Jonathan Swift’s Cultural War in London: The Scriblerus Club Revisited

What are the historic forces moving events on today’s world stage?

Turbulent storms shake the foundations of the American republic as the world waits with bated breath to see if a nation restored to its better traditions of friendship and cooperation arises or if a system of empire and war dominates.

In this presentation delivered as a part of the Rising Tide Foundation’s lecture series “Towards an Age of Creative Reason”, Aaron Kalfon delivers a series of insights on the historical roots of the process that later arose in 1776 by diving into the events of the early 18th century Britain and a small but remarkably influential group of poets, artists and statesmen that emerged around the figures of Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, John Gay and Robert Harley.

Aaron introduces Jonathan Swift’s Scriblerus Club, and explores the great artist’s method of deploying poetry, satire and “fiction” as weapons to not only “speak the unspeakable” and expose corruption in his own time, but to elevate the minds and morals of all citizens for all times yet to come.

Describing his thesis, Aaron writes:

That great American experiment, the so-called beacon of democracy shinning in a world shadowed by tyrants and despots. It should not surprises you then, that since the founding of the American Republic, local and foreign entities have been on a steady march toward their respective objectives, beating their drums to the tune of global conspiracy. What is that conspiracy? Or better yet, who are these conspirators? Before we can answer those questions, I want to present the assertion that the American Revolution represents a tradition that is thousands of years old, and potentially, as old as Humanity itself. This age-old conflict between traditions can be chalked up to this dichotomy of ideas; Natural Law Vs. Arbitrary Law, or the common right of humanity and the divine right of kings.

One-Time
Monthly
Yearly

Make a one-time donation

Make a monthly donation

Make a yearly donation

Choose an amount

C$5.00
C$15.00
C$100.00
C$5.00
C$15.00
C$100.00
C$5.00
C$15.00
C$100.00

Or enter a custom amount

C$

Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearly

Leave a Reply