Martin Hägglund

In this episode we are joined by Martin Hägglund to discuss the existentialist's argument for what makes human life meaningful—and why democratic socialism is the logical conclusion to reach after having considered the matter carefully. We also dig into the limits of social democracy, the need for the state, and the revaluation of value that is yet to come.leftofphilosophy.com | @leftofphilFollow Martin: @martinhaegglund | http://martinhagglund.seReferences:Martin Hägglund, This Life: Secular Life and Spiritual Freedom (New York: Penguin Random House, 2020)What Is Democratic Socialism? Part I: Reclaiming Freedom - Los Angeles Review of Books (lareviewofbooks.org)What Is Democratic Socialism? Part II: The Immanent Critique of Capitalism - Los Angeles Review of Books (lareviewofbooks.org)What Is Democratic Socialism? Part III: Life After Capitalism - Los Angeles Review of Books (lareviewofbooks.org)Music: Vintage Memories by Schematist | schematist.bandcamp.com

Martin Hägglund, a Yale philosopher and author of 'This Life', discusses the quest for a meaningful existence without the comforts of an afterlife. He argues capitalism limits our ownership of time and suggests democratic socialism as a remedy. The conversation dives into how awareness of mortality urges us to make meaningful choices and explores the relationship between secular ethics and moral responsibility. Hägglund also touches on the spiritual dimensions of Marxist thought, emphasizing the link between economic conditions and our existential queries.