#1167 Allen Buchanan - Ideology and Revolution: Hierarchy, Resistance, Revolution, and Morality

Oct 24, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Allen Buchanan, a distinguished professor of philosophy, delves into his latest work, exploring the dynamics of social change driven by hierarchs and resistors. He emphasizes the critical role of morality and ideology in mobilizing collective action. Buchanan also contrasts revolutionary contexts, assessing the implications of democracy versus fascism. He argues that ideologies can catalyze revolutions and highlights moral progress achieved through struggles against domination, all while addressing the complexities surrounding revolutionary ethics.

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ANECDOTE

Racist Belief Immune System Example

Buchanan recounts being raised in segregated Little Rock and challenged by his smart Black housemaid, Louise.
His mother resolved the dissonance using racist ideological beliefs, showing ideology's belief-immune mechanisms.

INSIGHT

Ideological Shifts Reshape Authority

Shifts from divine-right monarchy to consent-based governance transformed concepts of legitimate authority and revolution.
Ideas like natural rights spread beyond original elite uses to empower abolitionists and feminists unexpectedly.

INSIGHT

Epistemic Environment Matters

Improving social epistemic conditions (speech, association, education) empowers resisters to learn, coordinate, and press new demands.
Hierarchs often restrict epistemic environments to weaken resistance and preserve power.

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Dr. Allen Buchanan is James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Duke University, and Laureate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Arizona. He has written six books covering such topics as Marx, applied ethics (especially bio-medical ethics), social justice, and international justice, including the foundations of international law. His latest book is Ideology and Revolution: How the Struggle against Domination Drives the Evolution of Morality and Institutions.

In this episode, we focus on Ideology and Revolution. We first talk about how to understand social change, and the conflict between hierarchs and resisters. We discuss hierarchy and domination, and the role of morality and ideology in the struggle between hierarchs and resisters. We talk about revolution, when it is successful, whether the French Revolution failed, whether revolutionary ideologies play a causal role in revolutions, and just and unjust revolutionary violence. Finally, we talk about moral progress, and discuss whether hierarchy is unavoidable.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, JERRY MULLER, BERNARDO SEIXAS, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, PHIL KAVANAGH, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, YANICK PUNTER, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, HEDIN BRØNNER, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ALEX CHAU, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, MICHAEL BAILEY, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, VALENTIN STEINMANN, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, BR, JONAS HERTNER, URSULA GOODENOUGH, DAVID PINSOF, SEAN NELSON, MIKE LAVIGNE, JOS KNECHT, LUCY, MANVIR SINGH, PETRA WEIMANN, CAROLA FEEST, MAURO JÚNIOR, 航豊川, TONY BARRETT, NIKOLAI VISHNEVSKY, STEVEN GANGESTAD, TED FARRIS, HUGO B., JAMES, JORDAN MANSFIELD, CHARLOTTE ALLEN, PETER STOYKO, DAVID TONNER, LEE BECK, PATRICK DALTON-HOLMES, NICK KRASNEY, RACHEL ZAK, AND DENNIS XAVIER!

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