What's Left of Philosophy

A lively tease about Kathi Weeks’ critique of work as capitalism’s organizing ethic. They contrast socially necessary reproductive labor with vast unnecessary tasks. Discussion turns to redirecting work toward social needs and questions of redistribution. The conversation flirts with utopian idleness and admits how jobs shape purpose, discipline, and identity.

A spirited dive into Glen Coulthard's critique of recognition politics and why legal inclusion can reproduce dispossession. They unpack ongoing land expropriation as the central colonial mechanism. The conversation traces Fanon’s influence, debates self-affirmation versus structural capture, and centers land-based normativity, sovereignty, and transformative redistribution as political tests.

A sharp take on Terry Eagleton’s defense of religion and its place in modern thought. They debate how Enlightenment, modernism, and postmodernism reshaped belief. Conversations about capitalism, disenchantment, and the political potential of spiritual meaning pop up. They ponder whether religious values can survive without their old practices and what a forward-looking faith might look like.

They debate how the Civil Rights Movement shapes expectations for Black politics today. They contrast romantic redemption stories with ironic, skeptical readings and propose tragedy as a middle path. They examine the decline of church-led organizing, polarization and fracturing in the Black electorate, and what resources might authorize new progressive strategies.

A lively discussion of Horkheimer’s split between traditional and critical theory. They debate whether critical theory can truly grasp social totality and its relation to the working class. The conversation probes theorists' roles, methodological ambiguities, risks of professionalization, and how critique might stay connected to emancipation without becoming mere academic ornament.

They explore Sorel’s claim that socialism lives in the idea of the general strike rather than its precise form. Discussion centers on political myth, its power to mobilize, and risks of irrationalism and misuse by reactionary movements. They contrast violent, transformative strikes with routine political strikes and examine historical strike coordination and traditions.

A new series opener explores Marxism’s relationship with religion through Martin Luther King Jr. Short segments consider nonviolence as disciplined practice and agape as political force. The conversation contrasts social Christianity with American evangelicalism and connects economic justice to spiritual needs. Debates unpack whether Marxism must reject spirit and how love shapes political strategy.

Explore the fascinating intersection of history and narrative through Hayden White's lens. Discover how historical writing is influenced by literary forms, shaping our understanding of events. Delve into Marx's provocative shift from tragedy to farce. The hosts debate whether narratives can retain objective truth while examining political implications. Engage with concepts like emplotment, the sublime, and the moral dimensions of storytelling. Find out why understanding history requires grappling with its narrative structures.

A lively dive into Marx’s critique of the Gotha program, focusing on why simple redistribution can reproduce inequality. They probe labor as the source of value, the need to transform production, and tensions between reform and genuine transition. The conversation covers ecological concerns, labor vouchers and certificates, administrative coordination, and lessons from Nordic social democracy and historical transitions.

Dive into the intriguing world of crowds through Elias Canetti's insights! The hosts explore the idea that crowds serve as the connective tissue of social life, shaping collective identity. They unravel metaphors of theatrical crowds and discuss how spontaneity can hide underlying intentions. From sports fans to digital gatherings, the conversation reveals how modern algorithms influence crowd dynamics. Expect a wild ride through sociology, political theory, and the fascinating orchestration of human connection!