In this clip from Laurie Johnson’s presentation in the last session of the Maurin Academy’s Agricultural Biotechnology series, the problem of automation for people who need jobs the world over is discussed. The impact on ideological movements, especially right-wing nationalism, is featured in the last half of the clip. … More Retool for What? The Dark Side of Automation (Maurin Academy)
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. … More Baby Formula Shortage and Technocratic Evil
Subscribe directly to the Dustbowl Diatribes podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, and Audible. Literature mentioned in this podcast is listed below the description.
Spencer Hess and Laurie Johnson talk about the “Spoils of Egypt” concept from Christian theology, how it has operated in the past, and what is keeping people from using it now. In the past, Christian theologians have often “plundered” secular theology for its riches, taking what was useful and true in light of Christian revelation, and leaving what was not. … More Dustbowl Diatribes 2: The Spoils of Egypt
Contributor Spencer Hess ends his series on Kaitlin B. Curtice’s Native, critiquing PMC smugness and inconsistency, concluding with a brief Marxian & Christian-Anarchist critique.
Works Cited:
Can the PMC Control Capitalism? (ft Catherine Liu (Diet Soap): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAQ1INh9MQw
Klein Vs. Klein (The New Inquiry): https://thenewinquiry.com/klein-vs-klein/
Too Many Karens! (Matt Christman): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJBV9eTFsIs … More PMC Obscenity
Contributor Spencer Hess discusses excerpts from Christopher Lasch’s The Culture of Narcissism characterizing Therapeutic “culture.” … More Christopher Lasch’s Introduction to “The Therapeutic” (Audio)
Contributor Spencer Hess discusses excerpts from Christopher Lasch’s The Culture of Narcissism characterizing Therapeutic “culture.” … More Christopher Lasch’s Introduction to “The Therapeutic”
Radical liberal brunches on the left march, tweet and wear edgy tee-shirts. Radical liberal boaters on the right march, tweet and put flags on their pickup trucks. Their main accomplishment is to blame the other side for their favorite problems, expiate their responsibility and guilt, and eliminate the possibility of positive change on any of their issues. … More Stop the Culture Wars: A Plea to the US Left (ft. Chris Cutrone, Matt Christman & Catherine Liu)
right march, tweet and put flags on their pickup trucks. Their main accomplishment is to blame the other side for their favorite problems, expiate their responsibility and guilt, and eliminate the possibility of positive change on any of their issues. Spencer and Laurie focus in on the US left, because their disappointment in that group is more profound. … More Stop the Culture Wars: A Plea to the US Left (ft. Chris Cutrone, Matt Christman & Catherine Liu)
Spencer begins a discussion on the mercurial PMCs (professional managerial class). Ft. Matt Christman’s wisdom. … More Boats ‘N Huevos Rancheros: Radical Liberalism Gone to Seed 4 (Contributor: Spencer, audio)
Spencer begins a discussion on the mercurial PMCs (professional managerial class). Ft. Matt Christman’s wisdom. … More Boats ‘N Huevos Rancheros: Radical Liberalism Gone to Seed 4 (Contributor: Spencer)
Political Philosophy 