Political Philosophy Podcast

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.

Audio of my live event with Roosevelt University

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 wha...

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://teespri...

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.yout...

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.