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In two related cases -- against Harvard and University of North Carolina -- the U.S. Supreme Court may overturn admissions policies that consider applicants’ race. Such “affirmative action” policies are defended for fostering “diversity” and fixing “underrepresentation.”But what are the philosophic ideas underlying these goals? Are these goals coherent? How can collectivized, race-conscious thinking remedy … Continue reading The Anti-Individualism of Affirmative Action

Elan Journo and Sam Weaver discuss Natalie Wexler's recent book The Knowledge Gap, and its implications for the state of American education. Recorded February 10, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtDGjiGdwcs Photo by Taylor Flowe on Unsplash

Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss Elon Musk’s management of Twitter and Brittney Griner’s return from captivity in Russia. Recorded December 20, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUXjq6SWXBI Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Ben Bayer and Elan Journo discuss the philosophical bankruptcy of effective altruism and its role in the FTX collapse. Recorded December 16, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeWuJMO5jSg Photo by Stephen Dawson on Unsplash

Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo look at the midterm elections and offer a philosophical analysis of the state of American politics. Recorded November 14, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vb1UYM7LFo Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

When China’s Xi Jinping first came to power ten years ago, some observers thought he might be a figure like Mikhail Gorbachev, whose policies contributed to the unraveling of the Soviet Union. But since then, China has grown more authoritarian, a fact evident in its pervasive censorship, mass surveillance of the population, and ongoing “zero … Continue reading What Does Xi Jinping’s China Want?

Elan Journo and Nikos Sotirakopoulos discuss the attacks on “neoliberalism.” Recorded October 27, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMpFNRatJPw Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash