Episode 157: Richard Rorty on Politics for the Left (Part Two)

Summary: Continuing on Achieving Our Country: Leftist Thought in 20th Century America (1998).<br> We talk more about Rorty's description of the conflict between the "reformist left" and the "cultural left." Do political-comedy shows serve a a positive political purpose? Can an enlightened political viewpoint really be a mass movement at all? Is it better to pursue specific political campaigns (e.g., pass law X) or be part of a "movement?" Can Rorty's diagnosis cure Seth's malaise?<br> Listen to <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2017/01/30/ep157-1-rorty-politics/" target="_blank">part 1</a> first, though you should probably just get the ad-free, unbroken <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2017/01/29/ep157-rorty-politics-citizen/" target="_blank">Citizen Edition</a>.<br> End song: "Wake Up, Sleepyhead," newly composed in reaction to the electon by Jill Sobule. Listen to her interviewed on <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/06/29/nem18-jill-sobule/" target="_blank">Nakedly Examined Music #11</a>. Check out her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mysongismyweapon/?ref=br_rs" target="_blank">My Song Is My Weapon</a> page.<br> For info about the intern position, see <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/intern/" target="_blank">partiallyexaminedlife.com/intern</a>.<br> Check out the St. John's College Graduate Institute: <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/sjcgi" target="_blank">partiallyexaminedlife.com/sjcgi</a>. Also, visit <a href="http://talkspace.com/examined" target="_blank">Talkspace.com/examined</a>; use code "EXAMINED" for 30% off your first month of online therapy.<br>