Author: Political Philosophy: Dr Laurie M Johnson

This is where I post my YouTube videos and audio versions thereof. You can find the podcast directly on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts.

Dustbowl Diatribes Season 3 Preview (ft. Spencer’s Class on Guardini’s The End of the Modern World)

May 11, 2023

Sign up for Spencer’s series on Romano Guardini’s The End of the Modern World by becoming a Patron, or by registering on Eventbrite. 

Please fill out this form to be put on the email list for future Maurin Academy seminars, short series and other events. … More Dustbowl Diatribes Season 3 Preview (ft. Spencer’s Class on Guardini’s The End of the Modern World)

How Machiavelli Shaped Our Modern World

May 2, 2023

This Thursday at 7 p.m. US Central Time I’ll be talking about the impact of Machiavelli’s political realism on our world. Machiavelli’s philosophy represents a pivotal moment in the history of political thought–it signified deep change that eventually ushered in the liberal revolutions. I will focus on the ideas that helped shape our world, connecting the dots between his rebellion against idealism and Christian morality and the way we think today. I’d love to see you there, take your questions and hear your thoughts! … More How Machiavelli Shaped Our Modern World

What Lies Beyond Christian Nationalism? Interview w/ Brian Zahnd on Seemingly Simple Matters (Dustbowl Diatribes 2.12 cross post)

April 29, 2023

Spencer and Laurie interview Brian Zahnd, pastor of Word of Life Church, St. Joseph, MO. We discuss why some people decide to break from destructive ideas of faith, like Christian nationalism, and why many don’t. We also have a conversation about the church’s mission and what its role should be on grave issues like environmental destruction and war. … More What Lies Beyond Christian Nationalism? Interview w/ Brian Zahnd on Seemingly Simple Matters (Dustbowl Diatribes 2.12 cross post)

Ideological Strong-Arming: Milton Friedman’s “Free to Choose.” (A reading from my draft manuscript)

April 23, 2023

Laurie is working on another book, following up on Ideological Possession and the Rise of the New Right with a book that more explicitly explains the religious dimensions of the current ideological divisions. This selection of the draft deals with, among other things, the difference between genuine conservatism and the radical liberalism of Milton Friedman. … More Ideological Strong-Arming: Milton Friedman’s “Free to Choose.” (A reading from my draft manuscript)

Special Dustbowl Diatribes:  Lenten Murmurings on Capability and Culpability

April 7, 2023

As we head into the weekend, contemplating the meaning of Good Friday and Easter event, Spencer and Laurie discuss the need for leadership from Christian pastors and others on the care for our common home and the building of fruitful community. Why do almost all of them not talk about it, or if anything at all, pass the buck to non-church leaders and organizations to try the liberal move of lobbying? What would solid, integral leadership on this issue really be like?

Please fill out this form to be put on the email list for our free newsletter, which lists future Maurin Academy seminars, short series and other events. https://pmaurin.org/newsletter/ … More Special Dustbowl Diatribes:  Lenten Murmurings on Capability and Culpability

Tonight: Political Philosophy monthly talk: Aquinas and the Market

April 6, 2023

I will be live on zoom tonight at 7 p.m. US Central Time to discuss a bit about Aquinas and natural law and then to focus on his views on property. I’ll compare his views on private property with the neoliberal view as exemplified by Milton Friedman. To that end, part of the session I’ll be reading a section from the draft of the book I’m currently writing. The chapter is “Ideological Strong-Arming” and I spend some time discussing how Friedman helped set up the conditions for what we now call “capitalist realism.”

You can sign up two ways:

Support the Maurin Academy on Patreon at one of the top two levels to receive all our programs, recorded and/or live. 

Sign up for this session on Eventbrite. … More Tonight: Political Philosophy monthly talk: Aquinas and the Market

This evening: Laudato Si: On the Care of Our Common Home (Pope Francis’ encyclical)

March 23, 2023

This evening (March 23) at 7 p.m US Central Time I’ll be live for 90 minutes discussing the first half of Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si, for the Maurin Academy. I’ll discuss the text and we’ll have time for Q & A. The second session will occur next Thursday, March 30, same time. You can sign up for this event on Eventbrite or Patreon (choose the Worker-Scholar level if you wanted all our content in recorded format, and Salt of the Earth level if you want that and access to all our live sessions). Hope to see some of you there! Here are the links: … More This evening: Laudato Si: On the Care of Our Common Home (Pope Francis’ encyclical)