RSS Parrot

Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen (and how to protect democracy in a divided world)

https://terikanefield.com/whyextremismhappens/

Published: October 3, 2025 21:16

Here I offer a multidisciplinary approach to the most perplexing questions of our age, including: Why do some people spiral into extremism? Why do others grow intolerant of opposing ideas? Why do our political conversations so often descend into anger? Why…

Here’s Why

https://terikanefield.com/heres-why/

Published: August 30, 2025 18:03

Part I: Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen Introduction In September 2024, I visited Chile for the national independence festivities and a reunion for my husband and his siblings. I learned that an 84-year-old in-law, who is one of the sweetest people I…

It’s All About the Tenth Amendment

https://terikanefield.com/its-all-about-the-tenth-amendment/

Published: May 20, 2025 02:50

No, really, it is. The history of the Tenth Amendment explains [almost] everything happening in politics and government today. But before I get to the [scintillating] topic of the Tenth Amendment, I have an announcement: Today is the birthday of Rebels,…

Your Brain on Ideology

https://terikanefield.com/your-brain-on-ideology/

Published: April 26, 2025 16:39

When the Guardian, the Telegraph, and Jennifer Mercieca recommended The Ideological Brain: The Radical Science of Flexible Thinking by Leor Zmigrod, I figured I should get a copy and read it. So I did. Leor Zmigrod is a political neuroscientist with an…

Wicked, Democracy, and Fascism

https://terikanefield.com/wicked-democracy-and-fascism/

Published: April 6, 2025 21:22

Wicked is so woke. It is also about democracy and fascism. The post Wicked, Democracy, and Fascism appeared first on Teri Kanefield.

Part 5: Do the People Want a King?

https://terikanefield.com/part-5-do-the-people-want-a-king/

Published: March 15, 2025 21:19

To gain perspective on today’s politics, I have set out on a journey. I haven’t settled on a title yet, but I’m thinking something like “Make Political Philosophy Cool Again.” Here’s where we’ve been so far: Introduction. (Given the nature of our current…

Socrates and the Subversive Element

https://terikanefield.com/part-4-socrates-and-the-subversive-element/

Published: February 15, 2025 14:10

I started out writing about the trial and execution of Socrates. This brought me to the nature of subversiveness and the role of subversive elements in a democracy.  *  *  * To gain perspective on today’s politics, I have set out on a journey. Here’s where…

Part 3: Democracy, Oligarchy, and Tyranny

https://terikanefield.com/democracy-oligarchy-and-tyranny/

Published: January 19, 2025 16:28

As coincidence would have it, as I was reading Book VIII of The Republic and considering a blog post about the interplay of democracy and oligarchy when Biden gave a speech warning Americans of a rising oligarchy. I did not intend my blog post about The…

Making Philosophy Cool Again, Part 1: Euthyphro, The Spirit of Liberty, TV Lawyers (and more)

https://terikanefield.com/chapter-1/

Published: November 30, 2024 22:23

Last month, I talked about a philosophical journey for perspective on today’s politics. Plato is always a good place to start. If you’ve never delved into Plato, you’re in for a treat. I’ll try to be a helpful tour guide. I’ll also talk about TV lawyers…

Destination #2. Antigone: The law or my conscience

https://terikanefield.com/destination-2-antigone-the-law-or-my-conscience/

Published: November 13, 2024 23:12

Alternate title: The law of the nation or the higher law of morality? Welcome back to a journey through Western political philosophy as a way to gain perspective on the state of democracy in America and perhaps some wisdom as well. You can read Antigone…