How to escape our collective paralysis in ‘these uncertain times’
Author Natasha Lennard discusses how to disrupt the ‘certainties’ that don’t serve us and how to fight back
TL;DR
- The phrase 'in these uncertain times' can be reductive, masking 'certainties' that enable societal problems like fascism, inequality, and climate issues.
- Lennard's book, 'On Un/Certainty,' uses philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein's work to question what is considered 'certain' and who defines it.
- Examples of unquestioned 'certainties' include border regimes, anti-trans ideologies, and the inevitability of capital-driven crises.
- Historical movements, like the George Floyd uprisings and the success of DSA candidates, demonstrate how 'certainties' can be ruptured.
- Attacks on higher education, similar to those during Reconstruction, aim to obscure history and reduce critical thinking.
- The book suggests that movements are not starting from scratch and that everyday practices of resistance, mutual aid, and connection offer pathways forward, even without perfect solutions.