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The Future of Democracy Lies in Our Instincts
If the twentieth century gave us the ideas to rebuild after war, the twenty-first demands something equally foundational: a renewal of faith in democracy itself. Scientific Liberalism offers a way to restore legitimacy, rebuild trust, and out-compete the extremes by grounding politics in our evolved moral instincts: fairness, care, cooperation, and the need for belonging within groups.
4 hours ago


"It is my right to be fascist!"
Fascism is an illiberal ideology; that is, under fascism people are neither free to speak, nor to act against the status quo. For this reason, fascism stands in sharp contrast with liberalism, which posits freedom as the most important political value. Given its commitment to freedom, has liberalism saved us from fascism?
Oct 26


The Table in Our Heads: Rethinking Educational Aims in a Post-Truth Era
Education, the very institution meant to prepare us for such complexity, has itself become a battleground of clashing visions. What should its aims be, and why do some values feel so “natural” while others seem ideological or even threatening? What we need is conceptual clarity—a deeper understanding of why certain educational values resonate with us in the first place. Surprisingly, that clarity can come not only from philosophy but also from science.
Aug 17


Democracy Imagined
Democracy Imagined questions the effectiveness of existing electoral mechanisms to truly reflect the will of the people and highlighting the disconnect between elected representatives and the demographic and political landscape of the populace. It aims to philosophically dissect these problems and propose radical solutions for achieving a more authentic and representative democracy. It does so in an unusual way: by being a thought experiment —a difficult one, too. But have a
Jul 20


The Iran–Israel War and the Ethics of Pre-emption
News focus has leaned toward military outcomes, oil prices, and US involvement. Yet beyond strategic analysis lies a more urgent philosophical question: can the deliberate use of force, in the absence of an actual armed attack, ever be morally justified? And what precedent does this strike set for the international community? Dabbagh argues that accepting Israel’s rationale risks legalising a doctrine of first-strike coercion globally.
Jul 6


Philosophy in the age of post-truth politics
While a binary mindset of "right versus wrong" or "informed versus misinformed" is tempting, it obscures the reality of our political disagreements. Philosophy has tools to help us understand why and how we disagree, and to point us towards the path for better public discourse. Indeed, this is the mission of What to do about now?
May 18


Truth, Reality and Everything In-Between
Using the distinction between truth and reality, the political issue of the normalisation of controversial symbols and rhetoric is explored.
Mar 19


What We Mean by 'Equality'
In a time where the equality of individuals is being questioned in troubling ways, Prof Michels reviews Paul Sagar's 'Basic Equality'.
Nov 8, 2024


Echoes of Alienation: When Misinformation Meets Inequality
Examining the causes behind the 2024 UK riots, Dabbagh considers the impact of misinformation, inequality and psychological mechanisms.
Sep 29, 2024
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