Brexit: why?
Trump: why?
Putin and Xi: why?
The News at Ten brings world events into our homes. What we see on the screen prompts us to ask, why? Experts offer us their views. What are we to make of it all?
Let’s spend an hour together exchanging views. What questions are uppermost in our minds? Let’s explore these questions and see what we think.
What started me on this track a few years ago was a book by Steven Pinker. And now Steven Pinker has written another book. These two books and other books have led me to the following questions:
Are we getting less violent?
Is our first loyalty to our tribe?
Who is the greatest threat: Trump, Putin or Xi?
Is democracy in decline?
Is the Enlightenment under threat?
Do animals have rights?
Where do we get our information from?
You may have quite different questions.
Information sources
The news: newspapers, radio, TV, electronic …
Commentary: newspapers, radio, TV, electronic …
Books in hand:
Steven Pinker. Better Angels. 2013.
Steven Pinker. Enlightenment Now. 2018. See SP
Yuval Noah Harari. Homo Deus. 2016.
Books reviewed:
Amy Chua. Political Tribes. Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations. 2018.
Yascha Mounk. The People vs Democracy: Why Our Freedom is in Danger and How to Save It. 2018.
Book reviews/articles:
AC “Our highest loyalty is to our tribe.” Times, Saturday Review, 10.2.18, 14-15.
SP “Enlighten me.” The Observer, 11.2.18, 20-24.
YM “Shock to the system. Liberal democracy is at a critical point. Authoritarians are on the rise and electorates are seduced by extremes. To fight back, mainstream politicians need to grasp the causes of popular discontent. And rebuild democracy’s moral foundations.” The Observer, 4.3.18, 55-57.
Gordon Burt, gordobjuburt@gmail.com 7th March 2018