Episode #161 - Karl Popper - The Open Society and Its Enemies
Karl Popper - The Open Society and Its Enemies
This episode explores Karl Popper’s The Open Society and Its Enemies as a response to the philosophical roots of fascism and totalitarianism. Rather than reacting only to the politics of his time, Popper looks back to thinkers like Plato, Hegel, and Marx to show how well-meaning ideas—like holistic thinking and historicism—can pave the way for authoritarian control. The episode highlights Popper’s belief that true progress comes not from utopian visions, but from an open society grounded in individual freedom, critical thinking, and gradual, trial-and-error reform. Through concepts like “the strain of civilization,” negative utilitarianism, and piecemeal social engineering, Popper offers a compelling alternative to political dogma—one that values the reduction of suffering over the pursuit of abstract ideals.
Further Reading:
The Open Society and Its Enemies by Karl R. Popper (1945)
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder (2017)
Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism by Anne Applebaum (2020)
See the full transcript here.
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