The Minefield

Over the last century, we’ve seen the profound longing for a way of life that has seemingly been “lost” — or, more insidiously, “stolen” — be weaponised by cunning politicians and turned against members of a political community. But should nostalgia simply be dismissed?

For many people, burning-out is taken as proof of our dedication to our jobs. Have we finally reached the point where we can re-envision the relationship between work and life?

For the last two weeks, Australian political coverage has been consumed by a series of decisions undertaken by the former Prime Minister. What made them so serious? How far should we go to ensure they can't happen again?

Robert Talese, the W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University, explores the intricate dynamics of democracy and polarization. He discusses how rising partisanship impacts civic values and democratic integrity. The conversation dives into the challenges of moral language in political discourse and its effect on unity. Talese also addresses the responsibilities of citizenship, emphasizing political equality amid division, and examines how societal pressure influences civic engagement and media narratives. A thought-provoking look at democracy's resilience!

Perhaps no “moral emotion” in our time is more reviled than shame. It is regarded, certainly in the West, as uniquely destructive to a healthy sense of self, as psychologically damaging and socially abusive, and to be avoided at all costs. Professor Owen Flanagan joins Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens to discuss whether shame has been given a bad rap, and why we might need more of it.

In his speech to the Garma Festival, PM Anthony Albanese put it to the nation that constitutionally enshrining a First Nations Voice would not undermine Australia’s national identity, but more fully express it. Professor Tim Soutphommasane joins Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens to discuss the nature and moral limits of patriotism, and whether it can co-exist with an appropriate sense of national remorse, even shame.

Yolande Strengers, an Associate Professor at Monash University and co-author of 'The Smart Wife,' joins the discussion on the ethical implications of voice assistants imitating deceased loved ones. The conversation probes the emotional turmoil this technology may invoke and critiques the commodification of grief. They delve into parallels with dystopian narratives, emphasizing the risks of idealized memories and the disconnect that arises from synthetic versions of loved ones. The episode ultimately questions our relationship with technology and the authenticity of human connections.

Following the ignominious resignation of Boris Johnson, the Tories are looking for a new leader — and the UK a new Prime Minister. The cast of contenders is the most diverse we’ve seen, but that hasn’t yielded a notably different political vision. Why? ANU political scientist Marija Taflaga joins Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens to discuss the significance of and constraints on diversity in political representation.

Democratic politics is more than a matter of power. It is predicated on the possibility of discovering common ground through practices of mutual recognition, exchange, attentiveness, and understanding.

In Jane Austen’s novel Emma, we find an abiding concern with the demands, not just of propriety, but of morality, an attentiveness to the dangers of self-deception, and vivid reminders of the importance of friendship to progress in the moral life.