Political Demonology: The Logic of Evil in Contemporary Literature and Theology
From Oxford University, Political Demonology: The Logic of Evil in Contemporary Literature and Theology presents a series of recorded discussions from a significant academic conference. This podcast convenes philosophers of religion, political theorists, and literary scholars to grapple with a pressing and difficult theme: the nature of political evil, framed as a project termed ‘political demonology’. The conversations here are not abstract exercises but direct engagements with our contemporary political and cultural crises, seeking to understand the very logic behind societal malevolence. Listeners will hear experts dissect fundamental questions that resonate deeply in current discourse, interrogating who or what constitutes the political enemy and probing the definitions of political evil or sin. The series particularly examines the concept of individuality in an age described as that of ‘the complete triumph of the individual’, questioning how this status fuels or complicates our understanding of collective wrongdoing. Each episode offers a nuanced, interdisciplinary exploration, where theological concepts meet literary analysis and political thought, providing a rare intellectual space to consider the darker dimensions of modern life. This is a podcast for those seeking a substantive, academic perspective on the forces that shape conflict and morality in the public sphere, delivered with the rigour and depth characteristic of its host institution. The dialogue recorded here pushes beyond simple diagnoses, inviting a deeper reflection on the structures and stories we use to comprehend profound ethical challenges.
