How can trust be cultivated in a time of pervasive suspicion?
Jan 31, 2024
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Jedediah Purdy discusses the necessary conditions for democratic life in a time of pervasive suspicion. Topics include the challenges of trust, navigating suspicion in modern society, the politics of resentment, love and democracy, complexities of democratic contests, and media's role in shaping political narratives.
Democracies rely on trusted institutions and shared moral commitments, making them vulnerable to distrust.
Transitioning from polarizing rhetoric to nurturing horizontal values can strengthen community bonds and foster genuine connections.
Deep dives
The Need to Cultivate Horizontal Values in Democratic Politics
In contemporary democratic politics, there is a call to move away from highly polarized and morally charged rhetoric towards cultivating horizontal values that foster genuine connections and cooperation among individuals. The discussion emphasizes the importance of finding common ground independently of transcendent goals and embracing local proximate goods to rediscover shared affections and strengthen community bonds.
Erosion of Trust in Politics and the Quest for Renewal
The conversation delves into the challenges posed by mistrust, apocalyptic political rhetoric, and the pervasive binary of freedom versus death in modern politics. The need to step back from hyperbolic narratives without succumbing to disillusionment with democratic processes is highlighted, suggesting the requirement for alternative ways of encountering and understanding others within political discourse.
The Dilemma of High-Stakes Politics Versus Modest Engagement
The episode explores the complex dynamics of high-stakes political engagement, where urgency and moral imperatives dominate public discourse, contrasted with the notion of cooling down and redirecting towards less zealous forms of politics. The difficulty lies in reducing the intensity once elevated and navigating the paradox of the need for prompt action versus fostering nuanced dialogue and mutual understanding.
Drawbacks of Moralized Politics and Necessity of Tending to Common Life
The podcast underscores the drawbacks of moralized political rhetoric and the peril of absolute moral imperatives, advocating for an approach that places value on nurturing common life and horizontal connections. By rejecting vertical devotions and embracing horizontal values, politics can transition towards a more grounded and community-oriented ethos, fostering genuine bonds and shared affections through local cooperative efforts.
Because it is sustained by nothing more substantial than a weave of trusted institutions, shared habits and moral commitments, democracies are highly susceptible to the corrosive effects of distrust; Jedediah Purdy joins Waleed and Scott to discuss the necessary conditions for democratic life.
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