Listen "Episode 291: Universality and Identity Politics, with Todd McGowan"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode, I’m joined by Todd McGowan, philosopher, psychoanalytic theorist, and author of Universality and Identity Politics. (https://www.amazon.com/Universality-Identity-Politics-Todd-McGowan/dp/0231197705/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8C9U2EPDO9BE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.r5Z7sTqttNg-EcLCYP7X_WGdcvAZuBYwncEdhvZ_-6fI3QZleKwpbKPQLprw-cioT4S9ZUob9fFmYoVhnYcZau5wcU7DhzX24KrA_O8KE38noZIvRg5ie8hCU4ips4leehB14VrhNR3IbC8CdASRUg.pCUb8ADulIxkR2YhubPdyQqN7Zs2gNB-_QT1xVeb7oA&dib_tag=se&keywords=universality+and+identity+politics&qid=1748553149&sprefix=universality+and+identity+politics%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-1) We explore the central argument of his book—that true political transformation requires a return to universality, not a retreat into particular identities. Todd challenges prevailing assumptions about identity-based movements and offers a compelling alternative grounded in psychoanalytic theory and Hegelian philosophy. It’s a provocative and timely conversation about how we understand solidarity, difference, and what it means to build a more just world.
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