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Appears in this episode
John McWhorter
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What does it mean to be woke? Has the word problematic become problematic? Today in the Valley, John McWhorter talks with Banished host Amna Khalid about the fraught vocabulary of modern censorship.
Wonderful discussion. However, I will make one observation. I believe the far left suffers from this delusion that they can't be authoritarian as if to say it can't happen by definition. This was a criticism I shared with a friend when discussing Adorno et al. work in "The Authoritarian Personality". I believe most academics unconsciously or consciously hold the position that authoritarianism is a right wing phenomena and not something those on the political left need to concern themselves with as they tend to be more democratic in their orientation.
Since the early 2000s, I have become more skeptical of the assumption that the political left can't be authoritarian in its orientation. Perhaps not in the political sense, but certainly in the cultural sense--that is, they have become too comfortable en masse with forcing their social values onto others. I agree attitudes around diversity and inclusion are wonderful things that should be promoted; however, what are the limiting principles? Should certain religious views from other cultures on the status of women be included in our culture? What about the caste system in India? Where is the sign that says "you have gone too far, now promptly turnaround or look for a different path"? I think the problematic with progressivism is that the political ideology needs to advocate for change or progress at all cost. But no one has any idea of what the goal is or the consequence. But of course, you can't ask what is the rational or limiting principle otherwise you are a bigot, a racist, or transphobic as if that is all you need to know. I agree with professor McWhorter with regard to taking their comments on the chin, but I want to understand why there is this desire to force these terms on others because you disagree with their rhetoric.
There is little to no serious intellectual discourse from the political left anymore on social issues. They seem aimless in their ideological movement. It almost seems like those on the far left have been primed to experience existential dread, and thus we get overreactions for everything that challenges their worldview. Isn't that the urstoff of authoritarianism?
The Evolution of 'Woke'
Wonderful discussion. However, I will make one observation. I believe the far left suffers from this delusion that they can't be authoritarian as if to say it can't happen by definition. This was a criticism I shared with a friend when discussing Adorno et al. work in "The Authoritarian Personality". I believe most academics unconsciously or consciously hold the position that authoritarianism is a right wing phenomena and not something those on the political left need to concern themselves with as they tend to be more democratic in their orientation.
Since the early 2000s, I have become more skeptical of the assumption that the political left can't be authoritarian in its orientation. Perhaps not in the political sense, but certainly in the cultural sense--that is, they have become too comfortable en masse with forcing their social values onto others. I agree attitudes around diversity and inclusion are wonderful things that should be promoted; however, what are the limiting principles? Should certain religious views from other cultures on the status of women be included in our culture? What about the caste system in India? Where is the sign that says "you have gone too far, now promptly turnaround or look for a different path"? I think the problematic with progressivism is that the political ideology needs to advocate for change or progress at all cost. But no one has any idea of what the goal is or the consequence. But of course, you can't ask what is the rational or limiting principle otherwise you are a bigot, a racist, or transphobic as if that is all you need to know. I agree with professor McWhorter with regard to taking their comments on the chin, but I want to understand why there is this desire to force these terms on others because you disagree with their rhetoric.
There is little to no serious intellectual discourse from the political left anymore on social issues. They seem aimless in their ideological movement. It almost seems like those on the far left have been primed to experience existential dread, and thus we get overreactions for everything that challenges their worldview. Isn't that the urstoff of authoritarianism?
I'm on a mission now to find utility with the word "perky."