Kwame Anthony Appiah on the Right—and Wrong—Way for Universities to Handle Identity
Apr 20, 2024
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British-Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah discusses the shift from common humanity to identitarianism in universities. They explore how to respect diversity without letting it dominate interactions and emphasize faculty as agents of change. The conversation delves into fostering social cohesion, navigating identity in universities, and empowering faculty in governance.
Universities should prioritize common humanity over identitarianism for healthy interactions.
Identity labels should be seen as negotiable, not fixed, to promote understanding.
Productive identity politics focus on shared disadvantages, not divisive exceptions.
Deep dives
The Future of American Sports Betting: A Conversation on Regulation
Since 2018, 38 states have legalized sports betting, creating a vast industry. The podcast delves into the downsides of this widespread legalization, including potential addiction issues. The recent case involving a Japanese superstar and a sports betting scandal highlights the need for a discussion on regulation. The speaker underscores the importance of examining the assumptions behind the legalization of sports betting and engaging in a broader dialogue on the future of American sports.
The Role and Relevance of Identity in Contemporary Society
The discussion with Kwami Anthony Appiah, a distinguished moral philosopher, centers on identity's impact on how individuals understand themselves and interact with others. Appiah highlights the shift towards confrontational notions of identity in academic settings, emphasizing blame over understanding. He advocates for a view of identities as motivating labels subject to social negotiation, challenging essentialist approaches and promoting agency in shaping interactions.
Navigating Identity Politics and the Complexities of Inclusion
The conversation addresses the broad spectrum of identity politics, distinguishing between positive movements advocating for inclusion under universal norms and those seeking exceptions based on identity characteristics. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing shared disadvantages as a unifying factor in productive identity politics. They explore the balance between acknowledging cultural and religious similarities while remaining vigilant against essentializing identities that may hinder genuine interaction and societal progress.
The Power of National Identity
The episode explores the importance of national identity in fostering care and solidarity among a diverse population within a nation. National identities, like being American or Ghanaian, serve as binding concepts that help individuals care about the well-being of all citizens, despite the vast numbers in a nation. The speaker emphasizes the role of national identity in promoting a sense of community and responsibility towards fellow citizens, highlighting the need for structured identities to maintain social cohesion.
Challenges in University Discourse
The podcast delves into the challenges faced by universities in managing identity-related conversations and fostering open debates. Concerns are raised about hypersensitivity towards identity issues, which can hinder meaningful discussions within academic settings. The conversation emphasizes the importance of promoting diversity as a resource for learning and encourages a moderate and intellectually humble approach when engaging in dialogue about sensitive topics. Additionally, the imbalance in ideological fervency on campuses and the role of faculty and administrators in shaping campus discourse are critically examined.
Yascha Mounk and Kwame Anthony Appiah discuss cultivating thick identities (and thick skins).
Kwame Anthony Appiah is a British-Ghanaian philosopher, Professor of Philosophy and Law and New York University, and the “Ethicist” columnist for The New York Times Magazine.
In this week’s conversation, Yascha Mounk and Kwame Anthony Appiah discuss why universities discarded an ethic of common humanity for a new form of identitarianism; how we can recognize and respect individual and cultural diversity without making it the main factor in our interactions; and why faculty must be agents for the change they wish to see in universities.
This conversation is part of the Persuasion series “Universities, Diversity, and Democracy,” a new collection of podcasts and essays, featuring leading voices in higher education, that explores how universities can pursue truth in the spirit of philosophical liberalism and in pursuit of social progress. This series is made possible by the generous support of the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.
