Part 1: Humanist Alternatives

On today’s program, we explore a little bit of social theory and philosophy. A regular guest on this show, Frieda Afary, an Iranian academic and librarian from the US, has recently delivered a series of lectures on Humanist Alternatives – so this week and next week, I will bring you the first of those lectures.One of the pillars of the rise of fascism in the 21st century has been the void in the articulation of a humanist alternative in face of the deepening economic, social political and environmental crises of our time. In order to develop conceptual and practical frameworks for humanistalternatives, and constructive collective action, Afary argues, it is necessary to address and discuss the fundamental transformations needed in economic, social, political, environmental relations on a national and global scale. It is also necessary to be aware of the long history of anti-humanist discourse and to respond to some of those critiques.So this first lecture which starts to explore this general idea of humanist alternatives, is called Labor and Economy.