On this episode of the Argument Ninja podcast I talk about the difficulty of judging how much we really understand about the causes of complex social phenomena—even if we do lots of research and self-study.
To help make the case I’m continuing my survey of different theories of the causes of the increase in social polarization that we’re currently experiencing.
On this episode I look specifically at the work of two social scientists who have written extensively on this topic:
- Karen Stenner on the “authoritarian” personality type. Her 2005 book The Authoritarian Dynamic can be read as predicting the expansion of right-wing populism that contributed to the rise of Trump and Brexit. Stenner’s work has been influential on Jonathan Haidt’s analysis of polarization.
- Eric Kauffman on the effects of immigration on polarization in white majority countries. His latest book Whiteshift explores how demographic shifts are driving cultural conflict, and how this will likely play out in the longer run.
But before I get to these topics, I give some Argument Ninja Dojo updates, do a recap of episode 034, and present a conceptual model for how we should think about the epistemological challenge of understanding complex social phenomena like polarization.
Timestamps
00:00 – 01:22 Introduction
01:22 – 06:31 Argument Ninja Dojo Announcements
06:31 – 11:45 Recap of Episode 034
11:45 – 14:41 Outline of What’s to Come
14:41 – 23:40 Argument Matrices and the Problem of Calibrating Our Knowledge
23:40 – 25:48 The Epistemological Challenge of Understanding Complex Social Phenomena
25:48 – 42:44 Karen Stenner: The Authoritarian Dynamic
42:44 – 01:04:35 Eric Kauffman: Whiteshift and “Multivocal” Nationalism
01:04:35 – 01:07:56 Reasons to Think We Know Less Than We Think
01:07:56 – 01:08:44 Reminder: Argument Ninja Dojo Discount Coupon Links
Links
- Click here to learn more about the Argument Ninja Dojo and how to sign up using a discount coupon link for as low as $3/month.
- Karen Stenner’s homepage
- Eric Kauffman’s homepage
jamie
29 Aug 2019Brilliant episode, as always! Spending time on the corners of the internet that are filled with the worst of political discourse and mudslinging between different political tribes can be depressing. Your podcasts on these issues are like a breath of fresh air, a ray of hope.
Even having a very incomplete understanding of the contingent historical and political factors that create these problems goes a long way to counteract the despondency and the subtle sense of hopelessness that ordinary political discourse inspires, as it suggests the possibility of change and a way forward (as difficult and potentially intractable producing this change still might seem).
I look forward to your future podcasts and content so I can continue to expand my individual argument matrix 🙂
Kevin deLaplante
29 Aug 2019Thanks so much for this note Jamie! Will do my best!