Political Philosophy

I read the Melian Dialogue, a central episode in Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, and offer some commentary on the most significant parts. Thucydides’ realism is not identical to the Athenians’ realism, which is more deterministic and extreme. The Maurin Academy’s next short series, on Agricultural biotechnology and information technology will start in late August. Sign up on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/agriculture-biotechnology-the-information-economy-tickets-373417821757 For more from us: Home https://lauriemjohnson.com/ https://politicalphilosophy.video.blog/ Political Philosophy iTunes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-philosophy-dr-laurie-m-johnson/id1473457784

Returning to my ongoing series on Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, I discuss the events and meaning of the Corcyrean Revolution, including proxy war, ideological conflict, irreligion and fanaticism. The Maurin Academy’s next short series, on Agricultural biotechnology and information technology will start in late August. Sign up on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/agriculture-biotechnology-the-information-economy-tickets-373417821757 For more from us: https://pmaurin.org https://lauriemjohnson.com/ https://politicalphilosophy.video.blog/ Political Philosophy iTunes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-philosophy-dr-laurie-m-johnson/id1473457784

In this selection from the final session of Summer Seminar 2022 on Christian Anarchism, I discuss Dorothy Day’s background and motivation for co-founding the Catholic Worker movement with Peter Maurin. Dorothy Day is currently being considered for sainthood by the Catholic Church, and there is a growing interest in her philosophy and work. The Maurin Academy’s next short series, on Agricultural biotechnology and information technology, will start in late August. Sign up on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/agriculture-biotechnology-the-information-economy-tickets-373417821757 For more from us: https://pmaurin.org https://lauriemjohnson.com/ https://politicalphilosophy.video.blog/ Political Philosophy iTunes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-philosophy-dr-laurie-m-johnson/id1473457784

In this segment from the fourth session of the Christian Anarchism Summer Seminar, I discuss the pros and cons of communities like the Amish and Bruderhof. The inherently exclusive nature of such communities is both heir strength and weakness. Is there any way to learn from them while doing something that includes more people and thus has more promise for solving social and environmental problems? The Maurin Academy’s next short series, on Agricultural biotechnology and information technology will start in late August. Sign up on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/agriculture-biotechnology-the-information-economy-tickets-373417821757 For more from us: https://pmaurin.org https://lauriemjohnson.com/ https://politicalphilosophy.video.blog/ Political Philosophy iTunes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-philosophy-dr-laurie-m-johnson/id1473457784

Abortion in the US is a part of the torn social fabric that pro-life Christians, along with everyone else, have created.Without taking real responsibility for that reality, the changes in state law will probably just make things worse. What would Christians have to do next to be truly pro-life and to abandon what Pope John Paul II called the culture of death? The Maurin Academy’s next short series, on Agricultural biotechnology and information technology will start in late August. Sign up on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/agriculture-biotechnology-the-information-economy-tickets-373417821757 For more from us: https://pmaurin.org https://lauriemjohnson.com/ https://politicalphilosophy.video.blog/ Political Philosophy iTunes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-philosophy-dr-laurie-m-johnson/id1473457784

In this segment from the third session in the ongoing Summer Seminar, I discuss the Just War reasoning that argues against the pacifism held by most Christian Anarchists. Info on Christian Anarchism class (2022) and upcoming events: https://pmaurin.org/classes-and-events/ For more from us: https://pmaurin.org https://lauriemjohnson.com/ https://politicalphilosophy.video.blog/ Political Philosophy iTunes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-philosophy-dr-laurie-m-johnson/id1473457784

The second session of the Summer 2022 Christian Anarchism seminar went deeper into major themes in Christian Anarchism, including the importance of the Sermon on the Mount. The Jesus that emerges in that sermon is a revolutionary, but not the typical type. The ideas in the sermon and elsewhere in Jesus’ teaching reveal a God who wishes to help people push back against the encroachment of governments into God’s sovereignty. As such, this Jesus is a warning to all those who politicize their religion. Info on Christian Anarchism class (2022) https://pmaurin.org/classes-and-events/ For more from us: https://pmaurin.org https://lauriemjohnson.com/ https://politicalphilosophy.video.blog/ Political Philosophy iTunes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-philosophy-dr-laurie-m-johnson/id1473457784

This is a section of my ongoing seminar on Christian Anarchism, Summer 2022. Why is it so hard for people to break free of the liberal world view and actually see and take up the challenge, and the life and action-altering depth of a religious commitment? With their insistence that Christianity and government are not friends but foes, Christian anarchists may help us recognize our own blockages and accept (at least a little) the challenge. Info on Christian Anarchism class (2022) Courses For more from us: https://pmaurin.org Dustbowl Diatribes iTunes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dustbowl-diatribes/id1613542273 Political Philosophy iTunes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-philosophy-dr-laurie-m-johnson/id1473457784 https://lauriemjohnson.com/ https://politicalphilosophy.video.blog/

A lot of pain and dehumanizing damage in the world takes place due to “technical rationality,” which Hannah Arendt referred to as the “banality of evil.” Here I discuss the baby formula shortage as an example of how “wicked problems” are caused by layers and layers of failures that can be traced back to a lack of fundamental responsibility. In our world, no one is responsible except for the discrete part they play in the overall machine whose inhuman, abstract, and often “CYA” formulations govern their responses and behavior. The evil of non-being comes through in the inertia of organizations and the inaction and conformity of lots of people over long periods of time. Info on Christian Anarchism class (2022) https://pmaurin.org/classes-and-events/ Unmasking Administrative Evil: https://www.routledge.com/Unmasking-Administrative-Evil/Balfour-Adams-Nickels/p/book/9781138362093 For more from us: https://pmaurin.org https://lauriemjohnson.com/ https://politicalphilosophy.video.blog/ Political Philosophy iTunes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-philosophy-dr-laurie-m-johnson/id1473457784 Our podcast is also available on Google Podcasts and Audible. Spotify thinks we are music promoters and won’t let us join their exclusive club.

In the wake of the most recent pandemic, it’s important to realize that the political effects of plague have been known and discussed for a long time. Thucydides has something to say about the political effects of the fear and suffering that come from disease. This episode in the history of the Peloponnesian War gives us plenty to think about regarding the destabilizing effects of pandemics, the pressures on and opportunities for politicians, and the fickle nature of the people–they’ll bounce right back even from plague and recommit themselves to imperial domination and mayhem. Book: https://www.amazon.com/Thucydides-Hobbes-Interpretations-Realism-Interpretation/dp/1501747800/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1649037330&sr=8-1 For more from us: Home https://lauriemjohnson.com/ https://politicalphilosophy.video.blog/ iTunes podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-philosophy-dr-laurie-m-johnson/id1473457784 To sign up for Dr. Johnson’s Summer 2022 Seminar on Christian Anarchism, start at https://pmaurin.org/classes-and-events/ Please fill out this form to be put on the email list for reminders and invitations to this and future summer seminars, as well as other events: https://forms.gle/WxikMpNx1M64GeTEA