Academic Edgelords

Academic Edgelords
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Academic Edgelords

This is a scholarly podcast about scholarly provocateurs. Gadflies, charlatans, and shitposters sometimes get tenure, believe it or not. This is a leftist podcast that takes a second look at their peer-reviewed work, and tries to see if there’s anything we might learn from arguing with them. We are hosted by: Victor Bruzzone, Gordon Katic, Matt McManus, and Ethan Xavier (AKA "Mouthy Infidel").

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Do We Need Nuanced Academic Theories (On Kieran Healy’s Article “Fuck Nuance”)

    In this episode, we read Kieran Healy’s provocatively titled essay, “F**k Nuance,” where he argues that an overemphasis on nuance can hinder the development of effective sociological theory. He argues that piling on distinctions can make theories more convoluted without making them more useful. Instead of sharpening insight, excessive nuance can turn sociology into an endless exercise in hair-splitting—good for showing off, bad for explaining the world. We are joined by Science and Technology Studies PhD candidate Michelle Charette to debate the merits of Healy’s arguments.

    1h 10m

  2. JAN 14

    Is Monogamy Immoral? (EP19 follow-up Feat. Harry Chalmers)

    On this episode, we return for a sequel to EP19’s topic: the potential immorality of monogamy. On that episode, we discussed Harry Chalmers’ paper “Is Monogamy Morally Permissible?” This time, we interview the man himself to see where our discussion might have gone wrong the first time around. We also discuss “Monogamy Unredeemed”, Harry’s defence of his original article, responding to a response paper from Kyle York. Subscribe to Harry’s substack here

    1h 27m

  3. 2024-12-08

    Should We Abolish Elections? (On Guerrero’s Lottocracy)

    What if democracy isn’t broken, but its very foundation—elections—is the problem? In this episode, we unpack Alexander Guerrero’s provocative case for lottocracy: a system that replaces elected officials with randomly selected citizens. Guerrero argues that elections breed inequality, corruption, and short-term thinking, while lottocracy promises fairness and more authentic representation. But can we really trust random citizens to govern? In this episode, Ethan and Victor debate whether lottocracy can deliver better results than electoral democracy.

    1h 34m

  4. 2024-11-02

    Is the Digital Media Age Destroying Humanity?

    In this episode, we welcome Mike Watson, political theorist, artist, and author, to explore the intersections of digital culture, socialism, and existential thought. We read Mike’s new book, Hungry Ghosts in the Machine, where he explores how online culture shapes community, addiction, and identity. On this episode we ask, is our malaise in the digital age caused by capitalism or is it intrinsic to the human condition? We also explore how the left might help us escape these patterns of media consumption. Follow Mike on Twitter: https://x.com/_leftaesthetics

    1h 12m

  5. 2024-10-05

    Are Humans Actually Irrational? (On Thaler and Sunstein's Libertarian Paternalism) Feat. Gordon Katic

    In this episode, we ask, how irrational are human beings really? To answer this, we read Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein’s classic essay on “libertarian paternalism” which argues that because human beings are easily manipulated by their surrounding “choice architecture”, governments should use this mechanism to manipulate encourage citizens to make better choices. We are also joined by our co-founder and former co-host Gordon Katic. We discuss Gordon’s excellent new Cited podcast series on the “Rationality Wars” that explores the way libertarian paternalism has benefitted big corporations and might be based on questionable evidence. Our discussion led to a broad debate about the nature of human agency and freedom. For a write-up on the role behavioural economics played to benefit big corporations, see Gordon’s recent article and Jacobin. For criticisms of libertarian paternalism we also read Gerd Gigerenzer’s “On the Supposed Evidence for Libertarian Paternalism“. Production note: Gordon was traveling when we recorded this and did not have his mic. Therefore, his audio quality was not always the best. Apologies for this!

    1h 14m

  6. 2024-09-12

    EP19: Is Monogamy Morally Permissible (On Harry Chalmers’ Argument Against Monogamy)

    In this episode, we examine Harry Chalmers’ provocative take: monogamy is morally suspect. Why should we treat restricting romantic partners any differently than restricting friendships? Since restricting our partner’s friends would seem pathological, so too, restricting sexual and romantic partners. Chalmers sets himself a high bar: not only does he need to show that non-monogamy is morally preferable, but that monogamy is in principle morally problematic. We discuss Chalmers’ main responses to defences of monogamy, including specialness, sexual health, raising kids, practicality, and jealousy. We also read and briefly touch on a response to Chalmers’ piece by Kyle York.

    1h 37m

  7. 2024-08-26

    EP18: Is Free Speech Actually Bad? (On Brian Leiter’s Case Against Free Speech)

    On this episode, we dive deep into Brian Leiter’s “The Case Against Free Speech.” Leiter questions the sanctity of free speech, suggesting that not all speech deserves equal protection if it causes societal harm. Is it really a blanket right, or are we just covering up society’s harms? Tune in as we tear into the freedoms you thought you had and discuss whether Leiter’s ideas are a blueprint for a just society or just an excuse to gag annoying blowhards. See this Vox article for more Production Note: Victor’s mic broke right before recording, so his audio sounds worse than usual.

    1h 27m

  8. 2024-07-26

    Should We Sacrifice the Utilitarians First? (Smilansky’s Designer Ethics) Ft. Ben Burgis

    In this episode, we delve into Saul Smilansky’s provocative paper, “Should We Sacrifice the Utilitarians First?” which introduces the concept of “Designer Ethics” (DE). Smilansky argues that individuals’ moral views should influence how they are treated in moral dilemmas, suggesting that utilitarians, who support sacrificing one for the greater good, could be prioritized as potential victims. This week we are joined by Ben Burgis. He is a philosophy instructor and host of the YouTube show Give Them An Argument. Burgis is also the author of Canceling Comedians While the World Burns and Give Them an Argument: Logic for the Left.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

This is a scholarly podcast about scholarly provocateurs. Gadflies, charlatans, and shitposters sometimes get tenure, believe it or not. This is a leftist podcast that takes a second look at their peer-reviewed work, and tries to see if there’s anything we might learn from arguing with them. We are hosted by: Victor Bruzzone, Gordon Katic, Matt McManus, and Ethan Xavier (AKA "Mouthy Infidel").

Information

  • Creator
    Academic Edgelords
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Academic Edgelords
  • Show Website
    Academic Edgelords

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