The Daily Stoic Ask Daily Stoic: Ryan and Anne Applebaum Ask How Does a Stoic Resist Tyranny?
Sep 5, 2020
Anne Applebaum, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and expert on authoritarianism, dives into the rise of oppressive regimes in the West and the moral responsibilities of citizens. She discusses the troubling parallels between today’s America and ancient Rome, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement. The conversation also explores how media fuels fear, pushing people towards authoritarian solutions, and the personal struggles faced by those entangled in political power. Applebaum’s insights remind us why defending democracy is essential now more than ever.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Democracies' Fragility
- Democracies are not immune to collapse, as history shows they all eventually fall apart.
- The assumption that Western democracies were exceptions due to their constitutions or learned experiences is proving wrong.
Ignoring Problems
- Recognizing a problem requires action, so people avoid naming issues to avoid responsibility.
- This explains the West's delayed response to Russia's actions, as addressing it would mean changing their worldview and making sacrifices.
Cognitive Dissonance
- Cognitive dissonance allows us to rationalize avoiding difficult choices by convincing ourselves the right thing shouldn't be done.
- The effort required for rethinking assumptions and making necessary sacrifices often outweighs the willingness to admit a problem.
