The Dissenter

#1167 Allen Buchanan - Ideology and Revolution: Hierarchy, Resistance, Revolution, and Morality

Oct 24, 2025
Guest
Allen Buchanan
In this engaging discussion, Allen Buchanan, a distinguished professor of philosophy, delves into his latest work, exploring the dynamics of social change driven by hierarchs and resistors. He emphasizes the critical role of morality and ideology in mobilizing collective action. Buchanan also contrasts revolutionary contexts, assessing the implications of democracy versus fascism. He argues that ideologies can catalyze revolutions and highlights moral progress achieved through struggles against domination, all while addressing the complexities surrounding revolutionary ethics.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Co-Evolution Of Hierarchy And Resistance

  • Social change often arises from a co-evolutionary struggle between hierarchs and resisters that reshapes moral ideas and institutions.
  • Ideologies evolve as coalitional tools to justify who should hold and exercise power, driving moral and institutional change.
INSIGHT

Why Morality Powers Coalitions

  • Moral appeals help form and sustain coalitions by converting individual incentives into cooperative commitments.
  • Ideologies embed moral appeals in supporting belief webs and immune mechanisms, strengthening recruitment and retention.
ANECDOTE

Racist Belief Immune System Example

  • Buchanan recounts being raised in segregated Little Rock and challenged by his smart Black housemaid, Louise.
  • His mother resolved the dissonance using racist ideological beliefs, showing ideology's belief-immune mechanisms.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app