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Cynical Theories
- How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity - and Why This Harms Everybody
- Narrated by: Helen Pluckrose
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
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Cynical Theories
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Summary
Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best seller!
Have you heard that language is violence and that science is sexist? Have you read that certain people shouldn't practice yoga or cook Chinese food? Or been told that being obese is healthy, that there is no such thing as biological sex, or that only White people can be racist? Are you confused by these ideas, and do you wonder how they have managed so quickly to challenge the very logic of Western society?
In this probing and intrepid volume, Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay document the evolution of the dogma that informs these ideas, from its coarse origins in French postmodernism to its refinement within activist academic fields. Today this dogma is recognizable as much by its effects, such as cancel culture and social-media dogpiles, as by its tenets, which are all too often embraced as axiomatic in mainstream media: knowledge is a social construct; science and reason are tools of oppression; all human interactions are sites of oppressive power play; and language is dangerous. As Pluckrose and Lindsay warn, the unchecked proliferation of these anti-Enlightenment beliefs present a threat not only to liberal democracy but also to modernity itself.
While acknowledging the need to challenge the complacency of those who think a just society has been fully achieved, Pluckrose and Lindsay break down how this often radical activist scholarship does far more harm than good, not least to those marginalized communities it claims to champion. They also detail its alarmingly inconsistent and illiberal ethics. Only through a proper understanding of the evolution of these ideas, they conclude, can those who value science, reason, and consistently liberal ethics successfully challenge this harmful and authoritarian orthodoxy - in the academy, in culture, and beyond.
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What listeners say about Cynical Theories
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. Paul John Price
- 27-08-21
This explains everything.
Very thoughrough, clear and understandable. Would be an easy read if the subject of the book were not so infuriating. I would say anyone considering further education should read it as a vaccine before they start.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- yfbc
- 16-02-21
Essential commentary on radical ideas
Everything is a bit strange right now, isn't it?
Why are people telling you everything and everyone is racist, transphobic and bigoted?
The answer is complex. A not at all adequate summary is that an underlying illiberal authoritarian idiology has begun to spread across society, under the guise of compassion and empathy. And its led to rising alt-right insanity.
Want to know more? This book tells you what's really going on.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- G Copeland
- 24-10-21
Great explanation
This is the best explanation I have seen about how the “woke” mindset was created.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-01-23
Put My Feelings into Eloquent, Structured Words
This is not the kind of book I usually read and I am probably not it’s typical audience. Frankly, I don’t consider myself very academic at all. However I really found this book accesible, interesting and helpful.
I’ve become increasingly aware lately of attitudes in society changing and feeling more and more uncomfortable about it without knowing why. Starting in the early 2000s I have been involved in what I would have called ‘social justice’ ventures, both professionally and in my personal life. I’ve always felt strongly that all people should be treated as equally, but uniquely valuable. However in the last few years I’ve felt more and more detached from the ‘Social Justice’ movement and at times ashamed to be associated with it. At first I put this down to ‘political correctness gone mad’ and overzealous young people taking part in well-meaning activism, however with some lack of wisdom and measure. But recently it’s felt more sinister but I haven’t been able to put my finger on it.
Listening to this book felt like someone had translated my subconscious ‘gut feelings’ and put them into a well rounded, systematic explanation with academic credibility. I am grateful to the authors for speaking out on these issues, even as though they are opening themselves up to public backlash
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kamin
- 16-02-21
Amazing, clear and powerful.
time for a concerted, reasoned, Liberal and blame free argument, and push back on reactionary dogma.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- N. M. Kosky
- 17-07-21
brilliant
A coherent, compelling, and most of all clear account of why the overarching "social justice" theory is flawed and has profoundly problematic consequences. A robust defence of traditional liberalism, which after all, has led, in all probability, to substantial social advances across the world in the last 500 years. Clearly narrated, simply written,. Excellent.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ross Cadogan
- 21-02-21
Understanding Social Justice
This book presents a valuable framework for understanding the Social Justice Movement. By positing postmodernist theory as the philosophical parent of such present-day phenomena as "critical race theory", "queer theory", and "wokeness" we're given a way to appreciate their ideological tenants and their social goals.
The narration was disappointing, at times sounding bored with the material, at other times repeating herself or changing tone where edits had obviously been applied.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tessa
- 17-03-21
An excellent critique of the social justice agenda
If you want to understand the history, development and ideology of the social justice movement, this is a very good place to start. The book is written in a clear, well-argued style and the arguments it puts forth are evidenced with examples. It covers areas such as racism, sexism, genderisms, fatism etc and makes clear the reasons so many people today are feeling confused by the attempts of social justice supporters to make them feel they should be ashamed of themselves. The authors conclude that liberalism has served humanity well as the crucible in which ideas of all shades can be evaluated and tested rather than the ultimately nihilistic approach of social justice.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 08-10-21
Thorough and exceptionally well written
An important piece of work in the face of burgeoning unforgiveness. An inspiring testiment for critical thinking.
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- Justin Lane
- 03-01-23
Life changing
Looking around the world today thinking that people are going crazy over politics and losing sense of reality? This book explains why, why you're not crazy, and what we can do regain stability.
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