

Open Societies and Closed Minds | Matt Johnson | Ep. 61
May 23, 2025
In this engaging discussion, writer and political thinker Matt Johnson shares insights from his recent essay in The Quillette. He tackles historicism and its threat to open societies, linking it to the rise of identity politics and tribalism. Johnson emphasizes the importance of liberal democracies in securing human progress and highlights the perennial struggle for recognition and pluralism. He also reflects on the resilience of democracies amidst modern challenges and the ongoing balance between democratic ideals and authoritarian trends.
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Essence of Open Society
- Karl Popper's concept of an open society is crucial for understanding modern liberal democracy.
- Open societies enable pluralism, error correction, and economic development, unlike authoritarian regimes.
Popper's Historicism Critique
- Historicism claims inevitable political/economic outcomes, often justifying sacrifice and oppression.
- Popper warns it treats citizens as means to an end, unlike empirical, observable human progress.
Progress vs Historicism
- Human progress is an unplanned result of historical forces, not predetermined.
- Historicism envisions designed futures, often enforced by force, unlike open-ended social evolution.