The Fools talk with the encyclopedic political and presidential historian Rich Rubino about the past year in National and Global politics from an historical, non-partisan perspective.

Paul Fenn: Liberty, Democracy, Localism and The Bloody Rhinoceros Head 77 wherein The Fools discuss, with author, activist, political philosopher Paul Fenn, his latest work, The Localist Manifesto.

In 1995 Paul co-authored the nation's landmark municipal aggregation legislation in Massachusetts and authored California's 2002 Community Choice (CCA) law, Assembly Bill 117. Since then, Fenn has played a leading role in the growth, and implementation of CCA across the U.S. Fenn also wrote San Francisco's 2001 "Solar Bond" authority Proposition H the Nation's first "Green Bond".

In Episode 41 of F&S The fools discussed Fenn's earlier co-authored work, Enlightenment in the Age of Destruction (Palgrave 2018). The current episode 77 covers history, psychology, politics and a practical road map for the current chapter in our evolving democracy. Don't Miss it!

In this conversation, Brian and Boaz explore various themes including the challenges of climate change, the complexities of infrastructure development, the role of authority in collective action, and the balance between individual desires and the suffering of others. They delve into philosophical discussions about idealism versus materialism, the importance of social cohesion, and the ethical implications of our choices. The dialogue emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of human nature and the interconnectedness of our experiences.

Chapters

0:00 Introduction

01:02 Pragmatic Approaches to Climate Change

03:38 The Complexity of Collective Action

06:41 Authority and the 'We' Concept

08:41 Balancing Competing Interests

09:40 Social Cohesion and Cultural Dynamics

12:10 Philosophical Perspectives on Human Nature

17:13 The Idealism vs. Materialism Debate

24:29 The Dangers of Subjectivity

25:43 Postmodernism and Materialism

26:23 The Role of Reason and Psychological Predispositions

28:32 Finding Balance: Wisdom from Buddha and Aristotle

31:59 Material Circumstances vs. Human Nature

34:48 The Cost of Desire: Suffering for Personal Gain

37:24 Mutual Suffering in Relationships

39:24 The Nature of Suffering and Its Implications

41:08 The Philosophy of Experience as a Multiplier

44:18 Navigating the Cognitive Storm

48:16 Philosophical Crossroads and Metaphysical Assumptions