Political Philosophy Podcast: Recent Episodes
Toby Buckle
Discussing the demographic that has been at the forefront of activism—and of warning of what is to come.
A recent article of mine generated significant engagement from all sides, including an extended critique from Silvaria, who argued I was wrong to try and separate conservatism and fascism. We sat down to discuss the debate.
The right is obsessed with declining birth rates, what, if anything, should be the liberal response?
What is bigotry, how should we think about it, and why a strategy of appeasement will never work.
reset the politics of the issue. We discuss what we're up against, the challenges facing us, what us winning might look like, and how we get there.
It's 1350 BC and the most powerful man on earth has lost his mind, closing the temples, moving the capital into the desert, and raving, terrifyingly, that there is only one god
What is academic tenure, what are the main arguments for or against it? Why has it gotten harder to get, and to what extent should public scholarship be a criteria for it? Deepa Das Acevedo discusses her book The War on Tenure.
Why are fascists so interested in fictional universes like Star Trek or Lord of the Rings? And is there a link between the rise of the far right and the decline in creativity in mainstream entertainment?
What is Fascism, what was its relationship to socialism historically, and what is it today?
Across the world mainline political parties have faced a challenge from the far-right. Across the world, they've struggled to offer a counter narrative on immigration. Why?
I recently published an article in The New Republic interviewing the American's who saw our democratic collapse coming -Cassandras, as I called them. I wanted to understand why some people got it, and others didn't. I'm joined by one of them, Irina (also my wife) who interviews me on the process of writing it and what I learn't.
Liberal Current's Editor in Chief Adam Gurri joins the podcast - How the centrist political media has enabled fascism, and what needs to be done differently. Support the Political Philosophy Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcastSupport Liberal Currents: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-liberal-currents-startup-fund
An audio essay: Putting the UK's new anti-refugee policies in context, why they are both bad on their own terms, but also a big warning sign for our democracy. Where we're at, and why there is hope.
I debate if the current Labour Government is on the right track - are they right to give ground on cultural issues?
What is bioethics? Why do Black and white Americans experience such differential healthcare outcomes? And what are the drawbacks to social justice concepts from academia becoming mainstream?
I'm joined by the founder and director of The Good Law Project - the organisation fighting the UK's anti-trans bathroom ban in court. We cover rights and freedoms in the UK, the complex legal mess we find ourselves in, and how the rest of us should respond.
Measuring our anti-fascist preparedness vs the US, Video version: https://youtu.be/t8DEEUs-RFg?si=L8DDXCT5VTE82RTP
Originally a symbol of mobility, of escape and adventure, we have now built much of our world around the car. Has doing so liberated us? Moore & Kay argue that it has not.
Does my argument that the left should not threaten abstention survive Liam's case that we can't impose message discipline on online communities? An open free-form chat.
Liam Bright discusses his influential White Psychodrama paper & we give our takes on the various cultural products arising from white guilt. Is the era of 'high woke' over, and is there anything to be learn't from it?
James S. Fishkin, the Pioneer of deliberative polling joins the podcast. We discuss the nature of public opinion, how it can be changed, the positivities of consensus, 'activist disfunction' and can deliberation help cure our current democratic death spiral.
I recently wrote that liberalism must reject neutrality and instead embrace a comprehensive vision of what is good for people, one that takes the fight to fascism. I defend that view against concerns from Alec Crisman and we debate our very different visions about what liberals can - or should - try to achieve in the age of Trump.
The series continues, exploring the world the Bible was born into. Another genre of writing these texts existed within was the Ancient Near Eastern law code. We look at the most famous, focusing on sex, marriage, adultery, homosexuality, and offending cows.
From Ancient Egypt, to Ethiopia, to the Islamic tradition, Africa had a rich - & truly ancient - tradition of philosophy prior to European Colonization. Peter Adamson and Chike Jeffers join the podcast to discuss. Africana Philosophy from Ancient Egypt to the Nineteenth Century: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/africana-philosophy-from-ancient-egypt-to-the-nineteenth-century-9780198927174?cc=gb&lang=en&Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
What is democracy and why is it failing? Natasha Piano joins the show to discuss her recent book, Democratic Elitism: The Founding Myth of American Political Science.
The first episode of my new, new format, history series - the Bible in its historic and literary context. We start in 1850 BC in ancient Babylon, with the epics that would evolve into the Genesis flood story.
Crime and criminality are central concepts in American political discourse - fears of crime, crime as code for race, or illegal immigration are all common issues. Now we have a movement running the country that is obsessed with crime, but also led by criminals, how do we make sense of that? Why is that so appealing to so many, and how do we talk them out of it? I'm joined by one of the best writers on the criminal justice system - Josie Duffy Rice - to discuss.
What the hell is up with Silicon Valley's lurch to the far-right? Dave Karpf joins to discuss
Why & how the Democratic Party needs to change. Samantha and I discuss our recent articles on what is going wrong for democrats, and what is going wrong for those who want to reform the party. The Crisis of Democratic Governance: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/the-crisis-of-democratic-governance/Roadmap to American Reconstruction: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/roadmap-to-american-reconstruction/Reforging America: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/reforging-america/Why the Democratic Tea Party Failed (and How It Could Succeed): https://newrepublic.com/article/195300/democratic-tea-party-bernie-aoc-failed-succeed
The debate on if Trump is an existential fascist threat is now over. What, if anything, is to be learnt from it? Yes, It's Fascism https://www.liberalcurrents.com/yes-its-fascism/Trump 'Alarmists' Were Right: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/trump-alarmists-were-right-we-should-say-so/Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
The EU from a political philosophy perspective - How do we justify it, is it legitimate, is there a 'democracy gap', & how will it weather the rising far-right?
Who was Rousseau? What is the 'general will'? What did he think was important when designing constitutions, and what does this tell us about freedom - and the possibility of freedom - today?
Moudhy Al-Rashid on the first kings in history - The origins of the institution, royal ideology & propaganda, & their use of violence & terror
What's wrong with the refugee debate in the UK? Does our process respect assylum seekers (or even attempt to)? Do refugees have an obligation to be grateful? And how do we even start to think ethically in such a warped informaiton environment?
How does the UK political system work, what role has immigration played in our politics, and are we at risk of a 'Trump moment' here?
I share a new political spectrum for the ati-trump coalition and use it to think through questions like: Why did the democtratic vote decline from 2020 to 2024, what's gone wrong for liberal messaging, how can the left win primaries, & what's (some) dems becoming much worse post-election?
A deep dive into all things Plato & The Republic with Dr Carol Atack. Particularly his description of tyranny and the tyrant, do they apply today, and how we might read Plato in the light of our current moment.
An in-depth look at the US-Israel relationship. What were the Biden administrations goals post October 7th, and how successful where they? How should we think about Trump's proposed plan, what is the thinking (or lack of) behind it, and why does it hold such appeal for some?
Everything Supreme Court - Theory and practice: How has the role of the court developed historically, how has it gained more power recently, how should we think about it, and what should we expect in Trump's second term?
In a patreon supporers only episode I take a range of audience questions on democratic messaging, my liberal currents articles, and how to make falafel that doesn't fall apart.This is a 10 minute preview of the episode - for the full thing, become a supporter on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/politicalphilosophypodcast
Do we have an ethical obligation to vote? Chris Freiman joins the podcast to argue no, our time and energy is better spent elsewhere. I disagree, and through the conversation we pressure test many of the moral claims people make about this defining democratic act.
What is the minimum we can be asked to provide for others? I'm joined by Nicole Hassoun to discuss this, relationships, loneliness, and more.
How did realist thinkers like Machiavelli and Hobbes respond to people predicting the end of the world, and what lessons can we draw from that in our own day? Alison McQueen Joins the podcast to discuss.
What makes a political decision legitimate? That it tracks the popular will, that it's made with the right information, or something else? Fabienne Peter discusses both the theory, and the applied cases of COVID, Brexit, and Trump
What are the books that didn't get included in the New Testament? A big, fun, deep-dive into all things early Christianity and non-canon with Eric Vanden Eykel.
In a final election think piece I argue that the danger the US political system faces is not easily understood through the mechanical-newtonian visualisation we have of it. Instead, I see how things look using a much older metaphor - the body politic
Kristen Monroe discusses conservative opposition to Trump from the perspective of political phycology - why so many republicans have capitulated, what made the difference for those who didn't, and what should our moral evaluation of the MAGA movement be.
Part 2 of my conversation with Derek Guy - A broader look at pluralism in fashion, liberal freedom and its discontents, in which Derek challenges my Millite liberalism from a communitarian perspective.
I'm joined by Derek Guy (AKA Menswear Guy) to take on the intersection of fashion history & the history of political thought. Derek argues the suit is a creation of liberalism, but was also killed by liberalism, & we discuss what that means for how we see the tradition & ourselves.
Matt McManus is back on the podcast to discuss liberal socialism throughout history from early antecedents, to Mill, Thomas Paine, and Rawls, as well as the neoliberal critique of it by Hayek & others.Pre-order Liberal Socialism: https://t.co/0r9ZVpLF2i
The history of unions, including antecedent forms of worker organisation, the different justifications for them, and how these relate to values like equality, freedom, and democracy.
I develop an original account of the increasing gender voting gap & relate it to why some people are much more alive to the dangers of the populist right than others.
Rawls, religion, the reasonable & unreasonable, and what are our obligations when liberal democracy is under threat? Do we have a duty to try and persuade people out of the populist right?
Following a tumultuous month in American politics, I take a range of audience questions on all things USA.
Most Americans know the outsized influence big corporations and the wealthy can have on our democracy. What does it look like to build a theory of liberal democracy based on avoiding that? Samuel Bagg and I get into that, the ethics of voting, and the reality of activism.
How has equality been thought about throughout human history? Is there a final definition of the term? Does it have a potential dark side, and how does its history compare to that of freedom? Darrin McMahon joins the podcast to discuss.
What defines the modern American right? Matt McManus argues we should understand the movement as fundementally about hierarchy, we then get into a general conversation about the Biden administration and the direction of the US Left.
Kevin Vallier returns to the podcast to breakdown the lastest intelectual movement on the relgious right - intergralism. What is it, where did it come from, and what should liberals and conservatives make of it?
I'm joined by Amanda Podany, author of Weavers, Scribes, and Kings, to chat all things Ancient Near East. From her 'microhistory' method, to the culture, religion, gender norms, politics, and even food of the period.(After a longish pause in episodes I'm coming back with two at once!)
After a content creation sabbatical, the podcast is back!Friend of the Podcast Philip Pettit returns to discuss his latest book - the State - we discuss his genealogy of norms, laws, and nations.
I'm Joined by Jonathan Jowlands for an in-depth discussion of historical Jesus research. We cover the history of the 'quest' and the different worldviews we both bring to it. Jonathan lays out a view for including theological perspectives, and I defend a 'history only' approach.
Why did democrats exceed expectations in the midterms, and what does that mean for America's increasingly unstable democracy? I give some overall reactions and analysis in this solo episode.
I'm joined by Virginia Mantouvalou to discuss her upcoming book on worker's rights. We look at how state rules and regulations can make workers at risk of explotation, and the role of human rights in addressing these injustices.
An extended episode in which I take on one of the most significant historical mysteries of all time: What happened at, and after, the death of Jesus? What did Paul see, or claim to have seen? How and why the gospel accounts differ, and my best guess on the reality behind it all.
I'm joined by Alfred Mele to discuss his latest book - Free Will: An Opinionated guide. We cover how philosophers think about these issues and some common examples, then discuss our general thoughts on both compatibilism and libertarian free will.
A blockbuster all-in-one-take listener questions episode covering the queen, Mark's gospel, Liz Truss, reconciling individualism with social justice, & the midterms.
An in-depth deep dive into how we might deduce the time of writing of the anonymous, undated, genre-defying documents we call the four canonical gospels.
A deep dive into J S Mill's relationship with socialism with Helen McCabe. We cover Mill's moral foundations, pre-Marxian Socialism, the nature and history of liberalism and socialism, their interpretation today, and if Mill's vision is a realizable one.
Website:
https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
A deep dive into the philosophy of reparations with Olúfẹmi O. Táíwò. We cover the context & questions asked, Rawls, Nozick, arguments for equality, & harm repair vs constructivst accounts of reparations.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKq83FUsCIM&t=3365s
I'm joined by Joel Baden to discuss the theological and moral system behind the sacrifice laws in Leviticus, as well the history and composition of the Pentateuch.
Watch this interview on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmTP8SeQuco&t=2694s
An interview I did on the Elucidations Podcast. The episode is an introduction to J S Mil''s political philosophy; who he was, his place in the liberal tradition, the liberty principle, and utility vs rights based approaches to liberal pluralism.
A back and forth interview with Jack Symes of the Panpsycast Philosophy podcast on his new book Philosophers on Consciousness: Talking about the Mind.
We start with our reflections on doing public philosophy and how we respond to criticism, the move on to the philosophy of consciousness. We end with a discussion of how we think about our minds might impact our thoughts on morality and I'm challenged with a trolley problem: One human being vs five Vulcans who think, but do not feel pleasure or pain.
Audio version of this video interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UG3vf3OWcA&t=3197s
For the last episode of 2021 I take on audience questions on political elites, islamic terrorism, orthodox marxism, and the US left and Joe Biden.
I'm joined by Noah Feldman to discuss his latest book The Broken Constitution. We discuss how the American constitution was made in debates and compromises over slavery and remade by Lincoln.
Robert Talisse returns to the podcast to discuss his latest book - Sustaining democracy. We also discuss liberalism and the role of imagination in politics (and this time we agree!)
American technology policy expert Alec Ross joins the podcast the discuss the future of the world economy and the political risks of failing to address inequality and concentrations of corporate power.
Why do theories of the end of the political and economic order feel so intuitive to some people, and so unintuitive to others? I draw on early Christian history and dehumanization theory to create a novel account.
Magdi Semrau joins me to discuss the politics of covid. Are the many restrictions due to the pandemic philosophically justifiable? Why have the political left and political right interpreted the crisis so differently and what does this tell us about the nature of conservatism and the future of liberalism?
Is modern social justice activism a threat to free speech, or the project of liberal democracy more broadly? Thomas Prosser and I offer differing interpretations of this new ideological project.
A short promo episode for my first book- 'What is Freedom? conversations with Historians, Philosophers, & Activists' published with OUP, out November, and available to pre-order now.
Featuring a foreword by Cecile Fabre and an introduction by me, the book includes contributions from Elizabeth Anderson, Mary Frances Berry, Ian Dunt, Michael Freeden, Nancy Hirschmann, Omar Khan, Dale Martin, Orlando Patterson, Phillip Pettit, John Skorupski, Peter Tatchell, and Zephyr Teachout.
Pre-order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0197572227/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_DTPBVTGX5YJHMPE1ZBQ0
OUP: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/what-is-freedom-9780197572221?lang=en&cc=us
(Patreon's won't be charged for this, it's not a full episode)
Is J S Mill's liberty principle bad political philosophy because he fails to define harm? I try to give this 'conventional' read a fair shake while also giving you my own view that the principle is . . . good, actually.
On Liberty by Aquarusa - https://aquarusa.wordpress.com/2021/08/02/on-liberty-1859/
Website - https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com
Patreon -
A history of abortion law in America from Roe to the present with analysis of the key issues raised in legal and political philosophy.
Website: https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Molly Ball joins the Podcast to discuss her new book, Pelosi. We cover the career of the first woman Speaker of the house, divisions on the left, and the skill of governance.
Pelosi: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pelosi-Molly-Ball/dp/1250252865
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Blog: https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/blog
A crossover episode with Alexis Papazoglou of The Philosopher & The News Podcast. We discuss Brexit and Freedom, Berlin's positive and negative distinction, and J S Mill.
Ian Dunt returns to the podcast for a pig picture talk on liberalism - What is it's future after trump, how does/should the ideology manage conflict, what are the differences between the UK and US left? We cover a lot and end on an uncharacteristically (for us) optimistic note.
Can the political theory of time help us make sense of our feeling that 2020 was a uniquely bad - and in some ways unreal - year?
Taking on audience questions I give a retrospective on the Trump era, my analysis of it, what I think lies ahead, and where progressives should go from here.
In part two I look at the different mindsets people approach voting with and develop an argument against seeing the act as expressive of an individual identity.
A quick promo of an upcoming live event this Friday (October 23rd, 2020). I will be moderating a (remote) panel discussion with Ian Dunt, Susan Nieman, and David Faris titled 'The US Election in a Global Context.'
During this live virtual discussion, political experts from the United States, United Kingdom and Germany will offer a global perspective on the 2020 election. Panelists will explore what we can learn from other countries about opposition parties, stolen elections and responses to the pandemic.
For more information and to register:
https://www.roosevelt.edu/news-events/events#!view/event/date/20201023/event_id/111939
(This is not a full episode, just a promo, Patreons will not be charged for it)
Ahead of the 2020 presidential election I take on the heated debate on whether leftists should give their support to democrats which whom they may not fully align. I produced an extended analysis of the different issues that are raised in this debate, in this first part I look at political institutions.
I'm joined by Seth Masket to discuss his latest book, Learning from Loss, in which he looks at the various narratives democrats constructed after their defeat in 2016.
We consider both how true those narratives where, how they impacted the 2020 primary, and how they might shape a Biden administration.
I refine my account of humiliation and develop a series of original arguments for the moral value of republican freedom based on it.
I discuss the phycology and politics of dehumanization with David Livingstone Smith. We also cover what ancient people's meant by 'clean' and 'unclean' in a religious context & dehumanization in contemporary US politics.
I'm joined by Professor Heather Widdows to discuss beauty as an ethical ideal. We cover the benefits and costs of an increasingly globalized ideal of beauty, the limitations of current liberalism, and how to theorize shame and humiliation.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Store: https://teespring.com/stores/political-philosophy-podcast
Elizabeth Anderson, Elizabeth Cohen, Angie Maxwell, and David Faris return to the podcast for a group discussion on US democracy, representation, polarization, & political narratives.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/political-philosophy-podcast
I'm joined by the conservative scholar of defense & foreign policy James Kurth. We discuss the contradictions of the American empire & its ideological justifications. We then use this discussion to situate the Trump presidency in a historical context.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/political-philosophy-podcast
I present an original account of how my J S Mill Style liberalism might fit together with my 'Neo-Machiavellian' Republicanism. The context is a consideration of social norms around speech and violence but I develop this into a larger theory of how to normatively understand American politics.
BRAND NEW: We now have a store where you can buy Political Philosophy Podcast merchandise! https://teespring.com/stores/political-philosophy-podcast
I take on a range of audience questions from winning political campaigns, rights and COVID, political forgiveness, & more.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Is moral grandstanding harmful? Is it something a virtuous person would do? I'm joined by Justin Tosi and Brandon Warmke to discuss their book on the issue.
Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Pre-Order Grandstanding: https://t.co/jJjqd1xs7P?amp=1
What explains Biden's strong black support in the 2020 primary? What can progressives do better in our platform, candidates, rhetoric, and ideological presentation?
Does democracy have to be a matter of simply electing representatives? I'm joined by Hélène Landemore to discuss the problems with libertarianism, democracy in the workplace, & alternate models of democratic decision making.
I was part of a panel discussion of left-wing new media producers. We covered the IDW, the left, free speech, & liberalism vs the left.
Participants:
Embrace the Void
https://voidpod.com/
Chrisiousity:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1b...
https://twitter.com/chrisiousity
The Poplar Tapes:
https://thepoplartapes.podbean.com/
https://twitter.com/ThePoplarTapes
Jerb the Humanist:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmE8...
https://twitter.com/Jerbivore
I discuss the ethical and epistemic issues surrounding disability with Tom Shakespeare: we cover the medical and social models, eugenics, disability and sexuality, standpoint epistemology, social justice, and the nature of knowledge.
I'm joined by professor Kimberly Hamlin to discuss her latest book: Free Thinker: Sex, Suffrage, and the Extraordinary Life of Helen Hamilton Gardener. We cover the concept of a "fallen woman', women's suffrage, the relations between feminism, atheism, evolution & race.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Website: https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/
In part 3 of the series, I look at how the Persian empire ended. Setting the stage I go into huge detail on theories of ancient warfare, warrior societies, & cover the backstory of Philip of Macedon.
Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Website: https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/
What is the conception of Freedom in the work of Hannah Arendt? How could this be used to justify, or criticize, modern protest movements?
What enabled the Sanders campaign to attract the support that it did? I consider this question using a variety of analytic frameworks. I also consider the differences/ dividing lines between Sanders & Warren & end looking at the future challenges & opportunities for left-wing ideologies.
What is the role of moral and political philosophy in policymaking? Should we try to apply ethical theories broadly or look at each case as they come up? I discuss this, and more, with Jonathan Wolff.
In part 2 of the series, I explore the aftermath of the collapse of the Assyrian Empire and the extraordinary rise of Cyrus of Persia. I go into considerable detail on ancient society and religion, as well as considering how this history is presented in popular culture.
The first part of a multipart series looking at ideology in the ancient world. I start by looking at the royal pronouncements of Ashurbanipal from a Marxist, hermeneutic, and finally domination theory perspective.
Is politics everything? Have we lost our civil society institutions? Is there any hope left for a shared liberal consensus? I take on these questions, and more, in part 2 with Robert Talisse. I also celebrate the podcast's 100th episode and preview my upcoming solo series 'Ideologies of the Ancients.'
What are we ultimately disputing when we disagree politically? Is progress across moral and political divides possible, and if so when? I get into a spontaneous lively conversion with Robert Talise on the epistemic foundations of political pluralism.
How did issues of rape and sexual violence emerge as central concerns for second-wave feminists? I discuss the intellectual history fo feminism, the role of art in that history, & its legacy today, with PEN award-winning author Nancy Princenthal.
Should democrats be considering potentialy disruptive ideas like court packing, adding states, or abolishing the filibuster? Would doing so be justified, and can we win if we dont?
I develop an original account of internal party divides. Using the 2016 primary, the 2019 UK election, and the Tea Party movement as case studies I try to offer a fresh take on many of the most contentious disagreements we have on the left.
Can politics move beyond a state of institutionalized aggression? Should liberalism be justified by appeals to a conception of the good or by public reason?
I'm joined by the historian David Farber to discuss the social and political history of the crack epidemic. We discuss the drug's history, the panic surrounding it, the political response to it, and how that informed our current politics.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Buy 'Crack: Rock Cocaine, Street Capitalism, and Decade of Greed': https://www.amazon.com/Crack-Cocaine-Street-Capitalism-Decade/dp/1108425275
I'm joined by congressional candidate Chris Armitage. We discuss his run, criminal justice reform, the progressive movement, Bernie's candidacy, the Bernie or bust phenomenon, and optimism for the future.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Armitage for Congress: https://armitageforcongress.com
Donate to Chris's campaign: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/armitage-for-congress-1?refcode=web-donate-box
Should academia be political? Does social-justice have a place on Campus? Does anti-foundationalism imply a particular view of these culture war issues? Stanley Fish and I discuss.
Is free speech a coherent idea? is there a neutral standard to decide if something is hate speech? How should we conceptualize liberalism, and how should we argue for it in the age of Trump?
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Buy The First https://www.amazon.com/First-Speech-Campus-Religious-Post-Truth/dp/1982115246
Has the Senate been a barrier to progressive reform in America? Is it an institution at odds with our current political culture? I discuss this as well as impeachment, partisanship, and post 2020 with the senior senator from Ohio, Sherrod Brown.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Desk 88: https://www.amazon.com/Desk-88-Progressive-Senators-Changed/dp/0374138214
Do we have special obligations towards fellow citizens? Is self-determination valuable? Can national identity be threatened by large scale immigration? I'm joined by David Miller to discuss these, and other, issues.
I take on a range of audience questions and comments from my economic inequality episode: Diminishing marginal returns, poverty vs inequality, long run growth, and the morality of capitalism.
I develop an original account how how different political cultures, & different ways of conceptualizing politics, have developed in the US and UK. How they have recently become inversions of each other. And argue that the current chaos is the shape fo things to come.
Is the current distribution of ecumenic resources in the US morally defensible? How should a mature moral or political theory think about this? I give my personal views.
I field listener questions including: language, ideology, booking guests, volunteering, and am I an anti-white racist?
What is ‘Positivism’ and why was it so important so Adorno to label Popper as one? Popper’s response, and what can we learn from this failure to communicate?
I revisit an acrimonious exchange between two very different public intellectuals. The first part sets the stage with the intellectual history.
Should we justify liberalism from appeals to political precepts or normative understandings of human nature? I consider two ways of thinking about liberalism's philosophical foundations.
How do we enforce rights under uncertainty? Does America's long history of human rights violations prevent it from acting as a force for good today?
Cécile Fabre returns to the podcast to discuss her latest book, Economic Statecraft. We discuss rights, property rights, free trade, sanctions, conditional aid, and conditional borrowing.
I develop an original account of humiliation and argue that including it in the neo-republican ideological project enriches its structure and makes it more intuitive and relevant.
Time. Founding moments. legitimacy. Commensuration. Liberal Democracy. The State. Immigration. Criminal Justice.
The historical and ideological factors behind Trump's meteoric rise in 2016, divisions on the left, & I go on a rant.
How did appeals to racism, sexism, and religion shape American party politics and conservative ideology?
Is corporate power of form of government? How does it affect our lives and freedom? Professor Elizabeth Anderson joins the podcast discuss.
Social geography. Space. Politics. Immigration. Race. Segregation. Racism. Trump. 2020. Ideology. Integration.
Brexit. Liberalism. J S Mill. Free speech. Living truths. Liberal democracy. Europe. Tony Blair. Journalism. Consent of the governed. Far right parties. Anti-liberalism. The future of Europe.
Is anyone really 'right' about political values, or does essentail contestability imply a strong relitavism?
Machiavelli. Power. Stability. Postmodernism. Unions. Meritocracy. Prediction. Polling. Trump. 2020.
Freedom. Donald Trump. Radicalism. Quentin Skinner. Republicanism. Riots. Class conflict. Ideology. Social Justice.
Freedom. Radicalism. The Renaissance. Machiavellianism. Republicanism. Ideology. Interpretation. Class Conflict.
Why are so many of us unhappy? Peter Singer, ‘The world’s most influential philosopher’ joins the podcast to discuss the link between doing good and being happy, money and happiness, working for a charity, right-wing self-help guru’s, and his advice for living a happy life.
For more on effective giving:
https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org
In the second part of my conversation with professor Jacob T. Levy we look at the need people have for guarantees in their political and moral systems; guarantees that their will of the world will both be actualized and be morally correct. We ask what the world looks like in the absence of such certainty.
Can we know the nature of justice before confronting the conditions of injustice? I’m joined by Jacob T Levy to discuss his upcoming work Justice in Babylon, we cover Ideal theory, Rawls, the nature of politics and the nature of the human condition.
What is an ideology? What do intellectuals studying it in opinion polls, contemporary debates, and historical texts understand it to mean? I’m joined by the authors of a recent survey of the study of ideology in different disciplines, Matto Mildenberger and Jonathan Leader Maynard, to help make sense of it all.
I’m joined by Brenden Weber, host of the Philosophy Guy podcast. We chat about the current state of public philosophy from the podcasting community to the intellectual dark web. We then go into depth on his analysis of the moral philosophy of Harry Potter: Is death part of life - and accepting it a part of a moral life – or is it a problem to be solved?
You can check out his podcast at:
https://thephilosophyguy.fireside.fm/hosts/brendenweber
I take questions from Facebook and twitter on Ancient Stoic Philosophers, J S Mill, randomization in democracy, ethical consumerism, futuristic concerns about body modification and if fascism is left wing or right wing.
In the finale I continue the story of liberalism vs libertarianism into the middle of the twentieth century. We explore the Keynes vs Hayek debate, the formulation of the modern welfare state and the 1945 general election. The finale also covers the different battlegrounds of ideological competition and ends by arguing for a particular understanding of what political change is and how it is possible.
What does Brexit mean for peace in Ireland, Parliamentary democracy, and the British constitution? How should we think about the motivations and actions of all involved? Is there any way forward from here? Cathy Barry joins the podcast to help me make sense of it all.
Cathy is editor of the Irish philosophy blog www.irishphilosophy.com You can follow her on twitter @cathyby and @irishphilosophy
You can support this podcast at: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Without free will or agency is morality possible? What could we ever really say we know about morality, is such knowledge possible and how would we go about knowing it? I go deep in my second part with Aaron from the Embrace The Void podcast.
https://voidpod.com
https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
What was the sexuality of the historical Jesus? Did he have romantic partners? What did Jesus and Paul teach about teach about the desirability or permissibility of sex, what where their views on the family, and how should all of that impact how we live today?
Dale Martin returns to the podcast! We cover Paul’s ideas about resurrection, the gender of the resurrected dead, the gender spectrum in the ancient world, the modern invention of the male/ female dichotomy, and postmodernism.
The first world war and economic crisis explode into the world in the 3rd part of our series on the ideologies of libertarianism and progressive liberalism. How do ideologies deal with huge system shocks like these? What is the role of elites in ideological creation and consumption?
In the second part of my series on the history of libertarianism I look at how the competition between libertarianism and progressive liberalism escalated to competition over scientific metaphors. The origin, and ideological weaponization of, the phrase “survival of the fittest”, and the introduction to the ideological fight of Newtonian mechanics.
In the second part of my conversation with Rupert Read we cover private language, essential contestability and political ideologies. We also discuss if it is possible to escape political ideologies or the use of power: Can we carve out true friendships separate from the forms of oppression that surround us?
Dr. Rupert Read returns to the podcast to provide an introduction to Wittgenstein’s philosophy of language. We cover Wittgenstein’s life, his approach to philosophy, his value to us, and the metaphors of family resemblances, word games, and money.
https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
By audience selection, I cover the intellectual and ideological history of libertarianism. What were its origins and what was is reacting against? I also attempt to place these developments in their historical context and discuss how they affected the world, our current institutions, and even how we think now.
In the second part of our conversation, Shadi Hamid and I get into a conversation about the contradictions of liberal universality. Should we want Islamists to become liberals for instance? Shadi argues for a liberalism that can appeal to the most possible people and I argue that, given we can never escape contestable premises, a liberalism based on progress best makes sense of these contradictions.
Sponsor the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Shadi Hamid discusses the different types of Islamism and their beliefs about government, democracy, and Islamic law. We also cover perceptions of Islam and its relationship with liberalism.
Christian Miller joins the podcast to discuss his book The Character Gap. What does it mean to have good character? What are, if any, the meta ethical foundations of this? Why should we develop character, and what are the factors that determines if people exhibit positive character traits in any given situation?
In the second part of our conversation Philip Pettit gives his answer to the challenge of the first; creating a reconstructive account of morality that explains its nature, the origins of desirability and responsibility, and why we should be moral.
As mentioned in the intro I’ve decided not to accept offers for paid advertisements for the podcast and will be attempting to fund it solely through listener support. You can sponsor us for any amount through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
Philip Pettit returns to the podcast to discuss his latest work The Birth of Ethics. We set of the challenge of resolving the seeming paradox of ethical truth in a naturalistic universe: In a world explained by science with 'nothing spooky' going on, how, and why, would morality emerge?
I Answer listener questions on a range of topics then give extended answers defending my views on free will (and how they relate to my views on religion and social justice and explaining my I think the arguments that race and IQ are linked are both flawed and dangerous.
What role should race play in how we think of ourselves as Americans? I discuss the race debate with Professor Glenn Loury. We cover the role of culture, the wealth gap, high levels of inner city-violence, the case for reparations, and police killings.
In the second part of my conversation with Brian Earp we discuss replicability, pre-registration, pseudoscience, science in popular culture, and the limits of scientific knowledge. We also apply this epistemically cautious empiricism to the difficult cases of implicit bias, affirmative action, and workplace diversity quotas.
Website:
https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com
Support on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com
The replication crisis has rocked the world of academic physiology but how far do its implications go? In this episode, I cover the incentive structures, institutional patterns, and faulty ways of thinking about statistics and evidence that lead to this with Brian Earp.
In the final episode of my conversation with Corey, we discussed the role of discrimination in our society. I also gvae a relpy to concerns raised by Jorden Peterson fans.
In this episode, I discuss the 'Intelectual Dark Web' with Existential Comic's Corey Mohler. We cover Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and Steven Pinker, arguing that for supposed free thinkers, they often just seem to want to maintain the world of their youth.
In this episode, I talk with Corey Mohler, author of the popular philosophy webcomic existential comics. We discuss the role of jokes in philosophy and politics, why he hates George Carlin, the state of the Democratic party in the US, and more.
In this episode, I talk with Matt Teichman, host of the elucidations podcast. We debate if there is such a thing as a universal morality that's common to all cultures, and what we learn from the diversity of moral and political thought in history.
We continue our discussion of transitional justice with Colleen Murphy, comparing the end of apartheid in South Africa with the civil rights movement in the US. From this contrast, we explore the idea of reparations for lynching and redlining in the form of truth and reconciliation commissions and financial payments.
Website: https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast
In this episode professor Colleen Murphy discusses justice in countries attempting to transition to democracy following conflict or repression. Professor Murphy argues that the demands of transitional justice are distinct from other forms of justice such as retributive, corrective, or distributive.
ROME, CHRIST, AND THE WESTERN MIND A Conversation With Orlando Patterson (3) by Toby Buckle
In the second part of the series Orlando Patterson to discuss the emergence of the value of freedom in Ancient Greece and its relation to slave society. We argue that Athens was unique in developing this value and western history was forever shaped by this, however uncomfortable we are with the seeming triumphalism of this narrative.
The first part of a three part series: I'm joined by the great historical sociologist Orlando Patterson to discuss the nature and history of slavery and how this lead to the creation of the "strange and un-innocent" value of freedom. In the first part we discuss Professor Patterson's background, his account of slavery and the history of slavery in the earliest peoples.
V.2 CORRUPTION AND CITIZENSHIP A conversation with Zephyr Teachout (Better audio) by Toby Buckle
SOCIAL JUSTICE WITHOUT CALLOUT CULTURE. A conversation with Kalaya'an Mendoza by Toby Buckle