The DIM Hypothesis

Why the Lights of the West Are Going Out

By: Leonard Peikoff

Narrated by: Robin Field

Length: 17 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

In his groundbreaking and controversial book The DIM Hypothesis, Dr. Leonard Peikoff casts a penetrating new light on the process of human thought and thereby on Western culture and history.

In this far-reaching study, Peikoff identifies the three methods people use to integrate concrete data into a whole, as when connecting diverse experiments by a scientific theory, separate laws into a constitution, or single events into a story. The first method, in which data is integrated through rational means, he calls Integration. The second, which employs non-rational means, he calls Misintegration. The third is Disintegration - which is nihilism, the desire to tear things apart.

InThe DIM Hypothesis Peikoff demonstrates the power of these three methods in shaping the West by using the categories to examine the culturally representative fields of literature, physics, education, and politics. His analysis illustrates how the historical trends in each field have been dominated by one of these three categories, not only today but during the whole progression of Western culture from its beginning in ancient Greece.

Extrapolating from the historical pattern he identifies, Peikoff concludes by explaining why the lights of the West are going out – and predicts the most likely future for the United States.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.; 2012 Leonard Peikoff

If you were frustrated by Ayn Rand's narrow focus

If you ever read Ayn Rand's work, but felt frustrated by her focus almost exclusively on the individual, without deeply considering the impact of philosophy on culture and society, this is an excellent read. This is NOT a book about objectivism or Rand. This is a book which takes a rational approach to look at how philosophy impacts culture and society throughout western history (going back to the Greeks). While Peikoff, as one of Rand's strongest adherents clearly comes from an objectivist viewpoint, this book is not about individuals, other than briefly as the instigators of major philosophical trends. Rather, it assess historical trends and transitions from a philosophical viewpoint, showing that major cultural and political changes are demonstrably preceded by shifts in the philosophies underlying that culture, as measured by the products of that culture. While Rand's work is "little picture", or "how should an individual try to live life irrespective of the culture he lives in", this work is at the opposite extreme: "how can we expect our culture and politics to evolve in the future based on observable philosophical trends". The work is compelling and I would say a must-read for anyone with a rational view of the universe. Whether you accept his ultimate conclusions or not, the concepts are well worth considering.

Objetivismo Aplicado

Excelente aplicación del método de pensamiento que originó la revolución del Objetivismo. Una visión clara de los errores fundamentales de la sociedad Occidental.

Wow, what a book.

This is not ans easy book, but it really explains why the light of the west are going out. At the same time it fire up your spirit to keep western value up and alive. Ayn Rand was the ignition spark of this engine, Leonard Peikoff is the fuel of the philosophy. It is now up to us individual to drive our machine to success.

Extremely Important

This is a must listen to/read for anyone who cares about what is best for America, freedom, reason, truth. and the successful flourishing and happiness of human life. I highly recommend a serious consideration of the ideas it presents

Erudite and Troubling

I regard DIM as the magnum opus of the greatest living philosopher. The first few chapters are abstract, and I had to listen to them a few times before I felt prepared to proceed to rest of the book. The rest of the book concretizes the abstractions made in the first chapters, and I particularly loved Dr. Peikoff's treatment of science, art and education (my three passions).

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

Brilliant

Anything but Dim. Dr. Piekoff gives a thorough analysis and clearly identifies the essentials of western philosophy. 11/10 would read again.

Depressing yet motivating

As an Objectivist I was eager to read this book. The scope of it is astounding- attempting to characterize and fit into his theory all of western philosophical and cultural history. While the conclusion (take over in the US by the ultra religious) is depressing he still holds out the possibility for a rational philosophy to pull out a win in the US.

In my top 10 all time favorite books

If you like reading about philosophy this is a must read. worth every penny

An education in philosophy across time - great!

The narrator reminds me of Leonard Peikoff himself in terms of his voice and style - which I thought added to the value of the book. I will honestly have to read this in paper form - especially for the purpose of referencing the chart and DIM classifications to take away a deeper and better understanding of this text. They book was written with usage of this table/chart in mind as an aid, so missing this with the audible book does make a difference. That being said, I didn't feel at a complete loss either. Hearing the history from the pre-Socrates and Aristotelian time frames, through the times of the Roman Empire, Dark Ages, Renaissance, Enlightenment, to current - covering trends of the DIM categories over literature, science, politics, etc... was a great travel through time from a philosophical perspective. I will not be bothered in spending the time needed to re-read this, to take many notes, and probably to re-listen/re-read many times. This is a study of intense interest to me and this is a valuable study, analysis, and methodology to glimpse where we are headed in the future.