In this episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast, I speak with British writer Helen Pluckrose about the pernicious influence of Critical Theory, and how to push back against these dangerous ideas.  

Helen and I discuss the postmodern origins of Critical Theory, and how it escaped the ivory tower of academia to become mainstream. This has dramatically altered the way we talk about race, gender and sexuality, she says. 

Helen argues that what passes for 'Social Justice' is in fact a fundamentally illiberal and intolerant ideology. Its adherents suppress free speech, foster a culture of victimhood, and essentialise people's experience based on their identity and 'positionality'.   

We explore alternative (liberal) approaches to social justice, and also discuss the practical steps that ordinary people can take to counteract 'wokeness' in the workplace or other institutions.

TIMESTAMPS  

(00:00) Intro

RESOURCES  

BOOK: Helen Pluckrose & James Lindsay, 'Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity—and Why This Harms Everybody' (2020): https://www.amazon.com/Cynical-Theories-Scholarship-Everything-Identity_and/dp/1634312023 

WEB: https://counterweightsupport.com/