Philosopher Ronald A. Lindsay criticizes the cultural transformation driven by identity politics. He warns about the dangers of grouping individuals into oppressed and oppressor classes. The podcast explores topics like systemic racism, religion's role in morality, disparities in inner cities and suburbs, unconscious bias, the impact of abortion on Republicans, and the debate around transgender rights.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Identity politics risks producing deeper threats to Enlightenment values and Western democracy
Racial disparities and the wealth gap cannot solely be attributed to systemic racism
Restricted discourse and censorship hinder open debate and progress in understanding societal issues
Deep dives
The Critique of Standpoint Theory and Social Engineering
The podcast episode discusses the critique of standpoint theory and social engineering. The speaker argues against the idea that all knowledge is socially situated and that individuals from marginalized or oppressed groups have special insight into certain issues. The speaker also questions the effectiveness and feasibility of social engineering policies aimed at achieving absolute equality among different groups. They highlight the potential negative consequences and argue for a focus on individual autonomy and treatment.
Racial Disparities and Wealth Gap
The podcast delves into the racial disparities and wealth gap in the United States. It examines the claim of systemic racism as the sole cause for the wealth gap and questions the evidence and causal relationship. The speaker presents arguments that attribute the wealth gap to factors such as family composition, historical legacy effects, and individual choices. They emphasize the importance of considering multiple factors when addressing disparities and implementing effective policies.
Critique of Implicit Association Test and Restricted Discourse
The podcast explores the critique of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and the implications of restricted discourse. The speaker questions the reliability and validity of the IAT in measuring unconscious bias, highlighting the complexity and potential flaws in its methodology. They express concerns about the growing censorship within academia, where certain viewpoints are deemed taboo and result in limited publishing opportunities and conference participation. These restrictions hinder open debate and hinder progress in understanding complex societal issues.
Base Rate Neglect and the Taboo around Asking Questions
The podcast examines base rate neglect and the taboo around asking certain questions related to social issues. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the base rate when interpreting statistics, such as disparities in hiring or representation. They highlight the need to question underlying factors like the base rate differences in order to gain a deeper understanding of complex issues, rather than solely focusing on specific outcomes. The taboo of asking certain questions limits open dialogue and prevents a comprehensive analysis of social dynamics.
The Underrepresentation of Women in STEM
Despite efforts to encourage women to pursue STEM courses, there remains a significant gender imbalance in these fields. The speaker suggests that this difference may be due to vocational interest differences that start in early middle school. Studies show that these vocational interest differences align with actual graduation rates and job hires in STEM fields. While universities and companies are actively trying to recruit more women, it is important to recognize that individuals should have the freedom to choose their own paths.
Christian Nationalism and Right-Wing Identity
The podcast also touches on the rise of Christian nationalism and its influence on right-wing politics. The speaker discusses how some conservative Christians perceive a cultural shift away from traditional values and view a return to Christianity as a solution. However, this viewpoint often relies on a misreading of history, particularly regarding the intentions of the founding fathers and the Christian basis of the United States. Christian nationalism has become a political force within the Republican party, with about a quarter of the Republican base identifying as Christian nationalists. They have disproportionate influence due to their strong motivation to vote, whereas the younger population, which may lean towards the non-religious category, tends to vote less frequently.
In Against the New Politics of Identity, philosopher Ronald A. Lindsay offers a sustained criticism of the far-reaching cultural transformation occurring across much of the West by which individuals are defined primarily by their group identity, such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Driven largely by the political Left, this transformation has led to the wholesale grouping of individuals into oppressed and oppressor classes in both theory and practice. He warns that the push for identity politics on the Left predictably elicits a parallel reaction from the Right, including the Right’s own version of identity politics in the form of Christian nationalism. As Lindsay makes clear, the symbiotic relationship that has formed between these two political poles risks producing even deeper threats to Enlightenment values and Western democracy. If we are to preserve a liberal democracy in which the rights of individuals are respected, he concludes, the dogmas of identity politics must be challenged and refuted. Against the New Politics of Identity offers a principled path for doing so.
Shermer and Lindsay discuss: identity politics: identity or politics? • woke ideology • overt racism vs. systemic racism • liberalism vs. illiberalism • woke progressive leftists motivations? • Critical Race Theory (CRT) • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) • What is progressive? What is woke? • standpoint epistemology • equality vs. equity • race • class • cancel culture • Christian nationalism.
Dr. Ronald Lindsay, a philosopher (PhD, Georgetown University) and lawyer (JD, University of Virginia) is the author of The Necessity of Secularism and Future Bioethics. Although his non-fiction works focus on different topics, two threads unite them: Lindsay’s gift for thinking critically about accepted narratives and his strong commitment to individual rights, whether it’s the right to assisted dying, the right to religious freedom, or the right of individuals to be judged on their own merit, as opposed to their group identity. In addition to his books, Lindsay has also written numerous philosophical and legal essays, including the entry on Euthanasia in the International Encyclopedia of Ethics. In his spare time, Lindsay plays baseball—baseball, not softball. The good news is he maintains a batting average near .300; the bad news is his fielding average is not much higher. A native of Boston, Ron Lindsay currently lives in Loudoun County, Virginia with his wife, Debra, where their presence is usually tolerated by their cat. His new book is: Against the New Politics of Identity: How the Left’s Dogmas on Race and Equity Harm Liberal Democracy and Invigorate Christian Nationalism.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
