Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes philosophy professors Hubert Dreyfus and Sean Kelly for a discussion of their book, All Things Shining. Drawing on their reading of Western classics, Dreyfus and Kelly analyzehow different epochs offered unique answers to the question of what is sacred and what can provide meaning for human existence. The conversation explores the examples of Homer, Jesus, and Melville to highlight differing paradigms of culture practice. Dreyfus and Kelly then trace the transition to the secular age in which nihilism prevails. They conclude by identifying how a...
Conversations with History and host Harry Kreisler welcome Harold Wilensky, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at UC Berkeley, to talk about his recently published book, Rich Democracies: Political Economy, Public Policy, and Performance. In this landmark work, Wilensky compares rich democracies and explores what makes these modern societies distinct and what makes them alike.
Host Harry Kreisler welcomes critic and writer Frederick Crews as he describes his battles with conventional interpretations and his passion for the English language.
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes economic historian Barry Eichengreen of UC Berkeley for an analysis of the global economic crisis. He discusses its causes, evaluates government responses, and explores the implications for reform and stability of the international monetary system. Professor Eichengreen compares the present crisis to the Great Depression and discusses its implications for America's standing in the world. He also reflects on the role of history in helping us understand the interplay between economics and politics.
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Professor Arlie Hochschild for a discussion of her book "Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right." Hochschild discusses formative influences shaping her intellectual journey, describes her pioneering work on the sociology of emotions, and traces the evolution of her methodology. She then explains the decision to pursue her study of the American right in Louisiana beginning in 2011; how she undertook an empathetic engagement with citizens devastated by pollution but committed to the oil and gas industry; and how...