Episode 42

Postmodernism, Liberal Values & How To Make A Proper British Cup Of Tea with Helen Pluckrose - The Shape of Dialogue #42

https://www.hpluckrose.com/

Helen Pluckrose is a British liberal humanist writer and social commentator. She is the co-author with James Lindsay of Cynical Theories, Social (In)justice, as well as her own book, The Counterweight Handbook, about Principled Strategies for Surviving and Defeating Critical Social Justice at Work, in Schools, and Beyond. 

At university, Helen studied late medieval women's religious writing. Her work now focuses on critiques of postmodernist philosophies, Critical Social Justice scholarship and activism and their negative effects on the humanities and the political left. With James Lindsay and Peter Boghossian, Helen was instrumental in the now famous "Grievance Studies Affair" which exposed the dubious scholarship in academic fields captured by Postmodernism, critical theory and identity politics. They succeeded in publishing a number of fake, hoax papers in academic journals. The project was inspired by Alan Sokal's 1996 hoax paper he published in the academic journal, Social Text.

From 2018 to 2021, Helen was the editor-in-chief of Areo, an online magazine focusing on politics, culture, science and art. You can read her current writings on her Substack called The Overflowings of a Liberal Brain - https://substack.com/@helenpluckrose

Helen's books - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08GSPKP4M

Helen's Quillette articles - https://quillette.com/author/helen-pluckrose/

Music: Bach B Minor Mass

Performed by

The Monteverdi ChoirThe English Baroque SoloistsJohn Eliot Gardiner

https://music.apple.com/nz/album/j-s-bach-mass-in-b-minor-bwv-232/1053521016

About the Podcast

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About your host

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Michael Goldwater

Michael Goldwater is a New Zealand podcaster and host of The Shape of Dialogue, a podcast exploring the foundational principles underpinning well-functioning societies.

Michael's prominent international and New Zealand guests discuss important issues of the day, illuminating what societies require to function effectively and cohesively.

In 2023, Richard Dawkins (the world's most famous scientist) personally asked Michael to host and interview him for his New Zealand speaking tour.

Michael has also interviewed other significant world-renowned thinkers, including Steven Pinker (twice), James Flynn, Lawrence Krauss (twice), Jerry Coyne, Jonathan Rauch, Helen Joyce, Peter Boghossian, Toby Young, Sall Grover, James Lindsay and numerous international and New Zealand scientists and thought leaders.

Michael's interviews are characterised by civil discourse and a genuine curiosity about a diverse range of topics. His podcasts serve as forums for thoughtful explorations of complex societal issues, aiming to inspire listeners to engage in meaningful conversations, consider more than one viewpoint to bridge ideological divides and take a fresh look at subjects that sometimes are not seeing the light of day in other media.

Michael's esteemed guests have discussed a wide range of engaging topics, including science, Indigenous knowledge, education, human rights, women's rights, philosophy, the classics, liberty, free speech, communism, epistemology, trans-ideology, censorship, language and rhetoric. 

Michael is also a musician, educator, businessman and an accomplished photographer. His art photography can be viewed at www.michaelgoldwater.photography

In 2015, Michael founded and led Stop Stealing Our Harbour, an environmental advocacy group dedicated to protecting Auckland's beautiful Waitematā Harbour from continued industrial reclamation. He has been a prominent voice in the national conversation around this issue and has successfully campaigned to stop thousands of tons of concrete from being poured into Auckland's famous harbour.