114: Guns, Germs & Fear (w/Alan Levinovitz)

Life is scary. Natural disasters, violent intruders, and deadly viruses threaten our survival and endanger our loved ones. When ordinary solutions and institutions are not trusted, we may reach for talismanic help; crystals, herbal remedies, ritual prayer and magical thinking, or we might consult the charismatic oracle who channels prophecies from the Great Beyond—right on your iPhone.

But what about weaponry? Even though guns exert devastating real-world impact, our guest argues that they also carry an important symbolic power. While most may never use it, the knowledge that cold hard steel is nearby is one attempt at managing an anxiety that is all-too human. In fact, coping strategies both magical and militaristic are woven into the American political psyche—and as the pandemic has demonstrated, flare up dramatically during social crises; even at times becoming strange bedfellows.

Philosophy and religion professor Alan Levinovitz calls this "empowerment epistemology" and describes it as a connective tissue between the seemingly distant domains of gun culture and the wellness sphere. In both cases, this longing for empowerment in the face of helplessness motivates us to cleave to what we believe protects us, regardless of evidence to the contrary—or the tragic consequences in our middle schools and medical ICUs.

Show Notes

Oprah's 'happiness guru' designed apartments to maximize joy — and they start at $5 million

Killing does not come easy for soldiers - The Washington Post

Hanns Johst “Schlageter”

Quote/Counterquote: “Whenever I hear the word 'culture'…”