Leonard Benardo
@lbenardo.bsky.social
Senior VP at Open Society Foundations; publisher of theideasletter.org; opinions my own (but offered for free)
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My new essay on the New Right and its relationship to historical fascism has been published at the Ideas Letter @lbenardo.bsky.social www.theideasletter.org/essay/the-ge...
Misunderstood Radicals - The Ideas Letter
Adam Knowles maps how the Swiss philosopher Armin Mohler—a post-WWII apologist of fascism and self-styled theorist of the “Conservative Revolution”—helped launder fascist-adjacent thinkers into respec...
www.theideasletter.org
November 4, 2025 at 12:04 PM
My new essay on the New Right and its relationship to historical fascism has been published at the Ideas Letter @lbenardo.bsky.social www.theideasletter.org/essay/the-ge...
Reposted by Leonard Benardo
Some think of tradition as a static set of values that end up tilting the scales in favor of their cultural preferences. The late Alasdair MacIntyre (1929-2025) rightly defined tradition as "an argument extended through time, socially embodying continuities of conflict.."
October 31, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Some think of tradition as a static set of values that end up tilting the scales in favor of their cultural preferences. The late Alasdair MacIntyre (1929-2025) rightly defined tradition as "an argument extended through time, socially embodying continuities of conflict.."
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God they were great, this is such an underrated record
October 30, 2025 at 5:21 PM
God they were great, this is such an underrated record
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From cancel culture to Maga’s assault on campuses, defending my enemy has become decimating my enemy. @lbenardo.bsky.social asks: can our ideals of free speech survive, and should we want them to?
Freedom of speech isn't a divine right, even in America
Insisting we can say anything is a political idea that may not suit our violent, polarised times
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
From cancel culture to Maga’s assault on campuses, defending my enemy has become decimating my enemy. @lbenardo.bsky.social asks: can our ideals of free speech survive, and should we want them to?
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I am astonished again and again when I find out how little it has penetrated into people's consciousness that the right of resistance, namely civil disobedience, is a right higher than positive law and as old as civilization itself.
-- Herbert Marcuse
-- Herbert Marcuse
October 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I am astonished again and again when I find out how little it has penetrated into people's consciousness that the right of resistance, namely civil disobedience, is a right higher than positive law and as old as civilization itself.
-- Herbert Marcuse
-- Herbert Marcuse
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The choice of photo is absolutely brilliant, Russell and Vanessa Redgrave. Thanks @lbenardo.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The choice of photo is absolutely brilliant, Russell and Vanessa Redgrave. Thanks @lbenardo.bsky.social
Reposted by Leonard Benardo
I wrote something about analytic Philospphy, and Christoph Schuringa’s book for the Ideas Letter @stefanschubert.bsky.social @lbenardo.bsky.social www.theideasletter.org/essay/bloodl...
“Bloodless Pedantry” - The Ideas Letter
The academic study of philosophy tends to inspire contempt, from within and from without. Stephen Hawking’s pompous pronouncement in 2010 that “philosophy is dead” is just one version of a…
www.theideasletter.org
October 17, 2025 at 7:00 AM
I wrote something about analytic Philospphy, and Christoph Schuringa’s book for the Ideas Letter @stefanschubert.bsky.social @lbenardo.bsky.social www.theideasletter.org/essay/bloodl...
Reposted by Leonard Benardo
From cancel culture to Maga’s assault on campuses, defending my enemy has become decimating my enemy. @lbenardo.bsky.social asks: can our ideals of free speech survive, and should we want them to?
Freedom of speech isn't a divine right, even in America
Insisting we can say anything is a political idea that may not suit our violent, polarised times
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 2:13 PM
From cancel culture to Maga’s assault on campuses, defending my enemy has become decimating my enemy. @lbenardo.bsky.social asks: can our ideals of free speech survive, and should we want them to?
Reposted by Leonard Benardo
I published two pieces on women in China this week! First, a review essay @chinabooksreview.com on two Fang Fang novels, Soft Burial & The Running Flame (tr. Michael Berry). Gendered oppression has persisted during the socialist period and capitalist reforms, despite the CCP's promise of liberation.
No Country for a Woman | China Books Review
Women in China have suffered abuse, silencing and erasure — despite the Communist Party’s slogans about women’s liberation. Two novels by the Wuhan writer Fang Fang show how gendered oppression persis...
chinabooksreview.com
October 11, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I published two pieces on women in China this week! First, a review essay @chinabooksreview.com on two Fang Fang novels, Soft Burial & The Running Flame (tr. Michael Berry). Gendered oppression has persisted during the socialist period and capitalist reforms, despite the CCP's promise of liberation.
Reposted by Leonard Benardo
The absolutist position on free speech—I might hate your words, but I shall defend to the death your right to say them—may not be right for an age of raw and extreme polarisation, writes @lbenardo.bsky.social.
Freedom of speech isn't a divine right, even in America
Insisting we can say anything is a political idea that may not suit our violent, polarised times
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 3:49 PM
The absolutist position on free speech—I might hate your words, but I shall defend to the death your right to say them—may not be right for an age of raw and extreme polarisation, writes @lbenardo.bsky.social.
Reposted by Leonard Benardo
Insisting on absolute free speech is a political idea that may not suit our violent, polarised times, writes @lbenardo.bsky.social.
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/fre...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/fre...
Freedom of speech isn't a divine right, even in America
Insisting we can say anything is a political idea that may not suit our violent, polarised times
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Insisting on absolute free speech is a political idea that may not suit our violent, polarised times, writes @lbenardo.bsky.social.
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/fre...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/fre...
Reposted by Leonard Benardo
Compared, say, to most African, Asian, Middle Eastern universities, the American university constitutes a relatively utopian space where we can actually talk, rather than being part of the political system with academic appointments being outright political ones.
-- Edward Said (2000)
-- Edward Said (2000)
October 4, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Compared, say, to most African, Asian, Middle Eastern universities, the American university constitutes a relatively utopian space where we can actually talk, rather than being part of the political system with academic appointments being outright political ones.
-- Edward Said (2000)
-- Edward Said (2000)
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Three Chicago character types
September 13, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Three Chicago character types
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At @open-society.bsky.social, our fellows play a crucial role in reinforcing restless critical thought. Today, I congratulate the 31 public intellectuals who will join us as 2025 Fellows.
July 15, 2025 at 5:41 PM
At @open-society.bsky.social, our fellows play a crucial role in reinforcing restless critical thought. Today, I congratulate the 31 public intellectuals who will join us as 2025 Fellows.
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In 1967, philosopher of language Michael Dummett and his wife, the author Ann Dummett, were arrested for picketing against racial discrimination, charged with public disorder, but acquitted upon an official admission that the police, not protesters, had obstructed passage.
June 29, 2025 at 9:42 PM
In 1967, philosopher of language Michael Dummett and his wife, the author Ann Dummett, were arrested for picketing against racial discrimination, charged with public disorder, but acquitted upon an official admission that the police, not protesters, had obstructed passage.
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Recognition of the right of resistance, namely civil disobedience, belongs to the oldest and most sanctified elements of Western civilization.
-- Herbert Marcuse
-- Herbert Marcuse
June 10, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Recognition of the right of resistance, namely civil disobedience, belongs to the oldest and most sanctified elements of Western civilization.
-- Herbert Marcuse
-- Herbert Marcuse
The greatest pop-rock/singer-songwriter record you may not know is Kevin Ayres’ 1973 masterpiece Bananamour
June 10, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The greatest pop-rock/singer-songwriter record you may not know is Kevin Ayres’ 1973 masterpiece Bananamour
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Grove Press retained Norman Mailer's cousin Charles Rembar to challenge the Post Office's seizure of Lady Chatterley in 1959, the 2nd Circuit agreeing that, especially given Archibald MacLeish's endorsement, the work met J Brennan's slightest redeeming social importance standard.
June 4, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Grove Press retained Norman Mailer's cousin Charles Rembar to challenge the Post Office's seizure of Lady Chatterley in 1959, the 2nd Circuit agreeing that, especially given Archibald MacLeish's endorsement, the work met J Brennan's slightest redeeming social importance standard.
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This volume (1937) was a political science staple for three decades - Plato to fascism - George Sabine professor of philosophy @Cornell, also a carpenter and blacksmith, assisted Herbert Marcuse with his 1941 work Reason and Revolution.
May 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
This volume (1937) was a political science staple for three decades - Plato to fascism - George Sabine professor of philosophy @Cornell, also a carpenter and blacksmith, assisted Herbert Marcuse with his 1941 work Reason and Revolution.
Reposted by Leonard Benardo
Herbert Marcuse suggested that the way to evaluate acts of rebellion, transgressive speech, etc., would be to ask whether these have a "transparent educational function" under the circumstances, eg by revealing "hidden cruelties" or the class character of the interrupted proceeding.
May 17, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Herbert Marcuse suggested that the way to evaluate acts of rebellion, transgressive speech, etc., would be to ask whether these have a "transparent educational function" under the circumstances, eg by revealing "hidden cruelties" or the class character of the interrupted proceeding.
Reposted by Leonard Benardo
Happy Birthday to the great John Brown, born 225 years ago today
May 9, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Happy Birthday to the great John Brown, born 225 years ago today
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Do you guys think Villanova is going to start saying things like “Pope Leo XIV (class of 77)”?
May 8, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Do you guys think Villanova is going to start saying things like “Pope Leo XIV (class of 77)”?
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The new composition of the Supreme Court institutionalizes the progress of reaction.
-- Herbert Marcuse (1972)
-- Herbert Marcuse (1972)
May 8, 2025 at 7:31 PM
The new composition of the Supreme Court institutionalizes the progress of reaction.
-- Herbert Marcuse (1972)
-- Herbert Marcuse (1972)
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Moebius, poster art for Les Chiens, 1978
May 5, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Moebius, poster art for Les Chiens, 1978