Last time, I argued that if liberals still believe in an open society — free, equal, and pluralistic — we must defend reason. It’s the shared “meeting space” that makes the open society possible. But we must also understand that reason alone isn’t enough. It’s a classic liberal failing not to understand that. This too is a legacy of the Enlightenment: The power of the … [Read more...] about How We Became Aliens: The Liberal Backbone, Chapter 9
Politics
Defending Enlightenment: Chapter 8 of The Liberal Backbone
Listen to this episode with any podcast app, at YouTube, at Substack, or here: Of all the potential causes of liberal confusion, few are more confusing than this: being reasonable has become controversial. It’s a fundamental assumption of liberal democracy that we debate our differences with reason. But now that assumption looks like a relic of a bygone age … [Read more...] about Defending Enlightenment: Chapter 8 of The Liberal Backbone
Meet the New Boss: Chapter 7 of The Liberal Backbone
Listen on any podcast app, on YouTube, at Substack, or here: Transcript Throughout history, the promise of liberation has often become the reality of tyranny. Last time, we looked at how that can happen on the left. It starts with defining liberation as a form of higher consciousness. Those who achieve this higher consciousness are liberated from a … [Read more...] about Meet the New Boss: Chapter 7 of The Liberal Backbone
What Liberals DON’T Stand For — Chapter 6 of The Liberal Backbone
Listen on any podcast app, on YouTube, at Substack, or here: Transcript As we’ve explored woke left thought in the last few chapters, you may have found yourself nodding in agreement from time to time, or even often. I wouldn’t be surprised. Liberals and the woke left see many of the same problems in society, from structural oppression to alienation. And … [Read more...] about What Liberals DON’T Stand For — Chapter 6 of The Liberal Backbone
The Liberal Backbone on WCPT Chicago with Joan Esposito
As you know if you’ve been following my posts and podcast episodes lately, I’m writing and releasing the chapters of my new book The Liberal Backbone in real time. When Joan Esposito of WCPT Chicago heard about it, she had an idea: a "radio book club," with me coming on her show to talk about the book as it comes together, chapter by chapter, with her and her … [Read more...] about The Liberal Backbone on WCPT Chicago with Joan Esposito