What we’re about
Are our politics trapped in false binaries? Does our culture feel “stuck”? Do you feel “politically homeless”?
The Heterodox Club is dedicated to discussing works from current "heterodox" thinkers that provocatively, and at times controversially, question present orthodoxies in our politics and culture. Just as importantly, we are dedicated to being involved in our community and have developed relationships with several nonprofits and community organizations that we support.
All you need to join is curiosity and a belief in the ideals of frank discussion, empathy, honesty, and nuance.
For more details on the club, see the sections below.
You can find our group Substack here with writings from the group
The group organizer has a Substack here.
We also have a group Discord.
A Quick Notes on Rules:
Polite, respectful, and empathetic discussion will be required at all times. Vigorous and passionate debate is desired! Challenge each other! However, the fact that we will be reading controversial works will not be an excuse to engage in insulting or offensive interactions.
What Will We Be Reading?
The thinkers we will read represent political and philosophical viewpoints that won’t always map well onto our political binary, but that share a critique of our current intellectual status quo.
We will read work from “anti-identitarian” Leftists that believe our current form of identity politics serves to prevent class consensus and material change. Radical centrists that believe our institutions have become afraid to speak the truth on certain issues openly and abandoned Enlightenment ideals. A new crop of feminists that believe treating of the sexes as the same sexually and psychologically has hurt women. We will read books that you will vehemently disagree with, as well as ones that you may not understand where any controversy could arise from.
Since the books we read will at times be controversial, respectful and considerate discussion will be enforced at all times. If you believe an upcoming topic should not be discussed and its inclusion as a discussion point is inherently morally problematic, then consider not attending unless you’re willing to engage critically and directly with those who would disagree.
Note: An intent of the club is to encourage specificity in how we we think that goes beyond everyday use of certain terms like "liberal" and "conservative". That being said, it does have certain metaphysical and ethical values that are implied in our approach to things. They will change and grow over time, but they include a commitment to human rights, the idea of progress, and there being truths in the world.
What the Club is Not
The goal of the club is not to boost ideas that are provocative for the sake of being provocative or that fail to adhere to basic standards of evidence, science, argument, logic, or respect for our fellow human. We will encourage a wide range of opinions and beliefs, but certain ground-rules for maintaining a pluralistic, healthy environment of discussion will be maintained. Namely, the club reserves the right to remove anyone that creates undue disruption in meetings or causes harm to another member in their interactions.
What Does Heterodox Mean?
The term “heterodox” refers simply to views that violate the commonly accepted, or “orthodox”, views of a belief system or group of people. The use of the term for this club is inspired by its use by Jonathan Haidt, writer of The Coddling of the American Mind and founder of the "Heterodox Academy", who has worked to encourage more honest debate and viewpoint diversity on college campuses.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order - Gary GerstleWeaver Street Market, Raleigh, NC
Come join Triangle Heterodox to discuss Gary Gerstle's The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order and its relation to our recent election.
There will be - and already is - a lot of commentary about the election of Donald Trump and what to take as the meaning of his victory. We've been considering this past fall how the election relates to larger conversations on liberalism as a form of government and society, this reading will be a chance to consider Trump's victory in light of discussions about a growing cynicism and frustration with the "neoliberal" order more specifically.
What is neoliberalism anyway? What is the history of political change and economics in the States and European countries over the past 50 years that explains it? This book will be a chance to consider all of those questions.
Gary Gerstle is the Paul Mellon Professor of American History at the University of Cambridge and this book found itself shortlisted for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award in 2022.
Are We On The Cusp of a New Political Order?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGmzHXnRP9oIs the Neoliberal Era Over Yet?
https://newrepublic.com/article/166742/neoliberal-era-end - "AI, Politics, and Warfare" - Mark McNeily LectureDavie Hall, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC
Come join Triangle Heterodox Club for a talk on the use of artificial intelligence in political campaigns and fake news, as well as autonomous weapon systems, as part of UNC's PPE Speaker Series!
Talk begins at 6:30, but try to arrive before this. The below comes from the event description:
"The talk will examine how AI will impact political campaigns, governance, regulations, and trust along with its transformative effects on military strategy, tactics and strategic competition.
Key topics will include AI’s role in campaign strategies, “fake news”, public services, autonomous weapons, intelligence gathering, and strategic decision-making, as well as the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in warfare. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the strategic importance of AI and its potential to shape the future of both domestic global affairs.
Professor McNeilly is the chair of the Provost’s AI Committee and teaches AI, marketing and leadership in UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. A former global marketing executive with IBM and Lenovo, he has authored books on strategy, leadership, and warfare, spoken to numerous business and military organizations on AI and strategy, and writes about AI in newsletter, Mimir’s Well."
UNC Event Description Link
https://ppe.unc.edu/event/ppe-speaker-series-mark-mcneilly-unc/ - North Carolina Chamber Music - Social EventHayes Barton United Methodist Church, Raleigh, NC
Come join Triangle Heterodox in hearing the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute and student musicians perform various pieces by black composers in celebration of MLK day. Admission is free (although you can donate to NCCMI).
Register for your seats here. We will potentially grab late-night dessert or something afterwards. If people would like to coordinate grabbing a quick dinner beforehand, we can try to do so.
The NCCMI is an area nonprofit that helps encourage and train future chamber music professionals through coaching by classically trained professionals, providing opportunities for public performances and building of classical music and leadership skills in the process. The NCCMI is funded partly by the City of Raleigh and Wake County as well as the N.C. Arts Council.
NCCMI Webpage
https://nccmi.org/ - "Are Cooperatives More Virtuous than Corporations?" - Joseph Heath LectureCaldwell Hall, Chapel Hill, NC
Come join Triangle Heterodox for a talk on whether democratic cooperatives are superior to corporations for economic activity as part of UNC's PPE Series.
This will be a chance to consider alternative organizations to the idea of the corporation for producing goods and services, something we've asked ourselves when trying to think of what a different economic system would look like. The description below is taken from UNC's description:
“There are several sectors of the economy in which cooperatives have flourished, competing successfully against standard business corporations. The best explanation for their success is that they provide superior benefits to their members. The question that will be the focus of this talk is whether cooperatives also provide important benefits to society, such that non-members should prefer a cooperative economy to one dominated by business corporations. It has often been suggested that cooperatives are more virtuous, because they are more democratic, less hierarchical, less anti-social, and less apt to produce economic inequality. My goal will be to evaluate these claims. The central challenge stems from the observation that cooperatives are not nearly as different from corporations as is commonly assumed.”
Event Description
https://ppe.unc.edu/event/ppe-speaker-series-joseph-heath-university-of-toronto/
