent men such as JP it's both very disturbing and eye-opening. It's less about what he says and more about their deep hatred of good people. JP is a good guy and so is John Cleese.
No
I'm no fan of pc but 'falling foul' of it's proponents is not necessarily a sign of moral or intellectual merit.
@Codex7777: Yes . . . but so what (?) A lot of things are "not necessarily true" . . . but still true in actual fact.
Such a lovely bloke, critical thinker and comedy legend. Absolute national treasure.
International treasure, me thinks :D
Everytime i see cleese i always think of that part in holy grail where he attacks the wedding party as sir lancelot
Universities turned out critical thinkers by the truck load back then, how times have changed.
No disrespect to Cleese, but I can see why he has faced criticism.
Having a preference for a culture is not the same as a belief your culture is superior. The latter is very close to (and often accompanied by) racism. Those beliefs warrant an explanation - something beyond ‘some Muslims practice FGM’.
@@stucrossland3719 I see what you're saying. I think it's difficult to judge the motives of a person and why certain view points are formed but I do believe ideas shouldn't be judged by association and correlation with other ideas this is like the idea version of identity politics.
I think you can disagree with aspects of a culture without feeling you're own is superior; that could be down to one or 50 reasons. I've never met a person I completely agree with but I certainly don't feel superior to anyone.
Fair comment, obviously we're not all going to agree.
This interview brought me such joy. What a remarkable combination of levity, intelligence, and spirit John Cleese possesses. Great job, Rebel Wisdom.
-Brandon Van Dyck
John Cleese? Yessss! This man is an epitome of common sense. No bullshit!!
totally!
Faulty Towers, Monty Python, Blackadder, Porridge, Only Fools And Horses etc would likely never make it through the door of the bbc these days. That alone should tell you there is a problem within our major establishments. What is Britain without its sense of humour.
And don't forget Danny Crane in Boston Legal.
A re-run of old Benny Hill shows would be interesting in today's world.
That's so true, and explains why most of modern British comedy is absolute dogshit.
All my favourate shows mentioned
A tyranny.
I could listen to John for hours. Hope you have him on again.
Apparently his current show is quite good.
Finally an interview on his level. Thank you.
Nick Parkison ...I remember a time, long ago, when all interviews were as interesting as this one.
It is always refreshing to listen to people, who are from a generation that still had a coherent worldview.
I do not mind the novelty we have nowadays, but it is nearly impossible to track all the different narratives that people talk about.
The madness of today is out of control. It's gotten to the point where the simple fact of being coherent is grounds for it to target and destroy something today. All in the name of being progressive. It's like saying "I want to cut off everyone's legs and arms" as a progressive solution to someone saying "I have always found having legs and arms to be useful".
Absolutely so true
Well said
In an age when so many are going insane, thank goodness John Cleese is going sane.
Well put👍
So all of a sudden people are going insane? What about every single decade in all of history? The world always has been a madhouse. We haven't had a world war in 70 years. That's something.
I have endured much physical discomfort over the years due to this man, from deep insuppressible laughter to the point of tears, and loved every second of it. Thankyou John. It would have been great to be able hear Douglas Adams' impressions on the present culture and madness, if only.
Rupert Sheldrake is brilliant, and he has been shabbily treated, John is so right about the scientific establishment being stubborn, and resistant to its own scientific method!
Michael Gorman Totally agree. Love Rupert.
Agree with this.
Wow. For once a celebrity who has something interesting and knowledgeable to say.
foreign particle ....I miss English men like John Cleese
@foreign particle: A Cambridge degree helps . . .
Load of rubbish. I'm analytical and get absurd or surreal comedy.
That's because Mr Cleese isn't a "celebrity". He is a genuine success in several areas.
The Kardashians and the Hiltons are "celebrities".
@@QED_ Cambridge Law degree
For those who have no clue,
This is called Thought.
Learn and enjoy.
Or, when all else fails, , be micro aggressed and call for total deplatforming.
His closing words about political correctness being similar to Scottish Presbyterians is spot on. The nasty feeling that somewhere somebody is enjoying themselves. Disapproving, posturing and self-righteous.
Political Correctness is the new "Puritanism." It's judgmental, preachy, moralizing, shuns and shames people, even has "witch hunts."
@@scottleary8468 "You don't need God to have religious tendencies" - Forget who said that but rings true
@Augustulus Rex yes it's Calvinism at it's narrowest. Denouncements akin to the Stalin era are being made by the Harpies of the Social media who then sit back, self satisfied with their own virtue.
@ClandestineOstrich Another way of seeing it is as a "New Medievalism." In many ways the Middle Ages have come back. People are being tried for "Hate Speech" which is equivalent to "Heresy" in the Middle Ages. Instead of being burned at the stake so called "bigots" (equivalent to "heretics") are "depersoned."
The Victorians were "sexually" repressed (kindof explains "Jack the Ripper")but the Politically Correct today are "intellectually" repressed. Intellectual repression is more dangerous than sexual repression. I think there is a healthy sexual repression and an unhealthy sexual repression. The Victorians were not so intellectually repressed (Darwin's theory of Evolution was accepted by many Victorians).
The Politically Correct today have little sexual repression but are very intellectually repressed. I think it is more unhealthy to repress questions and doubts than it is to repress sexual feelings.
@@brendanburgess2071 Sounds very true. I think that religion and politics overlap. Religion can give meaning and purpose to one's life, but so can politics. The devotion of atheistic communists is very similar to religious devotion. Even during the French Revolution wasn't Notre Dame converted into a "Temple of Reason"? Something like that happened. Communists persecuted religion similar to one religion persecuting other religions.
Religion can have many gods, one God or no God (Buddhism).
What a wise, brilliant man. Thank you for this interview.
Please make John Cleese the head of the BBC!!
John Cleese, funny and smart. A lethal combination. Another win for Rebel Wisdom.
Nobody: *
Rebel Wisdom: And Now For Something Completly Different!
(* ...expected the Spanish Inquisition)
Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition.
@@zibbezabba2491 16 tons!!
When common sense is seen as controversial you know you live in interesting times. Good work getting him on.
John Cleese is suddenly everywhere! I never expected him to him to turn up here!
I was soooooo tempted to reply with the usual Monty Python film quote. I resisted temptation! Do I get a medal?
Open-minded, free-spirited intellectuals -- much love. Superb timing, btw. Keep up the great work, and thank you.
8 years ago??? He made that damn comment 8 flaming years ago????!!!!! Why are people banging on about it now??? Ffs!!! 🙄🤦♀️
I know right?
THIS is why I'm a proud patron of Rebel Wisdom. Beautiful work!
Cleese "I'm interested in finding out why we're here"
Me "Didn't Python make a whole movie answering that question long ago!?"
Dragon's Red No
Hahahaha! C’est le sens de la vie!
in fact that's probably an undercover commercial ahahahah
OK, John Cleese is more awesome than I thought.
Sure makes Stephen Fry seem a generation behind...atheism is crumbling because it puts a void at the centre of all this wonder, Cleese realises that we can put anything we want in there, but a void is just unimaginitive...and quite honestly impossible...the answer is as alive as we are
If you haven’t seen his talk on the difference between smart an stupid people... it’s in-lighting
I suspect a lot of what he's said here will be seen as either offensive or brilliant, but I remember when most of these ideas were more or less good sense. Just being decent to others is one example. Or underlying the whole thing: occasionally it's a really good idea to deliberately piss people off so as to expose faulty assumptions that have been mistaken for wisdom. That was one of the most valuable lessons I learned from my quasi-atheist philosophy teacher during my first year of college. On the flipside, if you can laugh at what you think is sacrilege rather than crying outrage, you don't need to act like a crusader.
Great interview, and a pleasant surprise to see the philosophical side of such a well-reputed manufacturer of jokes.
Long live COMMON SENSE.
Its relieving to see Cleese confirm my opinion on so many things. Respect to him.
Oh and I laughed so hard when he said he enjoys making not so smart people cross.
"I love getting people cross when they're not that smart" ...
Absolute treasure! John Cleese is an absolute legend.
your legend left the country. took the money and ran
“I know Jordan Peterson has fallen foul of the PC crowd which means that he must be a good chap. “ 🤣🤣🤣
Peterson is a whiny little man who got millions from the Mercers to hump that stupid book of his around to ignorant people. And he's laughed all the way to the bank on you're attention to his mediocre bullshit.
Mr. Cleese, you've kept me in stitches since early childhood and I can't thank you enough for it. Good on you (as you Brits put it) for speaking truth to (wholly undeserved) power. :-D
"Only an intellectual can believe that" ROFL ... How can John Cleese not be a favourite?
He's a very naughty boy. . He's also an absolute pleasure to listen to and a genuine legend
dead parrot
Don't do it again.
I’ve been a fan of John Cleese since I’m Sorry, I’ll Read That Again and this is the best interview I’ve seen /read with him in all that time. I’d love to see a follow up interview at some point and if possible. Thanks for your hard work, it’s appreciated.
I wasn't expecting something quite so profound and intimate from John Cleese. Nice one.
The more I hear that man speak the more I love him.
You really outdid yourself here, Rebel Wisdom. Wow, just wow!
So he is not "literally Hitler" but a british gentleman. Go figure.
Jakub Bolanowski
1 second ago
I am surprised as well. Up to this point I thought name Monty Python's Flying Circus was just english translation of NSDAP. Have to go back to Buzzfeed and Vox to have my thoughts straighten out.
Rebel Wisdom nails another amazing interview.
08:43 - Obviously when Jesus said 'blessed are the cheese-makers' that was not meant to be taken literally; the line was referring to any manufacturer of dairy products.
lmao
I love seeing big personalities do interviews with TH-camrs versus big media. The word is getting out that you can actually have your say fairly, and not be twisted, selectively edited, and attacked by some Kathy Newman type.
I first saw this when the fellow that stopped the church shooter in Texas refused all interviews, but went on Crowder's show to tell his story.
TH-camrs have to create a relationship with their audience, and authenticity is a crucial part of that. Something big media organizations will never have.
Let the paradigm keep shifting.
John Cleese makes me proud to be English.
He makes me love the English!
John Cleese - Love you man, beautifully and perfectly said - Let's lighten up, PC culture should be about being nice, not moral tyrants, jokes and teasing are part of the english culture, and scientism has destroyed meaning and purpose and everything including science needs to be questioned openly.
I like him more now than ever. (And always been a fan)
for all the shows and movies mocking religion and the spiritual I never thought John Cleese would believe in anything outside the physical
Christopher Rosenbalm I believe Rupert Sheldrake and Dean Radin were also two influences that changed his mind (I remember seeing him in one of their presentations as an audience member).
I think it’s valid to both be critical of aspects of religion and yet still realise reductionist atheist is a massive cop out.
I keep running into this bottom-up vs top-down idea. I’d like to see a dialogue between John Cleese and Jordan Peterson.
@vic summers: It's a powerful idea that weaves its way through the entire history of Western Civilization . . .
Congrats on getting him on the channel. I hope this propels you forward as this channel is still very underrated. Keep up the good work!
Wow- fantastic interview. Thankyou so much!! We need a heavy-weight like Cleese in times like these speaking some sense and truth
He's much more articulate than I, and he expresses so well what a lot of the "silent majority" here in America are feeling. That part where he spoke fondly of the "old England" in such a warmly remembered way was especially poignant.
Kudos to John Cleese. I didn't realise he was 'one of us'!
Overjoyed to see Cleese on Rebel Wisdom, thank you both
My favorite Python - I mean, one of my top two favorite... make that one of my top three favorite... make that four... or
Certainly, at least one of them!
I kept thinking there’s music starting up at random times, but just realised it’s the tick of Johns watch coming over the microphone 😁
Great interview!
Great interview. I really value your journalism. Thanks and please keep going !
Blessed are the cheesemakers! Fantastic interview…. Thank you!
The cheesemakers?
It's not meant to be taken literally. Obviously it refers to all manufacturers of dairy products
Some Entitlement issues It’s a reference to Life of Brian. It’s mentioned in passing during the interview. th-cam.com/video/YP2KDUiBI-E/w-d-xo.html
Rebel Wisdom LOL!
Shut up big nose!
Fantastic conversation. You are a fantastic interviewer
And if i didn’t say it enough.... fantastic
Thank-you both for spending the time to make this. It is so much more thoughtful than just a few sound-bites.
This is excellent! I've always been a fan of John Cleese, but now I have a newfound deep respect for him. Great interview!
Very enjoyable, wish it was longer, I look forward to a follow up 👌🏻
If I was as rich as John Cleese and approaching the sunset of my life, I would do exactly what he is doing: forget the "rat race," move to a quiet Caribbean island, and spend remainder of my life contemplating the "Transcendent" (or to use the colloquial "God"). I think he has the right idea!
He has given a lot of his wealth to his many ex-wives!
Thank you so much for posting this, really going to savour it!
'The table would go quiet as they'd be embarrassed that i'd gone off my rocker' = genius.
But isn't that the very essence of being off one's rocker?
@@trollop_7 absolutely
I feel exactly like Mr Cleese. Regarding erosion if British culture and of foreign ownership.
Omg, nice pull dude. Great vid!
This is a conversation that gives me hope for the future. It is always darkest before the dawn. Even the horror of social media has the opportunity to be the place to gather ideas of humility, gratitude, mercy, grace, personal responsibility and courageous truth.
Amazing. Thank you Rebel Wisdom crew.
I love John Cleese xxxx frenchie from Quebec Canada
11:30 on his ridiculously colorful tiny watches ticking starts picking up on the mic and it almost adds a real life Monty Python element. Loved the interview, haha.
Thanks for this interview. It broadened my horizon and will continue to do so when I read the books/authors you mentioned.
And my esteem for Mr. Cleese has risen even higher.
John you have lead our hearts in laughter and enlghtenment. A true Englishman and gentleman. I am so happy to hear you talk about these things as people need to hear them and be reminded of why they are here. Thanks for eveything. FOLLOW THE GOURD!
John Cleese basically speaking pure truth right here, Bless you and thanks for the all the great comedy you've been responsible for and apart of. Great that you got him as a guest.
Great interview... next; Stephen Fry please.. haha
Very good call
Great interview, thanks for the upload
I love the idea of seeing John Cleese meet the Dalai Lama and the two of them just laughing and never saying a word.
Great talk John Cleese , what a wonderfull man
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
PythonWave please!
Really enjoyed this chat.
Pure Joy! Thank you
LOVE it. More like this.
My respect for John Cleese just tripled.
congrats on the interview
So very good, thanks for the upload. Many thanks.
OMG John Cleese - and he is talking about spiritual subjects as well?!?!! Epic! Win!
MastaRob if you like this, you’re going to love this th-cam.com/video/4RGizqsLumo/w-d-xo.html I was surprised to see him embracing this, I was always under the impression he was quite Liberal and maybe I assumed he would come from the Hitchens/Dawkins view of life
John Cleese, perfect. Thanks Rebel Wisdom!
Thank you for letting Cleese speak. I've watched so many interviews where interviewers constantly interrupt him. Finally able to hear his thoughts!
Thank you so much for this. LOVED it!
Well said sir. Great interview. 👏
John Cleese is an absolute gem. Amazing interview.
WOW such a fantastic interview. Such a thoughtful conversation. This just made my friday
my Saturday.. John Cleese's intellect and wisdom are phenomenal and also, gladly, entertaining. Which is exactly as it should be!
And a humongous Thank You! for this interview 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Come on John all types of psychology. You where in the holy grail. IT WOULD BE SWEET TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT JUNG?
Keep it up, your getting higher powered interview guests who trust that you will give a fair and balanced in depth interview.
"If people started to think about what would make them happy, rather than, what would make them rich, people would be happier right away" - I can't say how true that is. If you actually check what brings happiness that lasts, you will see it is in the direction of love, peace of mind and a sense of the divine, not in the direction of "getting more". That is not running around with a raised finger and holier than though syndrom. Do what you want to do, but always check how happy you are with it.
So glad i clicked on this,quite thought provoking! thanks for share