What if I told you that the very thing we think will save democracy—getting more engaged, building stronger coalitions, fighting harder for what we believe in—might actually be the thing slowly killing it from the inside?
This isn’t some abstract academic theory. This is the reality we’re living in right now, where your political affiliation has become more important to your identity than your religion, where you’re more likely to change your faith than your party, and where parents would rather see their children marry someone of a different race or religion than someone who votes for the “wrong” candidate.
In this absolutely riveting conversation, philosopher Aaron Simmons sits down with political philosopher Robert Talisse to unpack what Talisse calls the “polarization paradox”—the autoimmune disorder at the heart of democratic society. They explore how our desperate attempts to defend democracy are turning us into the very authoritarians we claim to oppose, and why traditional solutions like “better civic education” or “more dialogue” might actually be making things worse.
But this isn’t a doom-and-gloom conversation. Talisse and Simmons dig into the existential and spiritual dimensions of our political crisis, offering unexpected insights about hope, community, and what it means to sustain democracy when the very foundations seem to be crumbling. From camping stories that reveal our shared humanity to punk rock philosophers who understand that politics can never love you back, this discussion will challenge everything you think you know about political engagement.
This conversation serves as the perfect appetizer for what’s coming this summer: the Democracy Intention Summit: Navigating the Interlocking Crises of Democracy and Religion. Aaron and I are bringing together some of the most brilliant minds in political philosophy, theology, and social theory for an online gathering that will wrestle with these exact questions. You’ll hear from scholars like Rob Talisse, Kevin Carnahan, Elizabeth L. Hinson-Hasty, David Scott, Beatrice Marovich, Tad Delay, Rebekah L. Miles, Marvin E. Wickware, Jr., and many others as we explore whether democracy can be sustained, what religion has to do with it, and how we might find hope in the midst of what feels like civilizational collapse.
If you’ve ever wondered why political conversations feel impossible these days, why your Facebook feed makes you want to throw your phone across the room, or whether there’s any way forward that doesn’t involve either giving up or gearing up for war—this conversation is for you.
Read on, and then mark your calendars for the Democracy Intention Summit. Because if we’re going to save democracy, we first need to understand how it’s trying to destroy itself.
In this episode, Aaron Simmons stepped up to host this conversation while I’m leading the Bonhoeffer travel-learning trip.
Dr. Robert B. Talisse is W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. A native of New Jersey, Talisse earned his PhD in Philosophy at the City University of New York Graduate School in 2001. His research focuses on democracy. Specifically, Talisse writes about how a democratic political order can assist and complicate our efforts to acquire knowledge, share ideas, understand what is of value, and address our disagreements. He engages questions about public discourse, popular political ignorance, partisan polarization, and the ethics of citizenship. Talisse has lectured throughout the world. He is the author of over one hundred scholarly articles and fifteen books.
Dr. Aaron Simmons is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Furman University. You can follow his Substack - Philosophy in the Wild.
Previous Episodes with Aaron
“Democracy in Tension” Online Summit - Register Now!
Democracy today faces profound challenges – polarization, inequality, populist authoritarianism, and widespread cynicism are eroding the foundations of democratic life. Yet, what if democracy's greatest strength lies not in eliminating these tensions, but in productively embracing them?
Reimagine democracy as a space for productive tension—not uniform agreement.
Engage new tools to resist polarization, cynicism, and political despair.
Explore how religion and democracy can coexist in pluralistic societies.
Transform political enemies into adversaries through agonistic engagement.
Confront the forces eroding democratic life with bold, practical insight.
Connect with scholars and citizens committed to revitalizing democratic imagination.
ASYNCHRONOUS CLASS: All lectures will be released on Monday, July 28th. You can participate fully without being present at any specific time. Replays are available on the Class Resource Page.
COST: A course like this is typically offered for $250 or more, but we invite you to contribute whatever you can (including $0) to help make this possible for everyone!
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