103. Dr David Livingstone Smith - Dehumanisation in the Israel-Palestine War and its consequences

 

Today, I spoke with Dr David Livingstone Smith, who is a philosophy professor at the University of New England. He specialises in the study of dehumanisation and mass violence. David is the author of several award-winning books, including ‘Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave and Exterminate Others’ as well as ‘On Inhumanity: Dehumanization and How to Resist It’. David’s most recent book that is: 'Making Monsters, The Uncanny Power of Dehumanisation'. David joined me to provide his expert opinion on dehumanisation we are witnessing as part of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. 

 

Key Topics Covered:

• Dehumanisation and Its Roots: David delves into the psychological and social aspects of dehumanisation, explaining how it serves as a precursor to violence.
• Israel-Hamas Conflict: A focus on the risks and implications of dehumanisation in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
• The Role of Fear: David discusses how politicians, particularly authoritarian ones, capitalise on fear to manipulate behaviour.
• Social Dynamics: The conversation touches on how social forces and community behaviour can either inhibit or encourage violence.
• The Power of Public Opinion: David emphasises the need for influential voices to steer public opinion towards constructive solutions. 

Resources: 

• You can find my previous discussion with David here.
• David’s Substack, which includes all the essays he mentioned is available here.
• Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave and Exterminate Others
• On Inhumanity: Dehumanization and How to Resist It

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