In this episode, we heal the divide between analytic and continental philosophy by finally giving logical positivism its due. Dr. Liam Kofi Bright (London School of Economics, @lastpositivist) explains the socialist roots of some of the positivists, details their views on the role of science and knowledge in projects of social betterment, and defends the political importance of clarity.

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References:

Hans Hahn, Otto Neurath, and Rudolf Carnap, “The Scientific Conception of the World: The Vienna Circle,” at https://www.manchesterism.com/the-scientific-conception-of-the-world-the-vienna-circle/

Otto Neurath, “Personal Life and Class Struggle.” In Empiricism and Sociology. Edited by Marie Neurath and Robert S. Cohen (Dordrecht-Holland: D. Reidel Publishing Company), 283-297.

Rudolf Carnap, Lecture notes from “Philosophy-Opium for the Well-Educated.” Translated by Chris Lembeck.

Rudolf Carnap, 1932/33. “Psychology in Physical Language.” In Erkenntnis 3: 107-142.

Liam Kofi Bright, 2017. “Logical Empiricists on Race.” In Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 65: 9-18.

Stuart Jeffries, “Bilston's revival: the pursuit of happiness in a Black Country town” at https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/aug/02/pursuit-happiness-black-country-town-bilston

Liam Kofi Bright, “Schlick’s Utopia” at http://sootyempiric.blogspot.com/2016/12/schlicks-utopia.html

Music: "Vintage Memories" by Schematist | schematist.bandcamp.com