Althusser & Foucault, Ideology & Power

Althusser & Foucault, Ideology & Power

Author: Political Theory 101 August 28, 2023 Duration: 1:18:46
Alex and Benjamin kick off a series on French political thought in the second half of the 20th century with an episode on ideology and power.

Ever wondered how the ideas that shape our world actually work? Political Theory 101 digs into the concepts and arguments that form the foundation of our political lives, moving beyond the daily headlines to examine the deeper currents of thought. Each episode takes a single idea-like justice, liberty, or power-and unpacks it, tracing its history and exploring its modern implications. You’ll hear clear explanations of complex philosophers and texts, making centuries of debate accessible and relevant to contemporary issues. This isn't about partisan talking points; it's about understanding the frameworks that different ideologies use to justify their views. The podcast is a resource for anyone looking to build a more informed perspective, whether you're a student, an engaged citizen, or simply curious about why societies are organized the way they are. While the show remains freely available to all listeners, its continued production is supported by a community of patrons. You can find Political Theory 101 across major streaming platforms, ready to add some depth to your playlist and provide a richer vocabulary for understanding the forces that govern us.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 96

Political Theory 101
Podcast Episodes
Durkheim and Lukacs on Alienation, Anomie, and Reification [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:24
Edmund and Benjamin put Marx's theory of alienation into conversation with Durkheim's theory of anomie, examining how we can't live with social roles or without them. This leads to a discussion of how social roles are re…
Bentham, Mill, and the Utilitarians [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:05
Edmund and Benjamin run through the history of utilitarianism, focusing both on its radical and conservative aspects and running through some of the problems utilitarians have grappled with. Featuring Sidgwick, Moore, Si…
Fenelon, Mandeville, and 18th Century Thoughts on Commerce & Luxury [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:23
We discuss reactions to economic change in the 18th century, conflicts with traditional understandings of virtue, and how theorists thought about the problem before Smith & Bentham came on the scene. To skip the full rea…
The Frankfurt School and the Rise of the Interventionist State [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:14
Edmund and Benjamin delve into Marxist reactions to the rise of the interventionist state, both in the interwar and postwar periods. Featuring Adorno, Fraenkel, Habermas, Horkheimer, Kirchheimer, Marcuse, Pollock, Neuman…
Marxism After Marx [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:25
Edmund and Benjamin discuss the trajectory of Marxism during the decades following Marx's death. They focus on the limitations of both democratic and revolutionary approaches, attempts to find a golden mean between the t…
Nietzsche, Arendt, and Aesthetic Struggle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:06
Edmund and Benjamin discuss what happens when political theorists make struggling their primary objective, comparing Nietzsche and Arendt to the theorists who prioritise unity, order, or truth.
Marx and Materialism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:40
Edmund and Benjamin discuss Marx's theory of history, positioning Marx in relation to his German predecessors and to some of the Marxists that follow him. The Greeks make an appearance, too.
Hegel and the German Conception of Freedom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:29
Edmund and Benjamin discuss Hegel's effort to bridge the gap between the individual and the collective with mediating institutions. They position Hegel in relation to the German theorists who came before and after him an…
Kant, Fichte, and the Liberal Origins of Nationalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:48
Edmund and Benjamin discuss Kant's autonomy-heavy moral theory, emphasising Kant's reluctance to apply his moral theory to politics. This, however, did not stop Fichte, who called for a "self-sufficient" German nation-st…