Ep 49 Wolff Peace - John Locke & Vandana Shiva: What If Property Rights Destroyed the Planet?

What happens when Western property theory meets Indigenous eco-wisdom? This Wolff Peace episode pairs John Locke with Vandana Shiva in a radical rethink of ownership, land, and peace. In this episode of the Wolff Peace series, host Avis Kalfsbeek contrasts the legacy of John Locke—whose ideas about liberty and property helped justify land enclosures and colonial expansion—with the work of Vandana Shiva, a scientist and activist who defends seeds, soil, and the commons. Through the lens of Robert Paul Wolff’s Political Man and Social Man, we trace the roots of modern liberalism and its uneasy relationship with power and place. What might Locke and Shiva teach us about freedom, consent, and the responsibilities of being human? In this episode: A look at Locke’s essay The Origins and Purposes of Political Societies Vandana Shiva’s challenge to seed patents and resource privatization Two questions to spark reflection in your world  Visit aviskalfsbeek.com to learn more about the podcast, books, and upcoming episodes in the Wolff Peace series.  Music: Dalai Llama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez.  Bandcamp | Spotify  Robert Paul Wolff’s Political Man and Social Man on Amazon