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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)

War, Peace, & Human Nature

War, Peace, and Human Nature - Gun Control Podcast

Wonderful recent volume shows how views of human nature as inherently warlike stem not from the facts but from cultural views embedded in Western thinking.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags agriculture, ambushing anthropology, anthropology branding, evolution, gun violence, human nature, Jared Diamond, natural selection, niche construction, primates, primatology, textbooks 25 Comments

Anthropology, Gun Reform, American Anthropological Association

Younge - Another Day in the Death of America - Gun Reform Anthropology

As the US was in limbo about gun reform, the American Anthropological Association issued an important statement on gun violence and need for research.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags anthropology branding, culture, gun violence, politics Leave a comment

Sustainable Investing

During the Obama technocracy, sustainable investing was a good choice. Since 2017, I’ve switched to “survival investing” & Pax World Environmental Markets.

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The Future of Gun Reform

Gun reform is important, but the U.S. needs to reduce the weaponry, buying back 50 million semi-automatic weapons. Australia did it. We can do it too.

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Anthropology & Politics in 2012 Elections

Political Punditry and Anthropology

Anthropology should be front and center–the 2012 Obama Romney election concerns race, culture, history, and power, key issues for political anthropology.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags ambushing anthropology, anthropology branding, capitalism, cultural relativism, culture, David Brooks, education, Jared Diamond, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, political economy, politics, race, race mixing, racism, Sidney Mintz 4 Comments

Jared Diamond won’t beat Mitt Romney

The really scary part of the Diamond Romney dustup is how Romney recaps Diamond: European imperialism is accidental but societies choose to fail.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags agriculture, ambushing anthropology, anthropology branding, capitalism, education, Eric Wolf, evolution, genetics, human nature, Jared Diamond, politics, primates, race, racism, textbooks 15 Comments

What would Keynes do about climate change?

From “What would Keynes do?” to “Loading the Climate Dice,” we need to put the pieces together, work to reduce long-term resource use.

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Nellie McKay on Hydrofracking

Everybody needs to make money, but it’s better to sell your body than your soul.
–Nellie McKay on Hydrofracking (West Kortright Centre, NY)

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Walmart Socialism

Utopia-Dystopia - Walmart Socialism

On using the informational-distributional capacities of Walmart to enact a sensible and sustainable future, Walmart Socialism and Utopia.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags agriculture, capitalism, human nature, planning, political economy, politics 10 Comments

Community Supported Agriculture

A great recipe for Kale Quesadillas–a quick, simple, and tasty way to enjoy the kale from Community Supported Agriculture.

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Local Economy Manifesto

People need jobs. The Earth faces ecological catastrophe. We can live more sustainably. We have the money. Restore local economy.

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Toward a Public & Green Economy

Inside Job - Expropriate Goldman Sachs Green Economy

We need public borrowing and job creation for a green economy. Expropriate Goldman-Sachs to bypass political impasse via public ownership.

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

Oneonta & Center Street School, 1981-2012

What was it about the Oneonta of 1981 that voted for Center Street School? Reflections on Oneonta and Center Street School 1981-2012.

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School Budget Votes

Oneonta is a place to share in a common life and a common good. It’s worth defending.

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Community Based Schools

There is a need for long-term planning, educational vision, and community participation to make Community Based Schools vibrant.

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Cannibalize the Future

As Paul Krugman points out in “Cannibalize the Future,” the harder and more responsible decision is actually to spend toward the future.

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Rural Solutions

Hartwick College’s symposium on “Rural Solutions: Economic Development on a Human Scale.” Keynote with Michael Shuman, author of Local Dollars, Local Sense.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags agriculture, globalization, planning Leave a comment

Reform AND Revolution: Reasons to not Abandon the Quest

Tsing - Friction - Reform - Revolution

“The inadequacy of the bridge seems hardly a good enough reason to have abandoned the quest” (Anna Tsing 2005:85). On anthropology of reform and revolution.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags capitalism, political economy, politics 3 Comments

Beyond Capitalism

Beyond Capitalism - Political Ecologies

Boone Shear and Brian Burke organized a special track for alternative political ecologies for 2012 Applied Anthropology, seeking to go Beyond Capitalism.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags capitalism, human nature, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, occupy, planning, political economy, politics Leave a comment

Ain’t it a little late in the game to throw your hand in?

A post from 2012 describing the options.to closing a neighborhood school. As Little Steven says: “Ain’t it a little late in the game to throw your hand in?”

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags education, political economy, politics 2 Comments

The Cost of Savings

Fighting the planned closing of a neighborhood school based on a false economy of market-based choices and political expediency. The cost of saving schools.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags education, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, occupy, political economy, politics Leave a comment

Four Field Manifesto

Communist Manifesto - Anthropology, Moral Optimism, Capitalism - Four Fields Manifesto

Anthropology’s Moral Optimism: Four Field Manifesto & alternative visions of humanity. Capitalism is not the most beautiful or respectful of shared planet.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags anthropology branding, capitalism, David Brooks, Eric Wolf, evolution, gender, human nature, Jared Diamond, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, occupy, planning, political economy, politics, primates, Sidney Mintz, Tim Ingold 59 Comments

Anthropology & Occupy Wall Street

Debt - Occupy Wall Street

In October 2011, the anthropological blogosphere coalesced around supporting Occupy Wall Street. But why is there not a similar movement in 2019?

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags anthropology branding, capitalism, human nature, occupy, planning, political economy, politics 18 Comments

Government Planning & Anthropology

Ugly Stories of the Peruvian Agrarian Reform - Government Planning

Anthropology should stand against the ideologues insisting government planning is inherently flawed.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags capitalism, human nature, planning, political economy, politics, Sidney Mintz 6 Comments

War on Terror

Weaponizing Anthropology - War on Terror

With death of Osama bin Laden, how anthropology supports pursuing criminals, not blanket “war on terror,” and anthropology questions xenophobic nationalism.

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Categories Moral Optimism Tags anthropology branding, cultural relativism, culture, empathy, politics, Ruth Benedict 3 Comments
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© 2011-2023 Jason Antrosio. All Rights Reserved. This blog is a personal project and does not represent the views of any institutions or employers, current or previous. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.