

The Ideological Roots of 'Wokeness'. with Helen Pluckrose and Helen Joyce
Oct 13, 2020
Helen Pluckrose, Editor of Aero magazine and co-author of 'Cynical Theories,' dives deep into the ideological roots of modern social justice activism. She discusses the transformation of radical ideas from French postmodernism into today's 'wokeness,' highlighting concepts like knowledge as a social construct and the dangers of cancel culture. Alongside host Helen Joyce, they critique the detrimental impact of these beliefs on marginalized communities and the urgency of fostering balanced discourse in journalism and academia.
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Cynical Theories
- Cynical theories assume everything revolves around power imbalances.
- They interpret society through this lens, neglecting other motivations like truth or collaboration.
Postmodernism's Evolution
- Postmodernism started as skepticism towards grand narratives but evolved into its own.
- It now focuses on power dynamics, rejecting the pursuit of objective truth.
Critical Race Theory's Approach
- Critical Race Theory (CRT) posits that racism is inherent in all situations.
- It prioritizes subjective interpretations of power dynamics over empirical evidence, like Robin DiAngelo's work.