Adam Kotsko

Next week I will be participating in a conference on Democracy and Theology, held virtually under the auspices of Yonsei University in South Korea. My paper will be entitled, “The Threat to ‘Our Democracy’ and the Neoliberal Crisis of Legitimacy.” A poster for the event follows.

What is Theology? is now shipping from Amazon, where it is reportedly the #1 new release in both philosophy and political history. The book of course remains available direct from the publisher as well.

The first event related to my new book, What is Theology?, will be taking place under the auspices of the Inter-Chicago Circle for Experimental Critical Theory (Interccect) on Tuesday, September 28. See details here — thanks to Anna Kornbluh for organizing!

Classes start tomorrow, so the time for tinkering has passed. I have posted the syllabi for my courses on the Teaching History and Sample Syllabi page. They are as follows:

• Integrative Studies: Ancient to Early Modern World: the first half of the Shimer Great Books School’s senior seminar, stretching from Gilgamesh to the present day. I have taught this a few times before, and it remains easily my favorite course to teach. (I will also be teaching the second half in the spring.)
• Natural Sciences: The Shape of the World: a Shimer Great Books seminar on cosmology and astronomy, from the Pre-Socratics through Galileo, with side trips into Chinese, Indian, and Arab scientific traditions.
• Cardinal Directions Senior Seminar: Utopia and Dystopia: a relatively unique requirement at North Central is a senior capstone course for their Gen Ed experience as well as their major. Professors get to pick their own topics, and I chose utopia and dystopia as a way of getting them thinking creatively about the future — both their own and that of society as a whole.
• Ethics: this will be my first offering in the philosophy department at North Central, hopefully the first of many!

I was asked to contribute reading list on neoliberalism for a new book recommendation site.

I have a new article up at The Bias, entitled “The Many Deaths of Neoliberalism.” Spoiler alert: it turns out that Joe Biden is not the reincarnation of FDR!

I have a new piece up at Zócalo Public Square entitled “America Isn’t Awkward Enough”.

This Monday, I am giving a Zoom lecture entitled “The Many Deaths of Neoliberalism” that considers whether the pandemic and the Biden administration might finally represent a break with everyone’s least favorite political-economic order. The talk is part of the World Social Science and Management Webinar Series, co-Sponsored by the Department of History & Political Science of Jawaharlal Nehru College, the Center for Adivasi Research and Development, Central University of Odisha, and Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur — thank you to Bikram Keshori Jena for the generous invitation, my first visit to India (albeit virtual)! Details, including instructions for how to register for the Zoom meeting, can be found in this flyer.

Overcoming my Midwestern instincts yet again, I want to let any interested parties know that I am available for speaking engagements for next academic year. Possible topics include the relationship between the doctrine of original sin and modern concepts of race, the prospects for neoliberalism in the Age of Biden, and anything relating to Agamben’s intellectual development — though I’m open to other topics if you have ideas. I would most prefer to get back in the swing of actual campus visits, though I am also available for Zoom events. My preferred email is akotsko at gmail dot com. Thank you for your consideration.