Paul Fenn: Liberty, Democracy, Localism and The Bloody Rhinoceros Head 77 wherein The Fools discuss, with author, activist, political philosopher Paul Fenn, his latest work, The Localist Manifesto.

In 1995 Paul co-authored the nation's landmark municipal aggregation legislation in Massachusetts and authored California's 2002 Community Choice (CCA) law, Assembly Bill 117. Since then, Fenn has played a leading role in the growth, and implementation of CCA across the U.S. Fenn also wrote San Francisco's 2001 "Solar Bond" authority Proposition H the Nation's first "Green Bond".

In Episode 41 of F&S The fools discussed Fenn's earlier co-authored work, Enlightenment in the Age of Destruction (Palgrave 2018). The current episode 77 covers history, psychology, politics and a practical road map for the current chapter in our evolving democracy. Don't Miss it!

In this conversation, Brian and Boaz explore various themes including the challenges of climate change, the complexities of infrastructure development, the role of authority in collective action, and the balance between individual desires and the suffering of others. They delve into philosophical discussions about idealism versus materialism, the importance of social cohesion, and the ethical implications of our choices. The dialogue emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of human nature and the interconnectedness of our experiences.

Chapters

0:00 Introduction

01:02 Pragmatic Approaches to Climate Change

03:38 The Complexity of Collective Action

06:41 Authority and the 'We' Concept

08:41 Balancing Competing Interests

09:40 Social Cohesion and Cultural Dynamics

12:10 Philosophical Perspectives on Human Nature

17:13 The Idealism vs. Materialism Debate

24:29 The Dangers of Subjectivity

25:43 Postmodernism and Materialism

26:23 The Role of Reason and Psychological Predispositions

28:32 Finding Balance: Wisdom from Buddha and Aristotle

31:59 Material Circumstances vs. Human Nature

34:48 The Cost of Desire: Suffering for Personal Gain

37:24 Mutual Suffering in Relationships

39:24 The Nature of Suffering and Its Implications

41:08 The Philosophy of Experience as a Multiplier

44:18 Navigating the Cognitive Storm

48:16 Philosophical Crossroads and Metaphysical Assumptions

We discuss the idea of "combating hate " and the dangers of generalities, evolving into a discussion of aspects of Marxism, materialism and finally a discussion of ideas of The Self and their connection to our lives, our self-understanding and ultimately our self-fulfillment. And the tricky handling of this slippery fish in general. As always not scripted, not AI.

Us fools talk with physicist rabbi Jack Shlacter about bridging the gulf between the material and the spiritual, free will, determinism, antisemitism and the Judaic traditions thru time.

We discuss the wisdom that Aristotle called the "Charioteer of the virtues" without which all our other virtues would be "blind"...what it is, how it comes about and more...plus we touch on rationality in daily life and that slipperiest of all fishes, happiness...

Life in the Dangerous Middle....in the liminal zones are found both life and creativity, the space between light and dark, between order and chaos, between waking life and the world of dreams....join us to explore the secrets of dancing on that line...

Larry Shapiro, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at University of Wisconsin, joins these Fools to talk about why it’s essential for philosophy to play a central role in other disciplines. In particular, as science attempts to answer some of the “big questions of philosophy” - free will, consciousness, and happiness - philosophy has a great deal to offer. Larry introduces ideas from his upcoming book and shares some of his own perspectives on these big questions - and every other question these Fools throw at him. Enjoy!

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When you think about it, forgiveness is pretty weird, and these Fools have some questions: What does it really mean to forgive? What happens inside of us when we forgive? Can we show someone kindness without forgiving them? Does forgiving make us better? Must the other person have a role, i.e., repentance? What is the relationship between forgiveness and justice? These fools discuss. Hope you enjoy! 

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How much is it our choice to belong, versus the situation being right? An interesting topic, especially for two Fools who, growing up, didn’t feel they belonged. A discussion of fate, destiny, karma, and the story of Oedipus Rex follow as we explore aspects of belonging, autonomy, the relationship between religion and mysticism, and other aspects and implications of being in the very human predicament of experiencing existence as both an individual, and a part of a collective. Thanks for listening!

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Dr. Michael Wolfe, tutor at St. John’s College and leader of the Middle Eastern studies program there, joins these Fools for a great discussion. Since discovering him in graduate school, Dr. Wolfe was and remains captivated by the great 12th-century Sufi mystic Ibn-al-Arabi, and we go pretty deep into his views on the nature of God, consciousness, and reality (is it a dream? Could synchronicity exist if the universe is essentially material?) These fools loved this conversation and can’t wait to have Dr. Wolfe back - hope you enjoy it as well!

Patreon: patreon.com/FoolsandSagesPodcast

X: https://x.com/sagetimepodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foolsandsagespodcast/

See the Fools and Sages show notes: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GVCVW1h2_-4JOU22KREzTO0lVDiN3icg?usp=drive_link