Identity Politics
Jul 17, 2016The notion of identity has become so hugely important in contemporary political discourse that no conversation on social issues would be complete without it.
Today is Barack Obama's last full day in office as the 44th President of the United States. As Producer I'll leave the philosophical implications of that to John an Ken, and instead present a sample of one of my favorites parts of working on Philosophy Talk, the one-minute billboard that opens each program. Preparing these for live broadcasts involves searching for music and media clips that complement the hosts' questions and observations, and President Obama has provided me with some pretty good material over the last eight years. Of course I started on the show during the term of George W. Bush, who was no slouch when it came to unintentional humor, and I've also mined recording of others Commanders-in-Chief (and would-be Commanders-in-Chief) where (in)appropriate. Lord knows what the 45th POTUS will offer us in terms of soundbites, but for now please enjoy what's already in the can.
The notion of identity has become so hugely important in contemporary political discourse that no conversation on social issues would be complete without it.
What is a promise: a prediction? A statement of intention? Is promising rational? Does it create an obligation?
Compromise is the condition of peace and progress. But there are times when we should not compromise – when compromise would undermine integrity and amount to cooperating with evil.
Many people identify strongly with the ethnic or racial group to which they belong – as Jews, or African-Americans, or Latinos. But to which groups does a person truly belong?
We've all heard a disenchanted teenager claim that everything is relative and that there is no absolute morality or truth.
Fear is an emotion, but it is one with a long history in both political theory and politics in the real world.
When we make decisions we think we're in control, making rational choices. But are we? This is the central question posed by Dan Ariely...
More than any other President, Abraham Lincoln is known for his words, from the Lincoln-Douglass debates to the second inaugural address, as well as his deeds.
Thomas Jefferson identified John Locke as one of “the three greatest men that have ever lived, without any exception.
“Freedom” means the human capacity to choose among options, based on one’s own preferences and reasoning.
Many goals are too complex for one person to accomplish alone. Every day, we pool together our planning abilities with those around us to get things done.
Since George W. Bush first declared a "war on terror," the US has been engaged in a global campaign to rid the world of terrorists.
Imagine discovering that your grandfather was a serial killer. Would you feel guilty about it? Would you be at all tempted to contact the families of his victims?
There seems to be a paradox in leadership: the qualities of ruthlessness and opportunism necessary to attain power and become a leader ...
When we make claims about things that could have been—what philosophers call counterfactual statements—we are, in some sense, sliding between different worlds.
Democratic systems of government are supposed to reflect the interests of ordinary citizens, and not some shadowy political elite.
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, aka ‘drone,’ is increasingly the weapon of choice in America's military operations.
Many of us generally admire people who donate large sums of money to charity. Yet people donate for all sorts of reasons – some selfless, some not so much.
The notion of identity has become so hugely important in contemporary political discourse that no conversation on social issues would be complete without it.
What is a promise: a prediction? A statement of intention? Is promising rational? Does it create an obligation?
Compromise is the condition of peace and progress. But there are times when we should not compromise – when compromise would undermine integrity and amount to cooperating with evil.
Many people identify strongly with the ethnic or racial group to which they belong – as Jews, or African-Americans, or Latinos. But to which groups does a person truly belong?
We've all heard a disenchanted teenager claim that everything is relative and that there is no absolute morality or truth.
Fear is an emotion, but it is one with a long history in both political theory and politics in the real world.
When we make decisions we think we're in control, making rational choices. But are we? This is the central question posed by Dan Ariely...
More than any other President, Abraham Lincoln is known for his words, from the Lincoln-Douglass debates to the second inaugural address, as well as his deeds.
Thomas Jefferson identified John Locke as one of “the three greatest men that have ever lived, without any exception.
“Freedom” means the human capacity to choose among options, based on one’s own preferences and reasoning.
Many goals are too complex for one person to accomplish alone. Every day, we pool together our planning abilities with those around us to get things done.
Since George W. Bush first declared a "war on terror," the US has been engaged in a global campaign to rid the world of terrorists.
Imagine discovering that your grandfather was a serial killer. Would you feel guilty about it? Would you be at all tempted to contact the families of his victims?
There seems to be a paradox in leadership: the qualities of ruthlessness and opportunism necessary to attain power and become a leader ...
When we make claims about things that could have been—what philosophers call counterfactual statements—we are, in some sense, sliding between different worlds.
Democratic systems of government are supposed to reflect the interests of ordinary citizens, and not some shadowy political elite.
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, aka ‘drone,’ is increasingly the weapon of choice in America's military operations.
Many of us generally admire people who donate large sums of money to charity. Yet people donate for all sorts of reasons – some selfless, some not so much.
Comments (1)
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