Boomers have a worldview "frozen by fortune, not forged in fire." Through no fault of their own, the boomer generation remains blind to aspects of current reality from their experiences growing up in the post-WWII era. That era has ended.
For more on this, check out Dr. Nicholson's guest post on Peter Boghossian: The Boomerang
Our discussion tackles Trump, scientism, climate change, 'masculinity crisis' (Calum says it's an immaturity crisis), and much more. Links below and AI summary follows at the bottom:
Co-edited book: Climate Migration: Critical Perspectives for Law, Policy, and Research
Check out Calum's Substack: Notes from the Isthmus
You can find more of his work at the Danube Institute:
Calum's Linktree
AI Summary
Join Shawn Whatley as he interviews Dr. Calum Nicholson, a lecturer at the Cambridge PACE program and director of research at the Danube Institute, about the significant cultural shifts from the boomer generation to today. They delve into the differences in material security perspectives across generations, the role of science in society, the impact of neoliberalism, and discuss Dr. Nicholson's thoughts on climate change and the social sciences. Additionally, Dr. Nicholson provides insights into Hungary's unique cultural and political landscape, offering a comparative perspective on the Anglosphere and Central Europe. This engaging conversation is an eye-opener on various societal and philosophical questions. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments below!
00:00 Introduction: The Boomer Generation and Cultural Shifts
00:42 The Crisis of Masculinity and Immaturity
01:04 Science and Society: The Role of Scientism
01:47 Interview Introduction: Dr. Calum Nicholson
02:21 The Boomerang: Impact of the Boomer Generation
04:44 Diagnosing Cultural Changes: Symptoms vs. Pathology
08:42 The Influence of Popular Culture: From Comic Books to Presidents
19:09 Generational Differences: Deep Waters vs. Shallow Waters
26:24 Neoliberalism and Its Cultural Impact
38:33 Climate Change and Social Science
45:28 Challenging Social Science Presuppositions
46:41 Science and Society: A Philosophical Inquiry
48:27 The Concept of Climate Change
53:22 The Role of Science in Society
57:34 COVID-19: A Case Study in Science and Policy
01:11:48 The Uncanny Valley of Political Empathy
01:14:39 Understanding Hungary's Unique Perspective
01:20:58 Concluding Thoughts and Future Work
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