On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by Stetson University Professor of Psychology Christopher J. Ferguson for a wide-ranging conversation about the psychology of censorship, the role of madness and eccentricity in shaping history, the effects of social media, the growing polarization and politicization of modern institutions, including academia, and more.

Ferguson is the author of the new book “How Madness Shaped History: An Eccentric Array of Maniacal Rulers, Raving Narcissists, and Psychotic Visionaries.” He also co-authored “Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong,” which was the subject of a past So to Speak episode.

Show notes:

Transcript
“Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies” by Jared M. Diamond
“Repressive Tolerance” by Herbert Marcuse
“Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness” by Cass Sunstein

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Ep. 140 Free speech, psychology, and madness