Book SummaryCynical Theories, by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Cynical Theories

In Cynical Theories, authors and academics Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay discuss social justice, or attempts to address inequalities based on factors like class, race, gender, and so on. They argue that over the last few decades, advocates for social justice on the left have become increasingly radical and authoritarian in their beliefs and methods. The contemporary Social Justice Movement rejects core tenets of Western liberalism—namely freedom of speech and belief in science—in favor of their own methods of critiquing and policing culture. Pluckrose and Lindsay make the case that these liberal tenets are preferable for battling inequality and improving society since they allow for open discussion and scientific progress.

(Shortform note: While the term Social Justice Movement sounds like it refers to an organized campaign or political faction, many authors, cultural critics, and politicians view the Social Justice Movement less as a single entity and more as an ideology...

Cynical Theories Summary Part 1: How Social Justice Changed

Authors, academics, and cultural critics Pluckrose and Lindsay begin by discussing the history of social justice in politics and scholarship over the past century or so to show how it went from a positive force to its current form. They separate this history into three main phases:

Phase 1: Material Approaches

For a long time, social justice movements focused on material issues, or concrete political and economic advances. Advocates for social justice had specific goals—women’s suffrage, an end to legal segregation, or legalized gay marriage, for example. The authors outline two main forms of scholarship that take material approaches to social justice: liberalism and Marxism.

(Shortform note: In addition to liberalism and Marxism, religion was also an important part of many early social causes. Religious groups provided not only the organization necessary to advocate for a cause but also common, relatable rhetoric around equality and charity. In the United States, for example, early social justice movements from the abolitionist movement to some [feminist...

Cynical Theories Summary Part 2: The Social Justice Movement Rejects Science

Now that we’ve explored how the influence of postmodernism changed social justice, we’ll discuss Pluckrose and Lindsay’s critiques of the modern Social Justice Movement. Part 2 of our guide will focus on how the Social Justice Movement’s ideology rejects science. The authors argue this is counterproductive, as scientific research provides the understanding necessary to improve people’s lives in concrete ways (we’ll discuss their arguments on behalf of science further in Part 4).

(Shortform note: Though Pluckrose and Lindsay mainly focus on areas where scientific research and the Social Justice Movement conflict, other critics of the Social Justice Movement suggest it’s negatively influencing science instead of rejecting it entirely. These critics note many math and science institutions have adopted certain ideals of the Social Justice Movement: Requiring diversity, focusing on women and non-Europeans in the history of science, and [accepting the idea that the scientific method is inherently...

Cynical Theories Summary Part 3: The Social Justice Movement Rejects Freedom of Speech

In addition to rejecting science, the Social Justice Movement also rejects freedom of speech, explain Pluckrose and Lindsay. Part 3 of our guide will show how the beliefs and methods of the Social Justice Movement are anti-free speech.

Anti-Free Speech Beliefs

Pluckrose and Lindsay explain that the Social Justice Movement is anti-free speech because they believe access to knowledge is based on identity—race, gender, and so on—instead of on reason and evidence. According to the Social Justice Movement, people of marginalized identities have more knowledge than everyone else about power and oppression because of their experiences. People from dominant groups lack this knowledge, and so the Social Justice Movement believes these people’s ideas about power, oppression, and social justice should be devalued or dismissed. Pluckrose and Lindsay explain this is anti-free speech since it seeks to restrict or devalue ideas based on who says them rather than on merit.

(Shortform note: Some critics of the Social Justice Movement have noted how the movement’s beliefs have led to self-censorship, or individuals and institutions restricting their own speech to avoid...

Cynical Theories Summary Part 4: Why Society Should Return to Liberalism

After outlining historical shifts in social justice scholarship and how they led to the Social Justice Movement’s current beliefs, Pluckrose and Lindsay shift to explain why liberalism is preferable for addressing social inequality. They argue that capitalism and democracy—the two cornerstones of liberalism—are self-correcting institutions because they welcome criticism through rational debate and give the people tools (political and economic participation) to address social problems. This process of consistent improvement is preferable to the Social Justice Movement, which the authors say aims to shut down rational debate in favor of their own fixed doctrines.

(Shortform note: While Pluckrose and Lindsay view capitalism and democracy as stable, self-improving institutions, some liberal scholars argue they’re relatively fragile and require consistent intervention to function correctly. For example, liberal economist John Maynard Keynes studied the boom-bust cycles of capitalism and concluded for the greatest overall human well-being, governments must supplement the free market with social programs. In...

Shortform Exercise: Compare Liberalism and Social Justice

Consider how liberalism and the Social Justice Movement affect inequality.

Do you think the Social Justice Movement is addressing inequality in modern society, or making it worse? How so?