Halloween gives us a candid glimpse into the dehumanizing patriarchal stereotypes that continue to pervade our society. In his October 8, 2023 talk, delivered October 8, 2023 before the UU Church of Brevard in West Melbourne, Florida, Jeffrey Nall, Ph.D. draws on the insights of cultural analysis and feminist theory to show how critically examining popular, mass marketed costumes enables us to understand and combat the pernicious power of patriarchy, a 5,000 year-old ideology quietly shaping our individual and social lives.

The humanities continue to be undermined by funding cuts and demands to center education on strictly defined workplace roles. In this talk, delivered March 19, 2023 before the UU Fellowship of St. Augustine, in Florida, Jeffrey Nall, Ph.D. draws on his experience as a high school dropout turned humanities professor to argue that the humanities offer college students and lifelong learners invaluable lessons in the art of living lives of intention and excellence.

Dr. Jeffrey Nall's January 28, 2024 talk on Albert Einstein, the humanities, and peace before the UU Church of Brevard in West Melbourne, Florida. The talk also highlights some of Einstein’s less well known views on individualism, warfare, nationalism, and his concerns about “fascist” elements of Jewish Zionism following the Deir Yassin massacre of April 9, 1948.

Video #4: Rev. Dr. King’s Other Dream: Ending Economic Injustice

Narrow commemorations of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and work demean his life, thought, and work. Depictions of King that tell the story of his civil rights activism to the exclusion of his opposition to militarism and economic injustice obscure his holistic conception of justic…

There was a great outpouring of love and appreciation for bell hooks when we learned she had died of kidney failure on December 15, 2021. hooks helped many better understand the character of sexism and racism and how these forms of human oppression uniquely intersect with other dimensions of social life. She also taught many of us how to think more critically, communicate more courageously, and love more authentically.

In this episode I argue we often leave our moral goodness up to chance and that we have more in common with those who held dehumanizing opinions in the past than we recognize.

Our rejection of unjust ideologies such as racism, sexism, and homophobia is less a testament to our superior moral character than our luck in inheriting the fruits others' labor. Namely, the fruits of the moral giants' labor who came before us and dared to think and act in ways that cut against the grain of dominant society.

By recognizing that our moral superiority of opinion is largely due to luck, we stand ready to follow the lead of ethical change agents who came before us and do the difficult work of thinking courageously and critically about the contemporary moral questions that, today, go ignored, dismissed, or simply unrecognized.

Let’s Discuss!

When you’re done listening to the episode, let’s strike up a dialogue. Let me know what you think. Specifically, I’d really like to know your thoughts on this question:

What present moral problem is mostly unseen or inadequately addressed?

As a bonus, it’d be great to learn about the kinds of ethical projects others have or are now undertaking.

What kinds of ethical insights have you developed through your own effort?

Have you ever undergone moral transformation? What was the change, and how did you make it?

Are there ethical changes you believe you ought to undertake but have not yet taken action? What are the impediments to enacting those changes?

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The Humanities in Revolt podcast can be found here and on platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

Below you’ll find the original Substack post this podcast post is based on.

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Dr. Nall delivers energetic live presentations and engaging workshops on the subjects featured in Humanities in Revolt. Those interested in booking a workshop or talk can get in touch through Facebook or by leaving a comment on this post.

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Subscribers will receive periodic posts pertaining to the broad domain of humanistic inquiry, from the insights of great thinkers throughout human history, the meaning and importance of critical thinking and ethics, the underappreciated poetry in everyday existence, to contemporary cultural analysis and the ongoing struggle to combat human oppression and violence. You will also have the opportunity to engage the author and our online community in dialogue about each post.

Why get a paid subscription?

Paid subscriptions directly support Dr. Jeffrey Nall’s efforts to produce and share publicly accessible independent scholarship and analysis. Supporting donations can also be made through PayPal. For more about my work go to JeffreyNall.com and find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

This post inaugurates the podcast component of Humanities in Revolt. In this episode and those to come I will give voice to previously published Substack posts. You can also find this and future podcast episodes on platforms like Spotify and YouTube.

Thank you to our paid subscribers for allowing this project to expand and flourish! If you aren’t a subscriber, please join us. Paid subscriptions are greatly appreciated, but free subscriptions are also welcomed with gratitude.

In this episode I explain the theme of the newsletter and podcast. (See below for the original post or click this link.) That aim is to explore the art of being human by taking the humanities out of the ivory tower, and into the homes and streets of everyday life. I also give my take on what the humanities, at their best, raise objections to and what they affirm. After you give it a listen please share with others and, as always, share your thoughts in the comment section.

What do you see as the best in the humanities? What role do they have to play in the 21st century amidst so much ecological-social-political instability and crises? What relationship should the humanities have with the sciences and technology?

Subscribe

Subscribers will receive periodic posts pertaining to the broad domain of humanistic inquiry, from the insights of great thinkers throughout human history, the meaning and importance of critical thinking and ethics, the underappreciated poetry in everyday existence, to contemporary cultural analysis and the ongoing struggle to combat human oppression and violence. You will also have the opportunity to engage the author and our online community in dialogue about each post.

Why get a paid subscription?

Paid subscriptions directly support Dr. Jeffrey Nall’s efforts to produce and share publicly accessible independent scholarship and analysis. Supporting donations can also be made through PayPal. For more about my work go to JeffreyNall.com and find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.