Can We Save Liberalism? Helen Pluckrose on the Fight for Reason
With Awake at the Wheel.
I spoke to clinical psychologist Oren Amitay and psychotherapist Malini Ondrovcik about how to address Critical Social Justice authoritarianism within organisations in a principled and knowledgeable way. I am particularly concerned about the impacts it is still having on humanitarian aid and the therapeutic professions and prioritise these two. This directly impacts the most vulnerable people who really need these organisations to be evidence-based and effective.
Thank you Helen for your courage & honesty in answering questions about the personal impacts on you of the Grievance Studies Affair. I particularly enjoyed the last chapter of "The Counterweight Handbook" (quoted below) in which you outline the liberal principles needed to combat all forms of authoritarianism, in whichever form it manifests.
An article I submitted to a psychotherapy & counselling journal was recently rejected on a few ideological grounds, one of which was an insufficient focus on its applicability to indigenous clients and therapists. The main thesis of the article was how measuring outcomes & alliance in therapy by using two short, feasible, valid, empirical measures applied cross-culturally for nearly 25 years, levels the therapy playing field. They give clients a voice in their treatment, irrespective of race, gender, religion, socio-economic status & such variables, and empower clients to direct their therapy - except those in acute crisis (suicidal or severe psychosis), and some cognitive or developmental impairments. I'm concerned about the capture of our therapy field by DEI & share your concern that "Even though the movement is too divorced from reality, chaotic, contradictory, ethically inconsistent, and alienating to survive, it has done a great deal of damage socially and will likely do a lot more before it falls."
I enjoyed this so much. So many great ideas for pushing back with respect.