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Moral Optimism

The “Moral Optimism” category of Living Anthropologically contains blog-posts related to the idea of anthropology’s moral optimism. The term moral optimism comes from anthropologist Michel-Rolph Trouillot’s book Global Transformations. See the page on Anthropology & Moral Optimism for elaboration and a free PowerPoint.

At the end of the day, in this age where futures are murky and utopias mere reminders of a lost innocence, we need to fall back on the moral optimism that has been anthropology’s greatest–yet underscored–appeal. But we need to separate that optimism from the naïveté that has been liberalism’s most convenient shield. We need to assume it as a choice–whether we call it moral, philosophical, or aesthetic in the best sense. We need to hang on to it not because we are historically, socially, or politically naïve–indeed, as social scientists we cannot afford such naïveté–but because this is the side of humanity that we choose to prefer, and because this choice is what moved us to anthropology in the first place. We need to assume this optimism because the alternatives are lousy, and because anthropology as a discipline is the best venue through which the West can show an undying faith in the richness and variability of humankind. (Trouillot, 2003, 139)

Biden-Harris: Unity Over Division

Biden-Harris Anthropology

Endorsing Biden-Harris from anthropology: Tribal Nations, immigration, racial equity, global community, and the climate emergency.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags politics Leave a comment

Purpose of Living Anthropologically

Purpose of Living Anthropologically

Reconsidering the purpose of Living Anthropologically and adjusting to global convulsions. We need to document history, interconnection, & power. We need to care for others as we attempt to build a world together

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags anthropology branding, capitalism, globalization, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, political economy, politics, Ruth Benedict, Tim Ingold Leave a comment

Coronavirus & Academia

Camus The Plague Coronavirus COVID-19

Academia should be at the forefront of imagining more radical possibilities for going beyond our current coronavirus crisis.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags education, empathy, planning, politics Leave a comment

Impeachment & Anthropology

Concentration Camps - Impeachment Anthropology

From anthropology, the reasons for Trump’s immediate impeachment include treatment of migrants, international destabilization, and the climate crisis.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags immigration, politics Leave a comment

Boundaries, Borders, Walls

Flores - No Border Walls - Boundaries

Human history is marked by migration, cooperation, group permeability, & interconnection. Recent efforts to build walls harms human potential.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags globalization, immigration, Latin America, political economy, politics Leave a comment

Antonio Delgado NY-19

From Boas To Black Power

In NY-19 we elected Antonio Delgado as a representative to do the job of providing oversight. In 2019, that oversight should include supporting impeachment.

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Farmers & Foodies of the Future (FFF)

Seguin - Around Quitting Time - Farmers Foodies Future

Sustainable production of food will in the future require more of us to be involved in the process. The world is going to need a lot more farmers & food makers.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags agriculture, capitalism, liberal arts, planning, political economy Leave a comment

Anthropology & US Immigration

Terrio - Unaccompanied Undocumented Children in US Immigration Custody - Studying Immigration

There is a lot of great anthropology studying immigration in the United States. Immigration is central to the study of anthropology and to humanity.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags immigration, Latin America, political economy, politics, racism Leave a comment

Anthropology on Immigration

Shadow of the Wall - Anthropology on Immigration

Anthropology has studied immigration and stands with immigrants against mass human rights violations.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags capitalism, cultural relativism, culture, education, empathy, globalization, immigration, political economy, politics, racism Leave a comment

Venezuela & Anthropology

Schiller - Channeling the State - Will Venezuela Recover

With the Venezuela elections, questions of “Will Venezuela recover?” or “Will Venezuela collapse?” arise. Anthropological resources for longer-term perspective.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags capitalism, Fernando Coronil, Latin America, political economy, politics, Venezuela Leave a comment

What should you do?

Fast Easy Cash - If the United States Collapses

We seem to be living through a process of declining US hegemony. However, if the United States collapses as an event rather than a process, what’s the plan?

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags agriculture, capitalism, fieldwork, globalization, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, planning, political economy, politics Leave a comment

What if people stop funding the US?

Graeber - Debt - When will the US run out of money

The United States is running nearly one trillion dollar annual deficits, piling onto a mountain of existing debt. What happens if people stop funding the U.S.?

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags capitalism, globalization, planning, political economy, politics Leave a comment

Collapse and/or Authoritarianism

Apocalypse Metamorphosis - When will US government collapse

The US Executive & Legislative branches are non-functioning institutions. Even scarier, they risk authoritarian takeover in a political or economic crisis.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags capitalism, globalization, planning, political economy, politics Leave a comment

When will the US Stock Market Collapse?

Eriksen - Overheating - When will the stock market collapse

The first indicator we could be headed for a collapse in the United States may be a US stock market collapse. Translating from CNBC, it does look dire.

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When will the United States collapse?

Third World War - When will the United States Collapse

In historical perspective, what seem like lived events become identifiable as processes. However, recent rumblings indicate a US collapse could be swift.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags capitalism, Eric Wolf, globalization, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, political economy, politics Leave a comment

Blocking Trump

Federalist Papers - Electoral College Blocking Trump

In 2016, the Electoral College should have stopped Trump from becoming president. In 2019, blocking Trump depends on impeachment.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags planning, politics 2 Comments

Coalition of the Diverse

November Rain - Racially Mixed Crowd as Coalition of the Diverse

In November 2018, we can assemble the “coalition of the diverse” that almost came together in 2016: A racially mixed crowd in the November Rain.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags immigration, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, political economy, politics, race, race mixing, racism Leave a comment

Bring Sanity to Gun Violence

War, Peace, and Human Nature - Gun Control Podcast

As gun violence continues in the United States, this gun control podcast reflects on how anthropology can bring sanity and contribute to political debate.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags ambushing anthropology, cultural relativism, culture, gun violence, human nature, political economy, politics, racism Leave a comment

hope: the first anthropological emotion

Anthropological Hope

“The first anthropological emotion is hope” (Carole McGranahan) and also via Ingold, Trouillot, Lennon & Ono “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags empathy, human nature, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, politics, Tim Ingold 2 Comments

Humans Just Like Us?

Open Anthropology - Humans Just Like Us

Is the time gone for reaffirming that the Bongobongo are “humans just like us”? And does Open Access anthropology spell out the stakes for a wider public?

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags anthropology branding, cultural relativism, immigration, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, politics 4 Comments

Liberal Arts College Planning

“A near-present that challenges our technical mastery, and an aftermath … our imagination has yet to seize” makes liberal arts college planning difficult.

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Liberal Arts Discount Rate

For tuition-dependent liberal arts colleges, even a small change in the discount rate opens a hole in the operating budget, which can mean painful cuts.

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Is the State Relevant?

Anthropology of the State

Globalization was supposed to render the national state irrelevant. Such claims had already been disproved by an anthropology of the state.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags anthropology branding, capitalism, fieldwork, gun violence, immigration, Jared Diamond, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, occupy, planning, political economy, politics, racism 9 Comments

Oyaron

Reanimating college on Oyaron Hill, infusing it with “the sense of wonder that comes from riding the crest of the world’s continued birth” (Ingold 2011:75).

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Gun Control & Shoddy Anthropology

Douglas Fry - Beyond War - Gun Control and Shoddy Anthropology

Arguments against gun control are rooted in shoddy anthropology: ideas about human nature, culture & history which anthropology does not support.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags ambushing anthropology, anthropology branding, culture, gun violence, human nature, Jared Diamond, political economy, politics, Ruth Benedict 23 Comments
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