The World in Time / Lapham’s Quarterly
Episode 102: Robert D. Kaplan
Aug 18, 2023
Journalist Robert D. Kaplan discusses tragic thinking, Greek perspective, misconceptions about democracy, the complexity of the world, and learning from literature in a thought-provoking conversation with Lewis H. Lapham.
27:15
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Quick takeaways
- Tragedy is about the difficult choices we make between competing goods, where whichever we choose, suffering will be caused.
- American exceptionalism and the assumption of predictability in the world reflect a limited understanding of the disorder and chaos that exists in many parts of the world, highlighting the need for a tragic sensibility.
Deep dives
The Importance of Order and Tragic Thinking
The podcast discusses the importance of order and tragic thinking in understanding the complexities of the world. The speaker, Robert D. Kaplan, draws on his experiences as a journalist in countries facing tyranny and anarchy to highlight the contrasting perspectives between those who have experienced disorder and those who have not. Kaplan explains how the Greeks recognized the power of the irrational and the presence of chaos and disorder in the world. He emphasizes the need to create order as a necessary foundation for progress and the pursuit of a freer society, acknowledging that difficult choices between competing goods often lead to suffering.
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