Making Sense with Sam Harris cover image

Making Sense with Sam Harris

#336 — The Roots of Identity Politics

Sep 27, 2023
Yascha Mounk, a writer and academic specializing in populism and liberal democracy, joins to explore the intricate landscape of identity politics. They tackle Mounk's idea of 'identity synthesis' and its implications on social cohesion. Conversations dive into the influence of postmodernism, the challenges of racial segregation in education, and the complexities of intersectionality. Mounk also critiques the shifting ideals in academia and the repercussions of cancel culture, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue in today's polarized climate.
01:02:20

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Identity politics originated from postmodernism and the rejection of universalism, shaping political discourse.
  • The popularization of intersectionality in public discourse has led to limitations in understanding and the necessity for agreement on all related issues.

Deep dives

The origins of identity politics and the concept of identity synthesis

The podcast episode explores the origins of identity politics, tracing it back to Michel Foucault and the postmodernist movement. It highlights the rejection of universalism and the skepticism towards objective truth. It also introduces the concept of the identity synthesis, which combines different ideas about the role of identity in society and politics. Strategic essentialism, the idea of adopting essentialist identity categories for strategic purposes, is discussed as well.

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