Homebrewed Christianity

Aaron Simmons: The Paradox of Democracy & What Comes Next

Feb 20, 2025

Aaron Simmons, an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Furman University and creator of ‘Philosophy in the Wild,’ dives into the complexities of democracy. He discusses the challenges of sustaining democratic engagement amidst political polarization. The conversation highlights the tensions between equality and justice, critiques the two-party system, and advocates for embracing conflict in dialogue. Simmons also explores anarchism as a form of democratic practice and emphasizes the need for genuine political engagement and understanding across differing perspectives.

01:31:13

Episode guests

Aaron Simmons

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The tension between political equality and social justice poses challenges for democratic discourse, often leading to polarization and bad faith interactions.

Chantal Mouffe's concept of agonistic engagement highlights the necessity of embracing adversarial relationships to enrich democratic practices and avoid oppressive consensus.

Simon Critchley's ethical approach encourages cultivating community-based identities to counteract nihilism and promote constructive political participation among citizens.

Deep dives

Sustaining Democracy Amid Polarization

Democracy faces a fundamental dilemma between political equality and social justice, leading to inevitable polarization. This tension allows individuals to ignore the equality of those with whom they disagree, resulting in a breakdown of democratic discourse. The philosopher Robert Talese argues that to maintain a thriving democracy, citizens must recognize every person’s moral and epistemic value, even when opinions clash. However, the pursuit of justice often leads to isolating viewpoints, increasing extreme behavior and further impeding democratic collaboration.

Intro

2min

Navigating Democracy's Dilemmas

23min

Pursuing Callings and Civic Engagement

7min

The Complexity of Democracy

7min

Embracing Tension: The Key to Inclusive Political and Religious Engagement

4min

Critique of Political Engagement

14min

Anarchism and the Ethics of Political Engagement

27min

Exploring Left Populism and Philosophical Engagement

2min

Exploring Reality and Community in Philosophy

5min

In this episode, philosopher Aaron Simmons returns for an intriguing discussion on the complexities of sustaining democracy. The conversation spans various philosophical insights from thinkers such as Robert Talese, Chantal Mouffe, and Simon Critchley. We explore tensions between political equality and justice, the paradox of democracy, and the necessity of engaging agonistically with adversaries. Aaron also shares his experiences teaching Radical Political Theory, addressing the intricacies of class tensions, bad faith discourse, and the compelling ethical demands that challenge contemporary democratic practices.

You can WATCH this conversation on YouTube

Dr. Simmons is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Furman University. You can follow his Substack ‘Philosophy in the Wild.‘

Previous Episodes with Aaron

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