Society Archives

Alan Watts: The Ego Illusion Is Ingrained in Western Society

How does the language people use reflect and impact the way they see themselves? Is there an inherent flaw in Western science? According to Alan Watts, the ego is the culprit behind the ills of Western society. In The Book, he argues that Western society perpetuates “the ego illusion” through the language people use, the expectations they place on each other, and even the way they approach science. Continue reading to understand Watts’s argument regarding ego in the West.

How & Why America’s Media Elite Stole Power From the People

How did the emergence of radio and television affect the political scene in America? Is the internet a solution to the problem—or just more of the problem? Over time, the American people have lost political power. C. Wright Mills identifies the media as one of the three institutions that control the relationship between the people and their political circumstances. He explains how and why the media elite gradually took power away from the people. Continue reading to understand the connection between the media and political power.

4 Ways Attitudes Toward Work Are Changing in the U.S.

What are people’s attitudes toward work in the U.S.? How are job attitudes changing? The pandemic and the recent wave of tech industry layoffs have been changing Americans’ attitudes toward work. The pandemic has prompted many workers to crave a better work-life balance, leading them to search for new careers and in some cases opt for part-time work. Keep reading to discover the four ways Americans’ attitudes toward work are changing.

How Bad Is the East Palestine Water & Air Contamination?

How worried should we be about East Palestine water contamination? Could the air quality also be affected by the Ohio train derailment? Following the Norfolk Southern freight train derailment on February 3, a controlled burn released many of these chemicals into the environment in East Palestine, Ohio. Upon taking daily samples of the water and air, the EPA insists that neither poses any danger to local residents, but not everyone is convinced. Keep reading to learn about the conflicting claims over air and water contamination in East Palestine.

How American Conservative Intellectuals Harm Instead of Help

What tactics do conservative intellectuals use to combat their ideological opponents? What’s their relationship with America’s power elite? C. Wright Mills suggests that the majority of American intellectuals fail to acknowledge, question, or challenge the rule of the power elite. This has taken power away from the American people by depriving them of their ability to understand what’s going on in government. Let’s take a look at what Mills has to say about conservative intellectuals in particular.

Freakonomics: Book Club Exercises for a Thoughtful Discussion

Would you like to understand your fellow humans better? When is conventional wisdom wrong? What if you thought like an economist? Authored by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything applies the tools of economics to explain real-world phenomena that aren’t conventionally thought of as “economic.” The book contains fascinating implications and applications. Continue reading for discussion questions and a quiz that you can use with your Freakonomics book club.

How the American Intellectual Class Fails in Its Duty

What’s the role of intellectuals in society? How has that role changed in America over the years? Sociologist C. Wright Mills says that America’s intellectual class used to run interference for the people, helping them understand what was going on and know how to stand up for their interests. All of that changed after World War II. Learn how the American intellectual class is now part of the problem.

The Centralization of Power: How the People Lost Control

Do you feel powerless to impact politics? Does it seem like the major decisions are made by powerful people far away? You’re not alone—and things haven’t always been this way. In The Power Elite, American sociologist C. Wright Mills discusses how a small group of corporate, military, and political leaders has taken over a vast majority of American political and economic decision-making. Continue reading for Mills’s exploration of how the centralization of power progressed in America at the expense of the people.

Adam Smith: Self-Interest Is the Engine of a Free Economy

Can self-interest be a good thing? What does it have to do with labor, embargoes, and taxation? According to Adam Smith, self-interest in the context of a free market is what a nation needs in order to flourish. In The Wealth of Nations, he argues that free markets harness the power of rational self-interest to incentivize the production of useful goods while efficiently distributing surplus wealth. Read more to understand Smith’s case for free markets and individual self-interest as the best ways to grow a nation’s economy.

Is It Possible to Live Forever and if So, Should We?

Is it possible to live forever? What are the potential implications of human immortality for society at large? People have always been fascinated with immortality. However, we have never been as close to it as we are today. Medical technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, and many scientists believe that humanity is on the brink of a breakthrough that will pave the way toward technologies that will make eternal life possible. Keep reading to learn whether it’s possible to live forever and some potential implications of human immortality for the human species and societies at large.