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Why It's OK: The Ethics and Aesthetics of How We Live
Why It's Ok to Ignore Politics
Do you feel like you're the only person at your office without an I Voted! sticker on Election Day? It turns out that you're far from alone - 100 million eligible U.S. voters never went to the polls in 2016. That's about 35 million more than voted for the winning presidential candidate.
In this book, Christopher Freiman explains why these 100 million need not feel guilty. Why It's OK to Ignore Politics argues that you're under no obligation to be politically active. Freiman addresses new objections to political abstention as well as some old chestnuts (But what if everyone stopped voting?). He also synthesizes recent empirical work showing how our political motivations distort our choices and reasoning. Because participating in politics is not an effective way to do good, Freiman argues that we actually have a moral duty to disengage from politics and instead take direct action to make the world a better place.
Key Features:
Makes the case against a duty of political participation for a non-expert audience
Presupposes no knowledge of philosophy or political science and is written in a style free of technical jargon
Addresses the standard, much-repeated arguments for why one should vote (e.g., one shouldn't free ride on the efforts of others)
Presents the growing literature on politically motivated reasoning in an accessible and entertaining way
Covers a significant amount of new ground in the debate over a duty of political participation (e.g., whether participating absolves us of our complicity in state injustice)
Challenges the increasingly popular argument from philosophers and economists that swing state voting is effective altruism
Discusses the therapeutic benefits of ignoring politics--it's good for you, your relationships, and society as a whole.
In this book, Christopher Freiman explains why these 100 million need not feel guilty. Why It's OK to Ignore Politics argues that you're under no obligation to be politically active. Freiman addresses new objections to political abstention as well as some old chestnuts (But what if everyone stopped voting?). He also synthesizes recent empirical work showing how our political motivations distort our choices and reasoning. Because participating in politics is not an effective way to do good, Freiman argues that we actually have a moral duty to disengage from politics and instead take direct action to make the world a better place.
Key Features:
Makes the case against a duty of political participation for a non-expert audience
Presupposes no knowledge of philosophy or political science and is written in a style free of technical jargon
Addresses the standard, much-repeated arguments for why one should vote (e.g., one shouldn't free ride on the efforts of others)
Presents the growing literature on politically motivated reasoning in an accessible and entertaining way
Covers a significant amount of new ground in the debate over a duty of political participation (e.g., whether participating absolves us of our complicity in state injustice)
Challenges the increasingly popular argument from philosophers and economists that swing state voting is effective altruism
Discusses the therapeutic benefits of ignoring politics--it's good for you, your relationships, and society as a whole.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2020
5 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 2, 2022
After checking out this guy's Twitter, I am thoroughly disgusted with him. He. Is. A. Professor!!! How can someone just ignore today's problems and teach his students to do the same!!! We need to vote more than ever, and simply "donate to the poor instead so you feel better" isn't the solution.
This is a poor message, and his ignorance about social sciences, history, and politics astounds me.
He's a professor and this is just sad.
One star and a waste time.
(Possibly the harshest review I've ever written but as I abide honest review policies, I'm sticking by my opinions.)
This is a poor message, and his ignorance about social sciences, history, and politics astounds me.
He's a professor and this is just sad.
One star and a waste time.
(Possibly the harshest review I've ever written but as I abide honest review policies, I'm sticking by my opinions.)
June 13, 2022
Why It’s Ok to Ignore Politics (2020) by Christopher Freiman is an interesting book that looks at why ignoring politics and doing other things instead makes sense. Freiman is a professor of Philosophy at William and Mary.
The book starts off by looking at how much we actually know about politics. Freiman points out that while many people have strong opinions about politics few have much expertise. Freiman also points out that wanting to improve things in various areas doesn’t necessarily mean people actually will.
Freiman then looks at how most people look at politics with very motivated reasoning. Freiman then goes on to point out that performing acts of altruism will surely do much better than reading much about politics.
Various arguments about Fairness and Free Riding are also made. The alleged moral importance of being politically active is also examined. The fact that politics makes people upset and angry and sometimes nasty is also pointed out. Politics is a bad sport to follow, something that people who follow actual sports often realise.
Why It’s OK to Ignore Politics is a though provoking, amusing and contrarian book that is well worth a look. For any political junkies it’s especially worth a read.
The book starts off by looking at how much we actually know about politics. Freiman points out that while many people have strong opinions about politics few have much expertise. Freiman also points out that wanting to improve things in various areas doesn’t necessarily mean people actually will.
Freiman then looks at how most people look at politics with very motivated reasoning. Freiman then goes on to point out that performing acts of altruism will surely do much better than reading much about politics.
Various arguments about Fairness and Free Riding are also made. The alleged moral importance of being politically active is also examined. The fact that politics makes people upset and angry and sometimes nasty is also pointed out. Politics is a bad sport to follow, something that people who follow actual sports often realise.
Why It’s OK to Ignore Politics is a though provoking, amusing and contrarian book that is well worth a look. For any political junkies it’s especially worth a read.
January 26, 2021
Even Jason Brennan looks like Einstein, when compared with this author. It must be a shame for Duke philosophy deparment to graduate such a person ignorant of even basics of political philosophy, political theory, history and social sciences. Politics isn't an activity that you separate from other spheres of life in such a clean cut. Author doesn't imagine a politics out of the boundaries of current American political culture. What he suggests is that instead of "voting", you better donate to the poor. What a pity. Simply revolting, disgusting, shameful. No doubt these libertarians think themselves as the most clever humans while actually they're complete aliens to social life.
You cannot separate political versus nonpolitical "direct action". Instead of donating money to somewhere (laughable that, the only action they can imagine is to give money), reject bourgeoisie politics and join a revolutionary party or read something about different varieties of Buddhism if you're really into a ethical life outside politics.
You cannot separate political versus nonpolitical "direct action". Instead of donating money to somewhere (laughable that, the only action they can imagine is to give money), reject bourgeoisie politics and join a revolutionary party or read something about different varieties of Buddhism if you're really into a ethical life outside politics.
October 15, 2020
A really interesting book that, at the very least, made me reconsider the need to be *so hopelessly obsessed* with the minutiae of politics. I can't say it changed my position -- I'm still going to vote, and I still think you should, too! -- and frankly, the 2020 election is probably not a great test case for this idea. But it did open my mind about people who consciously choose to abstain from voting (though was less successful in convincing me that voting is *actively bad*) in favor of direct action.
January 28, 2021
The year is young but this may end up being my favorite book of political philosophy this year. A political philosophy that downplays the importance of politics. Topics discussed include how we’re all partisan hacks, politically motivated reasoning, the opportunity costs of political participation, how politics makes us miserable, how politics swallows everything, how politics is bad for your relationships. Ideas that are kind of obvious upon reflection but still benefit from philosophical argument since they go against some common views.
February 21, 2021
This book offers a thorough and convincing argument as to why it is morally permissible to no longer participate in politics. This is not an argument for resignation, self-indulgence, or quietism. Succinctly put, the argument is as follows: "I'll emphasize again that you can typically pursue the very same moral ends that participants pursue via politics more effectively via nonpolitical ends." (p. 81) The book calls for an effective altruism that would likely more reasonably achieve the goals that political participation aims at. The author also persuasively argues the ineffectiveness of political participation because of ignorance, bias, and complexity. It is a book to recommend to those who seek to do good, to remain friends with those with different political views, and to attain some peace of mind.
August 18, 2022
Just awful. The opportunity cost of taking the time to wade through Freiman’s series of specious arguments is just way too high. One star only because zero was not an option.
February 7, 2022
I finished reading a little book by a Chris Freiman called Why it's OK to ignore politics. I found this book's thesis compelling though I was initially skeptical. It is mainly moral and epistemological arguments based on social sciences like psychology and sociology. To give your a taste he argues that regardless of your politics you likely not only to be incorrect but also the time and effort required to hold a correct view is very large as well as unlikely to matter given the odds of casting a tie breaking vote. He argues that one should instead spend the time and resources making the world a better place through non-political means. He deals with the various objections to his view with wit. I am adopting this view my self. I read this book on the Perlego app that gives you unlimited access to if memory serves to over 45,000 non fiction books though you can only download about 20 at a time on the app but you can read as much as you want on the website for 18 US dollars a month.
June 9, 2022
While I buy the arguments that a marginal vote doesn't matter and effective altruism maximizes an individual's impact. I was looking forward to reading a book telling me NOT to do something. Instead, I was told to replace politics with effective altruism.
I did enjoy one of Freiman's arguments against voting as an obligation to the American Revolutionaires, Suffragettes, Civil Rights Activists, etc...
"That Ad-Rock, MCA, and Mike D fought for your right to party doesn't obligate you to party; you'd need an independent moral reason to party."
I did enjoy one of Freiman's arguments against voting as an obligation to the American Revolutionaires, Suffragettes, Civil Rights Activists, etc...
"That Ad-Rock, MCA, and Mike D fought for your right to party doesn't obligate you to party; you'd need an independent moral reason to party."
January 16, 2021
No matter how strong willed your stance may be on one's duty to politics, Christopher Freiman proves to make a very convincing argument. The writing is understandable, and you never feel lost reading this. If you want to read this, go in being skeptical of the efficacy of your own political work, and you won't be so sure.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews