The Map and the Territory

Jason Blakely of Pepperdine University joins Shadi and Damir to discuss his new book, Lost in Ideology: Interpreting Modern Political Life. A professor of political science, Jason claims that everyone has an ideology. The point is to be aware of it, and to remember that there’s always more to reality than your ideology can explain.

Damir doesn’t buy it. The quest for power, he thinks, is what ultimately drives politics, not ideas. Meanwhile, Shadi tries to figure out Jason’s ideology.

Required Reading:

• Jason’s new book, Lost in Ideology: Interpreting Modern Political Life

• Jason’s controversial Harper’s essay, “Doctor’s Orders”

• Jason’s old book, We Built Reality: How Social Science Infiltrated Culture, Politics, and Power

• Jorge Luis Borges, “On Exactitude in Science”

• Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

• Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

• Thomas More, Utopia

• Desiderius Erasmus, In Praise of Folly

• Anthony Fauci, “I represent science” statement and backlash

This post is part of our collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Governance and Markets.

Wisdom of Crowds is a platform challenging premises and understanding first principles on politics and culture. Join us!