Dickinson College to Host Virtual Talk on Political Polarization

Portrait of Robert Talisse

Robert Talisse. Photo by Joe Howell/Vanderbilt University.

Overdoing Democracy: The Problem of Polarization

by Gabriella Farrell '21

Robert B. Talisse, internationally recognized theorist of democracy, will discuss the overwhelming effects of political polarization in a virtual lecture from Dickinson College’s Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues. “Overdoing Democracy: The Problem of Polarization” will take place via a public YouTube livestream on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. The link is available at the Clarke Forum website.

Drawing from his book, Overdoing Democracy: Why We Must Put Politics in its Place, Talisse will discuss how we allow political categories, allegiances and struggles overwhelm our social lives. He will talk about the effects of increased polarization and how too much engagement in political discourse may undermine and erode democratic ideals, and he will present a different idea of how citizens should be involved in democracy.

Talisse is the W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. He has lectured throughout the world about topics including democracy, moral disagreement, political polarization and the ethics of citizenship. In addition to Overdoing Democracy, Talisse has authored many academic books and more than 100 peer-reviewed articles. Talisse also hosts the podcast Why We Argue and co-hosts the podcast New Books in Philosophy. He is a former editor of the academic journal Public Affairs Quarterly and a regular contributor to the blog 3 Quarks Daily.

This event is sponsored by the Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues and co-sponsored by the departments of philosophy and religion. It is part of the Clarke Forum’s semester theme, Civic Engagement and the Liberal Arts

TAKE THE NEXT STEPS

Published October 6, 2020