Kant, Race, and Racism; Kant's Legacy; Agency, Persons, and Politics
An event with Huaping Lu-Adler; an interview with Stella Sandford, and an essay by Elvira Basevich
Dear all,
Huaping-Lu Adler’s newly published book, Kant, Race, and Racism: Views from Somewhere, takes centre-stage this week, with an event to discuss it tomorrow and an interview with Stella Sandford on Kant’s legacy to sit alongside the event. We also have a new essay from Elvira Basevich (Professor Lu-Adler’s interlocutor in the event tomorrow) on agency, personhood, and politics. Enjoy!
Your Sunday Read #1
“Kant’s Legacy: A conversation with Stella Sandford”: In this conversation, leading Kant scholar Stella Sandford focuses on the numerous pathways that have emerged under the title ‘post-Kantian philosophy’, as well as the differing receptions of Kant’s work within the analytic and continental traditions. She also addresses some prominent critiques of Kant, such as his curtailment of metaphysics and deflation of objectivity, before discussing a very different and largely overlooked aspect of Kant’s legacy – his highly controversial theory of race and its relationship to his critical philosophy. You can read the conversation here.
Your Sunday Read #2
“The New Basics: Agency” by Elvira Basevich. What does it mean to be an agent? In this essay, Elvira looks to thinkers from Kant and Rawls to Du Bois and Mills to illuminate important questions about the nature of practical agency and its exercise under non-ideal circumstances, such as material or symbolic deprivation. She then goes on to consider the collective exercise of practical agency, solidarity, and the importance of a moral community in a hostile world. You can read Elvira’s essay here.
Monday Event: 11am PT/2pm ET/7pm UK
“Kant, Race, and Racism”
Huaping Lu-Adler in conversation with Elvira Basevich
Kant scholars tend to assume that his racism, as personal prejudice, can be disentangled from his core philosophy. They also tend to assume that racism contradicts his moral theory. In this event, philosopher Huaping Lu-Adler will challenge both these assumptions.
Firstly, she will argue that Kant’s raciology (divided into racialism and racism) is integral to his philosophical system. Second, she will reject the individualistic approach to Kant and racism, demonstrating instead how Kant participated in the formation of modern racist ideology. Overall, Lu-Adler will push the discourse about Kant and racism well beyond the old debates about whether he was racist or whether his racism contaminates his philosophy. By foregrounding the lasting legacies of Kant’s raciology, she will call for a profound reorientation of Kant scholarship. You can find out more and register here.
Recording of Shelby/West conversation
For those of who missed the recent conversation between Tommie Shelby and Andy West on “The Idea of Prison Abolition”, you can watch the recording here.
Ending
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Wishing you all a lovely Sunday, wherever you are.
Anthony Morgan
Editor