On Martin Hägglund's This Life.

We continue on the theme of freedom by discussing Martin Hägglund's case for 'democratic socialism'. In this episode, we leave the book itself to one side and attempt to "put the concepts to work".

We survey the many intelligent responses the book has generated and discuss what their strengths and weaknesses are.

Is 'secular faith' just a therapeutic ethos to do with caring about your loved ones?
What guarantees that we will use our free time appropriately? Why would we work freely for others?
How does Hägglund’s vision work on a global scale?
What kind of post-capitalist “state” does Hagglund actually propose?
Does Hägglund evade class struggle? Does he have any vision of agency?

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Readings:

Limited Time: On Martin Hägglund’s This Life, Robert Pippin – and response by Martin Hägglund (pdf)
Response 2: The Problem of Agency, Lea Ypi, The Philosopher
Socialism For Our Time: Freedom, Value, Transition, Conall Cash, Boundary2 (esp. Sections IV and V)
LA Review of Books symposium. Pieces by Walter Benn Michaels, Benjamin Kunkel, William Clare Roberts and three-part response by Hägglund: 1, 2, 3

Episode 113: Yaa Gyasi