New Book: What Left and Right Mean artwork
Insert Philosophy Here

New Book: What Left and Right Mean

  • E24
  • 10:53
  • September 21st 2022

Available Here: https://amzn.to/3qWV6H6

We are all so used to the terms "left," "right," "liberal," and "conservative" that we hear and use them without a second thought as to their meaning. Politics is the debate over how government and society should be structured and how social institutions should function and to what ends. The political conflict over these issues is often described in terms of the "Left" versus the "Right," but there is a definite lack of adequate examination of what Left and Right mean. In this book, Douglas Giles clarifies the meaning of the terms "Left" and "Right" and the left-right political spectrum in a way that helps us better understand political and social conflicts. Politics is complex, and many political conflicts have considerable effects on our lives. We deserve and need a deeper understanding of politics and political action, and we can help accomplish this by being clearer about what the terms "Left" and "Right" signify. #politics #philosophy #election

Insert Philosophy Here

The world needs more philosophy.

More to the point, we all need to engage with the world with a more philosophical attitude.

My name is Douglas Giles, I am a philosopher by trade and temperament. I understand that philosophy is an active search for concepts on which we can build a better life. Long fascinated by ideas, I am motivated by an earnest desire to bring philosophy out of its insular ivory tower and into everyday life where it can be put to good uses. 

As a university philosophy professor for more than 20 years, I have introduced thousands of students in multiple countries to the value of philosophy in their lives. From my teaching experience, I have learned what works for students, leading me to write a textbook, How We Are and How We Got Here: A Practical History of Western Philosophy.

My scholarly research explores the root causes of bigotry and injustice and their role in beliefs and political action.. Because I apply a phenomenological approach to the lived experiences and actions of individuals, groups, and social and political institutions, my research helps us better understand social injustices and how people respond to them.

My work also explores the intersection of philosophy and culture and the construction and maintenance of personal identities and social meanings. I greatly value and facilitate discussion that digs deeper into holistic and meaningful ideas that deal with causes not symptoms.

I started writing content for the Internet in 1994 and now produces my own Web site, InsertPhilosophyHere.com, podcasts, and video channels. Because I value the individual person, I encourage people to seek openness and authenticity in themselves and others.

I earned my PhD in social philosophy at the University of Essex (UK) and I have written extensively on the history and nature of ideas, ideologies, and paradigms. I am the author of How We Are and How We Got Here: A Practical History of Western PhilosophyLeft Wing, Right Wing, People, and Power: The Core Dynamics of Political Action, and Why Trump? Why Some People Support Him— How the Rest of Us Can Respond.

I am a seasoned lecturer and video producer, skilled in public speaking, panel discussions, and interviews. I am available to those eager for serious and deep conversations about philosophy and politics.

Also, I have been a radio disc jockey since 1997 and since 2003 have managed the Internet radio station WorldFusionRadio.com. In 2018, I moved to Prague with my spouse, a professional editor.

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