Excerpt: /336/ Reading Club: Freedom (3)

On Martin Hägglund's This Life.

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We continue on the theme of freedom by discussing Martin Hägglund's case for 'democratic socialism'. Would we actually work under socialism, or do we need the threat of starvation or the promise of profit to motivate us? And what, if anything, is to structure all that free time we would gain?

Why is Hägglund's critique of religion – specifically the critique of 'political theology' – so central to his arguments? And how do we avoid the various temptations to retreat from passion, be it therapy-junk, new age buddhism, the goon cave, or post-politics? 

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Readings & resources:

This Life: Why Mortality Makes Us Free, Martin Hägglund, Profile Books ––Chapter 6 and Conclusion

On time, work, freedom and necessity: /298/ Working For Freedom ft. Alex Gourevitch

On Hegel and contradiction: /167/ The Kingdom of God Is on Main Street ft. Todd McGowan