Concepts with Shawn Whatley

A quiet revolution occurred in the 1990s. Our institutions shifted. The global war on terror solidified the shift and obliterated the distinction between public and private, which was once a feature of liberalism.

The fusion of public and private represents a new era of actually existing postliberalism.

https://firstthings.com/actually-existing-postliberalism/

https://pinkoski.substack.com/

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Institutional Shifts and ...

Canada has the fastest growing assisted dying program in the world. Medical Assistance in Dying (passive and active euthanasia) is now tied as Canada's 5th leading cause of death.

We tackle loneliness and social isolation, individualism, and (briefly) social response to suffering.

Not a light episode, but a crucial topic to discuss.

Thanks for checking it out!

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We delve into the rapid growth and normalization of Medical ...

Short recording for Canada Day. I hope you find (or found) time to enjoy the day and reflect on what we are celebrating.

Canada is young: many Canadians alive now are more than 1/2 as old as Canada itself. Given its youth, what exactly is Canada? What aspects do we hope to pass on to our children and grandchildren?

Whatever Canada is it must be "planted deep in the affections of the people...it must be in the hearts of the people."...

I had a friendly debate with Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand, the largest protest company in America.

He ran circles around me having clearly argued almost all my points many times before. He called out my hypocrisy at being intolerant of paying protesters while being ok with all the other money that flows around inside politics.

Adam forced me to face reality. I am still opposed to paying protesters, but I do not have a proper...

Our legal history will shock you. It has more tradition than libertarians can stomach and more anti-government sentiment than conservatives can tolerate.

Dr. Alford explains why we need both more history and more enthusiasm to put government in its place. He ends with a message of hope for rescuing Canada.

Seven Absolute Rights: Recovering the Historical Foundations of Canada's Rule of Law

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We delve into the depths of co...

I got a chance to visit with Dr. Dan Pitt, co-author of Intellectual Conservatism: From Burke to Scruton. We focussed on a chapter he wrote which offers a brilliant rubric for understanding conservatism -- one of the best I've seen. 

Dr. Pitt offers an attractive view beyond the status-quo liberalism in which all political parties operate, for the most part.

Plenty of laughs, profound points, and notable quotes. I hope you enjoy it...

Conservatives are often suspicious of intellectuals and for good reason. Novel ideas dreamt up by radical intellectuals have caused enormous suffering over the past 200 years. But Conservative parties cannot survive without intellectual substance.

European conservatism doesn't suffer from the North American tendency to confuse conservatism with classical liberalism. Professor Hörcher has spent decades unpacking a philosophy of cons...

Pope Leo's election garnered far more interest than usual. We are in a time of great change. People are paying attention. The Pope shapes public opinion, and people are eager to know what Pope Leo might say.

I asked Peter all the most provocative political questions I could imagine. What might the Pope think about resource development, immigration, pluralism, and social equality. Peter offered answers I haven't found elsewhere.

I h...

Dr. Livingstone worries about postmodernism destroying Truth. I worry about about postmodernism destroying history as a way to understand the present.

David says we need universals to resist postmoderns. I say we should fear universals lest the postmoderns inflict us with their 'values'.

In this episode we resolve the debate (sort of). Thanks for watching!

Please (please!) subscribe. :-)

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Navigating Truth and Tradition:...

Can a country survive if we aren't united about common fundamental matters?

Pro-Hamas protests block streets in Toronto. They have even forced ambulances to turn around. This has really bothered me. Aside from basic procedural solutions -- keeping a lane open for emergency vehicles or having police enforce the law -- can we solve the deeper, existential issue this raises for Canada? 

I think we have an opportunity to reclaim sanity...

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Justin Trudeau are universalists. Donald Trump is a (rare) politician who, for the most part, doesn't seem to be a universalist.

Universalism is an essential concept to help us understand modern politics. It's a core pillar of liberalism, but many 'conservatives' are universalists also.

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Understanding Universalism: A Deep Dive into Modern Political Philosophy In this episode, we explore the ...

Go ask a professor for a simple definition of liberalism or conservatism. If they are honest, they won't give you a short answer. These terms are super complex. But we need somewhere to start.

In this short segment, I offer a place to start talking about liberalism: a theory with 4 pillars. The first pillar we discuss is individualism. We will discuss conservatism in other episodes. 

Part 1 of a 4-part series on liberalism

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Geoff stands out as a new kind of writer on the non-left. He offers hope that embraces Canada's past without repudiation -- truly rare these days

Thanks for listening!

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Shawn interviews Geoff Russ, a Vancouver-based writer, about the evolving concept of Canadian nationalism and identity. They discuss the need for newcomers to understand their obligations, the distinction between Canadian and American ideals, and the impac...

This episode goes deep into the philosophy of Leo Strauss and the modern Conservative movement by looking at Professor Haver's book on Strauss and Ango-American democracy.

I got too excited with the discussion and stopped paying attention to the recording quality. It's less than I would have hoped, but the content Grant shares is excellent.

I offer a longer summary than usual. Thanks for checking it out!

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In this episo...

Professor Bruhn is a unique thinker. She calls herself someone of the 'non-left'. Her advocacy on indigenous issues does not rest on the more common progressive principles. 

I hope you enjoy the episode!

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In this episode, Shawn dives into Canadian political thought with Dr. Jodi Bruhn. They explore topics such as the conservatism of Pierre Poilievre, political and social myths that shape Canada, the comparison between Ca...

Ted Morton offers a perspective you cannot find anywhere else in Canada. He's an academic, turned politician, returned academic from Alberta. 

If you want to understand Canadian politics, you simply have to spend time digging into Alberta. Ted has a great sense of humour and seems to love chatting about the thorniest political issues. He jokes that he doesn't have to worry about what he says now that he'...

Our lives are shaped by the political systems in which we live. When our country starts to struggle, we need to revisit the ideas that animate the programs and structures around us.

In just under 5 minutes, I explain why we need to focus on political ideas now, and why philosophical conservatism offers a (paradoxically) new and fresh way to think.

If you agree and think that this is a worthy quest, please click like and subscribe. ...

Ginny returns to answer common Canadian myths and misconceptions, as well as offering analysis on the upcoming election. 

We start out with four familiar comments or questions:

1. Is the Conservative Party uncaring, especially about people in need?
2. Will Pierre Poilievre end up spending as much as Mark Carney?
3. The CBC is Canadian. Isn't it a trusted source for unbiased information?
4. Carney is really nothing like Justin Trudeau.

Canadian Conservatism, National Identity, & Critique of Post-Colonialism

In this episode, Shawn interviews Professor Jeremy Geddert about George Grant, renowned Canadian philosopher and author of 'Lament for a Nation'. They delve into Grant's critique of the Laurentian elite, his perspectives on Canadian nationalism, conservatism, and his critique of contemporary progressive politics. Geddert examines Grant's views on state and...