Liberals and the woke left see many of the same problems in society, from structural oppression to alienation.

And yet the ideology of the woke left is incompatible with liberalism.

For liberals, it starts with the very idea of wokeness, as an awakening from illusions, or false consciousness. The goal is supposed to be liberation. But it can look more like tyranny.

It boils down to this: If I'm woke and you're not, I see everything more clearly than you do. I have escaped from the prison of oppressive illusions in which you are still trapped. That means that if you disagree with me, I may decide your opinions are simply wrong, or oppressive.

I may try to educate you, but if that fails, I may have to cancel you.

And I can do that in the sincere belief that I'm pursuing liberation, yours and everyone else's. My intentions may be entirely benevolent. But the logic is tyrannical.

Find the full text of this episode at DastardlyCleverness.com and on Substack (where I'm @SpencerCritchley).

— Spencer