Homebrewed Christianity Why Your Politics Need a Better Cosmology (Whether You Know It or Not) w/ Matthew Segall & Aaron Simmons
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Aug 15, 2025 Matthew Segall, an Assistant Professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and Aaron Simmons, an Associate Professor at Furman University, dive into the intersection of process philosophy and politics. They explore how personal experiences shape national identity and dissect the impact of historical events on societal beliefs. The duo navigates the tensions between democracy, technology, and authoritarianism, while advocating for a new cosmological perspective to tackle ecological crises. Their discussion also reflects on engaging faith communities in environmental stewardship.
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Metaphysics Shapes Political Possibility
- Whitehead's pluralist metaphysics offers tools to reframe politics in the Anthropocene by expanding the moral community beyond humans.
- A cosmology that recognizes relationality helps orient democratic action toward ecological and social repair.
Schmitt Reveals Liberalism’s Hidden Tension
- Carl Schmitt exposes tensions between liberal individual freedom and democratic popular sovereignty that liberal theory often ignores.
- His diagnosis urges democratic theorists to rethink sovereignty and embrace productive dissensus rather than authoritarian fixes.
Treat Media As Political Actors
- Pay attention to how technologies and media reshape our sensorium and political behavior rather than treating them as neutral tools.
- Challenge the default metaphysics of market-driven tech by surfacing alternative value frameworks in public life.
