Prison Abolition (x2); Philosophy and Addiction; Liberalism Today
Review of Tommie Shelby; events with Tommie Shelby/Andy West and Jeanette Kennett/Zoey Lavallee; recording of Samuel Moyn/Becca Rothfeld on liberalism
Dear all,
If you are interested in questions related to criminality, imprisonment, punishment, and justice, this is a good week for you (see below). Also, our first print issue of 2024 will be looking at philosophical questions raised by punishment. More on that in a future newsletter…
Your Sunday Read
“The House Always Wins. Or Does It?”: Andy West reviews The Idea of Prison Abolition by Tommie Shelby.
What could we have instead of prisons? Is all crime caused by social injustice or would there still be murder and theft in a fair society? How else could we protect the public if not with jails? Could there be such thing as a non-dehumanising prison? Tommie Shelby’s latest book is a philosopher’s cool headed take on these hot political questions. You can read Andy’s review of it here.
Monday Event: 11am PT/2pm ET/7pm UK
The Idea of Prison Abolition
Tommie Shelby in conversation with Andy West
Can the practice of imprisonment be reformed, or does justice require it to be ended altogether?
Despite its omnipresence and long history, imprisonment is a deeply troubling practice. In the United States and elsewhere, prison conditions are inhumane, prisoners are treated without dignity, and sentences are extremely harsh. Mass incarceration and its devastating impact on black communities have been widely condemned as neoslavery or “the new Jim Crow.”
In conversation with Andy West, renowned Harvard philosopher Tommie Shelby will examine the abolitionist case against prisons and its formidable challenge to would-be prison reformers. While a world without prisons might be utopian, Shelby will make the case that we can make meaningful progress toward this ideal by abolishing the structural injustices that too often lead to crime and its harmful consequences. You can find out more and register here.
Tuesday Event: 4pm PT/7pm ET/11am (Wed.) AET
The Philosophy of Addiction
Jeanette Kennett in conversation with Zoey Lavallee
Join Jeanette Kennett and Zoey Lavallee for a discussion of the philosophy of addiction, with a focus on Jeanette’s important work on the topic. Jeanette and Zoey will discuss questions such as: How do the social and material circumstances within which a person experiences their addiction shape their agency? When addiction becomes entwined with one’s identity and view of oneself, how does this impact self-efficacy? And what are some practical and supportive approaches to navigating addiction-affected relationships? You can find out more and register here.
Recording of Moyn/Rothfeld conversation
For those of who missed the recent conversation between Samuel Moyn and Becca Rothfeld on “What Happened to Liberalism?” (co-hosted with Boston Review), you can watch the recording here.
Ending
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Wishing you all a lovely Sunday, wherever you are.
Anthony Morgan
Editor