Man's Machinations

About Man's Machinations

What is the trajectory of contemporary history; what circumstances shape culture and determine which narratives fail or succeed? Man’s Machinations examines the boundaries of the public imagination during times of greed, manipulation, and “post-truth” confusion. Co-hosts Ryan Eric Johnson and Dustin Geeraert consider major issues in light of twenty-first century scholarship, science, and cultural criticism. Such issues include institutional failures, economic and other disasters, wars, and examples of mass deception or delusion. The Oxford English Dictionary defines machination as “an instance of plotting or (usually malicious) contrivance; an intrigue, plot, or scheme,” but also “a machine (esp. of war); a framework, mechanism, or apparatus,” and “the use or construction of machinery.” The famous principle captured by Hanlon’s razor pronounces that we should “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” On this podcast we consider to what extent the disasters of this century can be attributed to either or both. As eccentric billionaires promise to the save the world while many societies crumble and rights are lost or stolen, where can we find hope?

Publisher

Ryan E. Johnson

Category

arts · history · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

4 Jan 2025

Latest episode

4 Jan 2025