What's Left of Philosophy

Exploring Frantz Fanon's endorsement of revolutionary violence, the impact of violence on colonized and colonizers, and the dialectic of violence in decolonization. Emphasis on reclaiming agency, understanding the intersection of violence, land, and identity, and the transformative power of reason. Fanon's call for humanization and socialization in the decolonization process.

Dr. Jeff Diamanti delves into ecological materialism and logistical strategy, exploring terminals as spaces where capitalism abstracts matter. Discussions range from indigenous resistance to sustainable provision, blending Marxist theory with environmental concerns and emphasizing the relationships between materiality, Marxism, and environmental issues.

In this episode, we discuss essays from throughout G.A. Cohen’s philosophical career. Cohen is known as one of the founders of Analytical Marxism, so we talk about what this tradition in Marxist thinking is about and how it handles the problems of political let-down and disillusionment that affect us all. We also get into his polemics against the libertarians and John Rawls in his essays on exploitation, freedom, and justice.This is just a short clip from the full episode, which is available to our subscribers on Patreon:patreon.com/leftofphilosophyReferences:G.A. Cohen, Karl Marx’s Theory of History: A Defence (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1989).G.A. Cohen, “The Labor Theory of Value and the Concept of Exploitation,” Philosophy & Public Affairs 8(4)(1979): 338-360.G.A. Cohen, “The Structure of Proletarian Unfreedom,” Philosophy & Public Affairs 12(1)(1983): 3-33.G.A. Cohen, Rescuing Justice and Equality (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2008).Nicholas Vrousalis, The Political Philosophy of G.A. Cohen (London: Bloomsbury, 2015).Music:“Vintage Memories” by Schematist | schematist.bandcamp.com“My Space” by Overu | https://get.slip.stream/KqmvAN

Expert on contemporary far-right movements, Alberto Toscano, discusses late fascism, distinguishing it from past fascism. Exploring how Black and anti-colonial perspectives can help understand contemporary fascism. Critiquing liberal discourse's failure to grasp the specificity of fascism and highlighting the importance of anti-fascist thought.

Dr. Ajay Singh Chaudhary discusses climate degradation, colonial relations, and left-wing climate realism. They dispel apocalyptic fantasies and explore the role of temporality in addressing climate crises. The conversation emphasizes the need for systemic changes and broad coalitions for effective climate activism.

Dr. Matt McManus, an expert in right-wing political history and philosophy, delves into conservatism's roots, from Burke to De Maistre. They discuss right-wing rhetoric, conservatism turning extremist, and the aestheticization of politics. The guest emphasizes the importance of understanding conservative thought and strategies for engaging with opposing ideologies.

Delve into Judith Butler's exploration of subject-formation and ethics through post-structuralism, psychoanalysis, and critical theory. Can her concepts of 'relationality' and 'opacity' of the self support ethical claims? Explore the complexities of ethical violence, responsibility, and societal norms in crafting a meaningful ethical existence.

Exploring women's submissiveness in feminist philosophy, consent criticisms, philosophical approach to sex, good sex as part of the good life. Unpacking societal expectations, complexities of consent, and desire in sexual encounters. Delving into modern relationships, unseen labor, and pandemic norms.

Delve into Ernst Bloch's Marxist account of art, the red sublime, and the utopian surplus in certain artworks. Explore how art can provoke experiences of beauty and sublimity beyond historical contexts. Challenge the idea of art as resistance and attempt to understand the concept of art guiding processes towards a classless society.

Kant's metaphysics of morals explores the role of the state in guaranteeing justice and perpetual peace, but also authorizes the state to kill and denies the right to rebel. The podcast discusses the moral feeling of beheading monarchs, Kant's views on rebellion and revolution, and his admiration for the French Revolution. It also explores topics such as unpleasant smells' impact on moral sense, cryptocurrency, the death penalty, and issues related to rights, immigration, and wealth ownership.