Martha C. Nussbaum on how fear deforms our politics
Sep 17, 2018
57:40
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Martha C. Nussbaum, famed philosopher, discusses fear as the oldest and deepest emotion, its impact on our worldviews and politics, and the choice to embrace hope. The podcast also explores the role of disgust in Donald Trump's politics and the significance of anger in shaping human behavior and politics.
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Quick takeaways
Fear shapes our worldviews and politics, starting from infancy.
Understanding fear and its manipulation is crucial in comprehending contemporary politics.
Hope can be practiced and cultivated, motivating constructive actions and efforts for positive change.
Deep dives
The Dominant Emotion in Politics: Fear
Fear is identified as the dominant emotion of our political age, driving actions and reactions in politics. Fear is highlighted as being generated in society, politics, and individuals, with its roots traced back to infancy and the fear inherent in the helplessness of not being able to meet one's own needs. The danger of fear-based politics is discussed, as fear can be manipulated and used to elicit certain actions from the public. It is argued that understanding fear and its manipulation is crucial in comprehending contemporary politics.
The Monarchy of Fear: Emotions in Politics
The podcast features an interview with philosopher Martha C. Nussbaum, whose new book, 'Monarchy of Fear,' explores the role of emotions, particularly fear, in politics. Nussbaum emphasizes the importance of acknowledging emotions in philosophy and politics and rejects the stoic view of trying to eliminate emotions entirely. Instead, she suggests focusing on turning fear into protest, taking hopeful actions, and working towards creating a better future.
The Power of Anger: Transforming Retribution into Protest
Anger, as a definitional emotion of our era, is examined in terms of when it is healthy and when it becomes unhealthy. The distinction is made between retributive anger, which seeks payback or revenge, and protest anger, which turns anger into action and seeks to prevent similar injustices from happening again. It is argued that retributive anger, while providing temporary satisfaction, is not productive or conducive to progress, while protest anger, when channeled towards positive change, can be a force for transformative action.
Understanding Disgust: Its Manipulability and Role in Subordination
Disgust is explored as an emotion that is both hardwired and teachable. The power of disgust to dehumanize and subjugate certain groups, such as lower castes, racial minorities, or LGBTQ+ individuals, is discussed. The malleability of disgust is emphasized, with various examples cited to show the influence of socialization and cultural conditioning. The need to challenge and dismantle the use of disgust as a tool of oppression is highlighted.
Choosing Hope: Action and Transformation
Hope is presented as a choice that can be practiced and cultivated. The importance of hope in motivating constructive actions and efforts to create positive change is underscored. Engaging in activities such as joining protest movements, working for political campaigns, or participating in national service programs is suggested as ways to foster hope and take steps towards a better future. The power of hope in transforming individual lives and society as a whole is emphasized.
In her new book Monarchy of Fear, famed philosopher Martha C. Nussbaum identifies fear as the oldest and deepest of our emotions. Fear takes hold in our earliest infancy, when we can experience need but we can’t act. And it lurks underneath our psyches, communities, and polities forever after that. This is a conversation about what fear is and how it shapes our worldviews and our politics. It’s also a conversation about what hope is, and whether embracing it is a choice we can, and should, make. Nussbaum is one of our greatest living philosophers. The way she thinks about politics, and her effort to recenter emotions at the core of both political and philosophical inquiry, is worth hearing. The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela by Sahm Venter To Shape a New World: Essays on the Political Philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr. edited by Tommie Shelby and Brandon M. Terry The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics by John Hickenlooper