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cover of episode The Open Society as an Enemy: Populism, Popper and pessimism post-1989

The Open Society as an Enemy: Populism, Popper and pessimism post-1989

2024/12/2
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I
Ilka Gleibs
J
J. McKenzie Alexander
J
Jemima
R
Reagan
S
Sarah Worthington
匿
匿名提问者
Topics
Sarah Worthington: 全球范围内，左右翼民粹主义议程威胁着自由民主的根本原则，曾经被视为开放社会美德的东西，如今被许多人视为恶习或威胁。这种反转反映了社会对开放社会的质疑和挑战。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What is the main argument of Jason Alexander's book 'The Open Society as an Enemy'?

Jason Alexander's book argues that the principles of the open society, once seen as virtues, are now viewed as vices or threats by many. He calls for a new defense of the open society, focusing on cosmopolitanism, transparency, the free exchange of ideas, and communitarianism, and advocates for resisting reactionary forces to rehabilitate and advance the concept.

Why does Jason Alexander believe the concept of the open society needs to be defended now?

Alexander believes the open society needs to be defended now because populist agendas on both the left and right are undermining the fundamental principles of liberal democracies. He argues that the values of the open society, such as free movement of people and transparency, are increasingly seen as dangers rather than virtues in the current political climate.

What are the four interconnected aspects of the open society that Jason Alexander interrogates in his book?

The four aspects Alexander examines are cosmopolitanism, transparency, the free exchange of ideas, and communitarianism. He re-examines their consequences and argues for their importance in resisting reactionary forces and advancing the open society.

What is the moral argument for the free movement of people according to Jason Alexander?

Alexander argues that the free movement of people is morally justified because citizenship, which determines lifetime opportunities, is based on factors like birthplace or parentage, which individuals cannot control. This creates a 'natural injustice,' and free movement helps mitigate this injustice.

How does Jason Alexander address the economic and social consequences of free movement of people?

Alexander cites economic studies suggesting that free movement could increase world GDP by 50-150%. He also argues that social consequences depend on how immigration is managed, using the U.S. as an example where internal migration has led to equilibrium without significant social disruption.

What does Jason Alexander identify as the main concerns with the rise of social media in relation to transparency?

Alexander highlights that social media has shifted transparency from holding governments accountable to exposing private lives to corporations for profit. This raises concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of personal information against individuals.

How does Jason Alexander view the role of value pluralism in an open society?

Alexander sees value pluralism as essential for mitigating social conflict. He argues that recognizing diverse values as different solutions to common problems, rather than labeling them as wrong, can reduce polarization and foster a more tolerant society.

What are the potential dangers of polarization in society according to Jason Alexander?

Alexander warns that polarization can lead to in-group out-group bias, where people favor their own group at the expense of others. This bias can be weaponized, leading to extreme beliefs and intergroup conflict, as seen in phenomena like QAnon.

How does Jason Alexander respond to the argument that liberalism's current issues are due to its success?

Alexander finds this argument unconvincing, especially in the U.S. context, where the political center has shifted significantly to the right. He suggests that attributing current challenges to the success of liberal values may be a convenient narrative rather than a reflection of reality.

What does Jason Alexander suggest as a corrective mechanism for the challenges facing the open society?

Alexander advocates for embracing critical rationalism, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and rational discourse. He believes this can help counteract emotional and intuition-based decision-making that contributes to the current challenges.

Chapters
This introductory chapter sets the stage by discussing the global threat to liberal democracies from populist agendas. It introduces Jason Alexander's book, "The Open Society as an Enemy," which offers a new defense of the open society in the post-Cold War era. The chapter highlights the book's interrogation of four key aspects of the open society: cosmopolitanism, transparency, the free exchange of ideas, and communitarianism.
  • Populist agendas threaten liberal democracies.
  • Alexander's book offers a new defense of the open society.
  • Four key aspects of the open society are examined: cosmopolitanism, transparency, free exchange of ideas, and communitarianism.

Shownotes Transcript

Contributor(s): Professor J. McKenzie Alexander, Dr Ilka Gleibs, Professor Alan Manning | Across the world, populist agendas on both the left and right threaten to undermine fundamental principles that underpin liberal democracies, so that what were previously seen as virtues of the ‘Open Society’ are now, by many people, seen as vices, dangers, or threats. As global citizens, we are implicated by a range of contemporary social questions informed by the Open Society; from the free movement of people to the erosion of privacy, no-platforming and the increased political and social polarisation fuelled by social media. Expanding on Karl Popper’s thinking nearly 80 years since the original publication of his spirited philosophical defence of the Open Society, J. McKenzie Alexander’s new book, The Open Society As An Enemy, argues that a new defence is urgently needed now, in the decades since the end of the Cold War. The Open Society as an Enemy interrogates four interconnected aspects of the Open Society: cosmopolitanism, transparency, the free exchange of ideas, and communitarianism. In re-examining their consequences, Alexander calls for resistance to the forces of reaction, alongside his claim for the concept of the Open Society to be rehabilitated and advanced.