Life-Long Leftist Philosopher Susan Neiman on how Wokeism Assaults and Subverts Traditional Left-Wing Politics

Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò's book critiques the contemporary decolonization movement, suggesting it has become a tool for virtue signaling and undermines African agency. He argues that the indiscriminate application of decolonization across various fields harms scholarship and intellectual progress in Africa. Táíwò advocates for recognizing African intellectuals as innovative thinkers capable of synthesizing diverse ideas.

Candide, written by Voltaire, is a satirical novel that critiques metaphysical optimism, particularly the philosophy of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. The story revolves around Candide, a naive and optimistic young man who is expelled from his home after an illicit affair with the baron's daughter, Cunégonde. Candide and his companions, including his tutor Pangloss, experience a series of horrific events such as wars, earthquakes, slavery, and other atrocities. Despite these hardships, Pangloss persists in his belief that 'all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.' The novel ultimately concludes with Candide and his friends settling on a farm in Turkey, where they find happiness by focusing on practical, everyday tasks rather than philosophical speculations. Voltaire uses satire to lampoon various aspects of 18th-century society, including science, philosophy, religion, and government[2][3][5].