Helen Pluckrose, founder of Counterweight and co-author of 'Cynical Theories,' dives into the challenges posed by wokeism and cancel culture. She emphasizes the necessity of dialogue and critiques the extremes of critical social justice. The conversation touches on the implications of silencing dissent, particularly in personal relationships. Pluckrose also explores how beauty privilege impacts social interactions and advocates for diverse viewpoints in discussions about identity politics. Her organization supports those facing backlash for their beliefs, promoting resilience against cancel culture.
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Wokeism's Expansion
Wokeism has escalated dramatically, impacting everyday life.
It's no longer confined to universities or activist groups.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Escalation Factors
The death of George Floyd and the pandemic fueled wokeism's rise.
It was already brewing, erupting in various communities beforehand.
insights INSIGHT
Left-Wing Critique
Challenging wokeism while staying left-wing is hard.
People often mislabel critics as right-wing.
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Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire is a powerful memoir that intertwines Akala's personal experiences with historical and social analysis. The book delves into the legacy of the British Empire, racism, and class inequalities, offering a critical perspective on British society. It challenges readers to rethink their understanding of race relations and structural racism.
How to Be an Antiracist
Connor Cobley
Cynical Theories
Helen Pluckrose
James A. Lindsay
In this book, Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay document the evolution of postmodern thought from its origins in French postmodernism to its current applications in activist academic fields such as postcolonial theory, queer theory, critical race theory, and intersectionality. They argue that the unchecked proliferation of these ideas, which often assert that knowledge is a social construct, science and reason are tools of oppression, and language is dangerous, presents a significant threat to liberal democracy and modernity. The authors warn that these beliefs, while intended to address social injustices, often do more harm than good, particularly to the marginalized communities they aim to support.
White guilt
How Blacks and Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era
Shelby Steele
In 'White Guilt,' Shelby Steele argues that the admission of past racism by white Americans created a moral vacuum, leading to policies like affirmative action and diversity initiatives that, while well-intentioned, have fostered dependency and inhibited true racial equality. Steele critiques liberal ideologies for perpetuating white guilt, which he believes complicates and extends racial problems rather than resolving them. He advocates for a shift towards individual freedom and accountability to achieve genuine racial harmony.
Helen Pluckrose is the founder of Counterweight. The recently formed organisation helps individuals resist the imposition of Critical Social Justice (CSJ) on their day to day lives. Go to counterweightsupport.com to find out more.
Stand-up comedians Konstantin Kisin (@konstantinkisin) and Francis Foster (@francisjfoster) make sense of politics, economics, free speech, AI, drug policy and WW3 with the help of presidential advisors, renowned economists, award-winning journalists, controversial writers, leading scientists and notorious comedians.