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# Sarah Pessin

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://sarahpessin.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Pages

- [Sarah Pessin](https://sarahpessin.com/) - Sarah Pessin is Professor of Philosophy & Interfaith Chair at University of Denver
- [Wombat & Butterfly](https://sarahpessin.com/wombat-butterfly/)
- [Nono & Momo](https://sarahpessin.com/nono-momo/) - Nono & Momo invite you to learn about endangered species. We feature weekly Wildlife Fun Facts and Games on this website and our Instagram account (follow us!). We also host live "Build a Habitat" craft tables live in Colorado. And we sell a small rotating inventory of animal-themed gifts alongside stationery, pens, and pencils for
- [Learning Leopard](https://sarahpessin.com/learning-leopard/) - Learning Leopard. Some reflections on Adult Learning Theory. Image generated by Google Assistant, June 2026, prompt by Sarah Pessin.
- [About](https://sarahpessin.com/about/) - A bridge-building civic leader, innovative experience designer, and award-winning teacher, Dr. Sarah Pessin is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Denver where she researches and teaches topics in coexistence, meaning-making, pluralism, interfaith civics, democracy, and ethics. Currently on Sabbatical, she is the recipient of a Fulbright Award (2026), an ACE Fellowship (2023), and has
- [Understanding Antisemitism](https://sarahpessin.com/understanding-antisemitism/) - Understanding Antisemitism: Part of the Rejecting Antisemitism bipartisan toolkit rooted in 10+ weeks of scholar-teachers in conversation Make tile for Racism and Antisemitism Make tile for Christianity (and remove Early Christianity tile) Rejecting Antisemitism Homepage
- [Racism and Antisemitism](https://sarahpessin.com/understanding-antisemitism/racism-and-antisemitism/) - Racism and Antisemitism Many of us have learned that "race is a construct." This is true. And this construct in many ways has roots in the growth of a new form of antisemitism that was racialized. Jews were for many centuries, in many contexts, and in many horrible and hateful ways treated as an inferior
- [Christianity](https://sarahpessin.com/understanding-antisemitism/christianity/) - Christianity and Antisemitism While Christianity is of course its own religion (with many different denominations and varieties), it is important to think about Christianity's structural connection to Judaism. Take the central religious Christian text, the "New Testament." The very notion of "new" here is put forth in express negative contrast to Judaism as God's "old"
- [Early Christianity](https://sarahpessin.com/understanding-antisemitism/early-christianity-3/) - Early Christianity and Antisemitism Structured in terms of a "New Testament" in contrast to the Jews' "Old Testament," Christianity has historically invited a "supercessionism" lens. Supercessionism (related to the word 'supercede,' meaning 'surpass' or 'go beyond') has historically served as a framing sense that Christianity has either fulfilled or replaced Judaism in one more more
- [Modern Europe](https://sarahpessin.com/understanding-antisemitism/modern-europe-3/) - Understanding Antisemitism: Modern Europe Part of the Rejecting Antisemitism bipartisan toolkit Understanding Antisemitism Higher Ed Resources Rejecting Antisemitism Homepage
- [Rejecting Antisemitism](https://sarahpessin.com/rejecting-antisemitism/) - Rejecting Antisemitism: A bipartisan toolkit rooted in scholarly sources, careful curation, and the direction of scholar-teachers in conversation over 10+ weeks
- [Julius Evola](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/julius-evola/) - A quick fact sheet. Julius Evola (1898-1974) is an Italian-Right anti-liberal with a penchant for the transcendent. Steve Bannon likes this guy a lot. Note: I explore thinkers based on one or both of two criteria: Their anti-democracy ideas are (1) in the public record (publications, talks, credible interviews, etc.) and/or (2) being referenced (described,
- [emergent](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/) - emergent (a pro-democracy 'anti-democracy watch') From overt calls to dictatorship among hipster 30-somethings on the "new right" to religious nationalisms and anti-religious populisms, fascist, anti-fascist, pro-tech, anti-tech, far Left, and everything in between: The worst dangers to democracy are coming from all directions. Note: I explore thinkers based on one or both of two criteria:
- [emergent](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/emergent/) - Emergent Anti-Democratic Trends From overt calls to dictatorship among hipster 30-somethings on the "new right" (see Vanity Fair 2022), to religious nationalisms (see the Uncivil Religion digital archive project) to revolutionary violence. This page is something of an in-progress bulletin board of emerging anti-democratic trends. Some August 2022 features... A question to ask ourselves: Which
- [ALEPH Spring 25](https://sarahpessin.com/aleph-spring-25/)
- [Intellectual Antisemitisms](https://sarahpessin.com/anti-antisemitism/intellectual-antisemitisms/) - While antisemitism is a conspiratorial hate-spiral, it comes in "intellectual" flavors that try to justify hate in a variety of elaborate ways. In the spirit of anti-antisemitism, this page is an attempt to explore some of these ideas. Note: Inclusion of a thinker or tradition on this page does NOT imply that they are antisemitic;
- [anti-antisemitism](https://sarahpessin.com/anti-antisemitism/) - Notes
- [Call to Kindness](https://sarahpessin.com/call-to-kindness/) - Below, please find a statement signed by 3 Student Affairs campus leaders and 3 leaders of Jewish campus orgs each confirming that they believe Sarah Pessin to be a caring partner to students and staff from all backgrounds. "I have worked with Sarah Pessin in her Director of Spiritual Life role; she is a professional
- [ConnectEffect Denver](https://sarahpessin.com/connecteffect-denver/) - Some feedback from participants in ConnectEffect at University of Denver (October 2024)!
- [Comedic Interventions](https://sarahpessin.com/comedic-interventions/) - Sarah started her fun doing comedic things on stage in Denver as part of a storytelling event at Lannie's Clocktower; she started doing comedic things on stage with Buntport Theater in 2010 when she convinced them to conspire with her and other DU faculty on a Denver installment of the Hamantasch-Latke Debate (learn about it here!). In addition to leading
- [Civics Salamander](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/) - Civics Salamander | Some civic explorations highlights rethinking coexistence interfaith civics can democracy withstand social media? in politics, hope harder Ways to dialogue with the Others
- [Uncomfortable Virtues](https://sarahpessin.com/uncomfortable-virtues/) - Hard Hope project In a recent twitter poll, 50% of respondents thought coexisting with neighbors was about "hugging it out"--but is that right? In my work on "Hard Hope," I recommend the answer is no. And I draw on a wide range of interdisciplinary and intercultural povs to help support my claim. From MLK's teachings
- [Contact](https://sarahpessin.com/contact/) - Prof. Sarah Pessin Department of Philosophy | University of Denver 2000 E Asbury Ave., Ste. 257 Denver, CO 80208 sarahpessin@sarahpessin.com
- [Think Tiles](https://sarahpessin.com/think-tiles/) - think tiles | micro-prompts & provocations Tile stack- click above for a set of Galston tiles Tile stack- click above for a set of Moyn tiles civics salamander
- [Interfaith Civics](https://sarahpessin.com/interfaith-civics/) - Interfaith Civics | civic, spiritual, intercultural, intergenerational interventions Sarah has served for many years as Interfaith Chair at University of Denver where she now also serves as a part-time Director of Spiritual Life in Student Affairs overseeing a broad range of projects around spiritual wellness, existential searching, ethical meaning-making, religious pluralism, and civic belonging. [She
- [Interfaith Inclusivity](https://sarahpessin.com/interfaith-inclusivity/) - Interfaith Inclusivity | civic, spiritual, intercultural, intergenerational interventions Sarah is the new Director of Spiritual Life @ University of Denver where she oversees a broad range of projects around existential wellness, ethical meaning-making, and interfaith civics. She has also served as Interfaith Chair within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and has received
- [Read This](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/read-this/) - emergent | read this Unfortunately, when it comes to rising tides of Anti-Democracy, there are no easy solutions. But hopefully some of these materials can help us get a better picture. Note: I explore thinkers based on one or both of two criteria: Their anti-democracy ideas are (1) in the public record (publications, talks, credible
- [Think Tiles](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/think-tiles/) - emergent | think tiles Micro-summaries of thinkers and themes worth worrying about Find more Think Tiles here Find more info on anti-democracy here 'emergent' main page civics salamander
- [Fact Sheets](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/fact-sheets/) - emergent | fact sheets Ready to tackle Anti-Democracy? Find quick summaries of ideas to know about and thinkers and themes worth worrying about. Note: I explore thinkers based on one or both of two criteria: Their anti-democracy ideas are (1) in the public record (publications, talks, credible interviews, etc.) and/or (2) being referenced (described, analyzed,
- [Political Spiral Logics](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/political-spiral-logics/) - emergent | political spiral logics Politics moves in embodied non-linear ways. “Spiral Logics” is a diagnostic tool for better assessing and addressing the ins and outs–the vectors– of political motions. It helps you track the complexity of the problem so that you know what you’re actually trying to solve before you start solving for the
- [Writing Rhino](https://sarahpessin.com/writing-rhino/) - Writing Rhino Behold, the tetrad...
- [Galston Tiles](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/galston-tiles/) - William Galston, "The Populist Challenge to Liberal Democracy," April 17, 2018 (published in Journal of Democracy; posted to Brookings Institution website here. civics salamander
- [Art](https://sarahpessin.com/art/) - more collage on Instagram @sarahpessin2020
- [Holocaust Memorial Social Action Site](https://sarahpessin.com/holocaust-memorial-social-action-site/) - Sarah has helped ideate, build, and oversee programs for DU's Holocaust Memorial Social Action Site--a city-wide hub for social consciousness raising and hope. Transforming memory into social consciousness and action at a space dedicated to diversity and inclusivity through learning, intercultural dialogue, and social justice initiatives. The site is framed by the term 'Hineni' ('Here
- [Research](https://sarahpessin.com/research/) - Sarah works in a range of interdisciplinary and intercultural areas of thought, from popular to technical and from ancient to contemporary. Her research examines the complexity of the human condition, ethical encounter, and meaning-making. Hope & Responsibility Reflections on politics and the human condition for a wide readership Phenomenological & Political Work Academic work in
- [Writers on writing](https://sarahpessin.com/writers-on-writing/) - I asked some writers about writing. I added some collages to their answers. Enjoy! What kinds of writing do you write? What’s one of your favorite things you’ve written, and why? What’s something you wrestle with in your writing process? How would you describe your writing process? “Hardware” tell-all; for example: Microsoft Word or Google
- [Invitation to Thimble](https://sarahpessin.com/theology-thimble/invitation-to-thimble/) - Theology Thimble is a pilot collection of short write-ups that aim to help readers get a concrete feel for some of the prayers, holidays, lifecycles, and ritual objects of Jewish life. Theology Thimble write-ups each feature two parts: 1. "Micro-scholarship" analyses: Scholars with a wide range of Jewish Studies expertise write short 250-500 word explanations,
- [Theology Thimble](https://sarahpessin.com/theology-thimble/) - [Prototype draft for a possible pilot featuring 10 ritual/religious items, rituals, prayers, etc. (3 samples pictured below--ideally the images would be hand drawn in the style of the thimble below); gallery of picture squares would click through to the relevant pages which could also include links to full-length articles within the encyclopedia for further information
- [Late Ancient / Medieval](https://sarahpessin.com/late-ancient-medieval/) - [For my recent work in phenomenology and politics, click here] • Author of Ibn Gabirol's Theology of Desire: Matter and Method in Jewish Medieval Neoplatonism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013. For more details & 2 podcast interviews on the book click here. • Editor of “The Jewish Tradition” (including curation of materials, new translations from
- [Ibn Gabirol's Theology of Desire](https://sarahpessin.com/ibn-gabirols-theology-of-desire/) - Ibn Gabirol's Theology of Desire: Matter and Method in Jewish Medieval Neoplatonism (Cambridge University Press, 2013) "In this study, I challenge classic approaches to Ibn Gabirol in three ways... First, treating his Neoplatonic text as if it were a standard system of metaphysics (i.e. which is the general assumption in the history of philosophy), I
- [Moyn Tiles](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/moyn-tiles/) - Samuel Moyn, Liberalism Against Itself: Cold War Intellectuals and the Making of Our Times (New Haven: Yale, 2023) [@ civics_salamander on instagram] civics salamander
- [Pasadena City College - ACE Fellowship](https://sarahpessin.com/pasadena-city-college-ace-fellowship/) - 8.31.22 Budget & Audit 8.10.22 Board civics salamander
- [pessin's tetrad](https://sarahpessin.com/pessins-tetrad/) - TITLE. Start with your title-- and subtitle. Make them good. THRIFTY 3-5. Next, give us your 3ish-sentence elevator pitch. Keep it lean but cover all the bases. Say all and only what we need to hear. Be clear. And be sure it unpacks your Title/Subtitle. THREE FIFTY. On to your 250-350 word overview. This is
- [Fun Ferret](https://sarahpessin.com/fun-ferret/) - On tap... Asshat Opera: Blast your haters. But in a fun way. Buntport Theater and other a'doings... Object Otter: Bursts of meaning in bits of stuff
- [Asshat Opera](https://sarahpessin.com/asshat-opera/) - Asshat Opera is a cathartic way to sing away frustrations when asshats are getting you down. It's a quick anonymous audiotaping of yourself in our cool "Shoutout" virtual recording booth right from your device--no singing skills needed (!) and no downloads/uploads required... Use the QR code or this link to enter the "virtual recording booth"
- [Just for Fun](https://sarahpessin.com/just-for-fun/) - quark 3 • • • #collage #digitalart #digitalcollage quark 2 • • • #collage #digitalcollage #digitalart quark 1 • • • #collage #digitalart #digitalcollage Load More... Follow on Instagram Comedic Interventions Sarah brought the Hamantasch-Latke debate to Denver (where she proudly retains affiliation with Team Hamantasch). She enjoys performing at Buntport's Theater, The Narrators, Science
- [Object Otter](https://sarahpessin.com/object-otter/) - Bursts of meaning in bits of stuff Guest Posts: Share an object that makes you smile... "Sitting Politely" | Erin Rollman, Buntport Theater "Regular old dirt is a battery full of power. We can do anything because we are everything" | Evan Weissman, Warm Cookies of the Revolution "DC Carriage" | Christof Kasten, political philosopher
- [Religion and US Democracy](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/religion-and-us-democracy/) - civics salamander
- [Baia on writing](https://sarahpessin.com/baia-on-writing/) - Alex Baia Alex Baia is a humor writer living in Austin, TX. He contributes comedic shenanigans to The New Yorker, McSweeney's, and Points In Case. He is also an editor of Slackjaw, a wonderful humor publication on Medium. In a recent past life, Alex was a graduate student in philosophy at UT-Austin. He runs a free monthly humor newsletter that
- [Design Diner](https://sarahpessin.com/design-diner/)
- [Cycles of History](https://sarahpessin.com/anti-antisemitism/cycles-of-history/) - Is it possible to talk about "cycles of history" without swimming in racist and antisemitic waters? Sure. But it's worth noting that "cycles of history" are often written/read/cited in support of hateful views. We get a dangerous cocktail when we combine the dogmatic regressivism of "let's get back to something in the past" with the
- [Deleuze & Accelerationism](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/deleuze-accelerationism/) - A quick fact sheet. Deleuze has inspired a new "accelerationist" movement at the intersection of "New Marxisms," New Materialisms, and Cyber culture--including transhumanisms and cybergoth nihilism. In a nutshell, the idea is that we should sink into the decays of capitalism and speed it up to its imploding end. Or that we should accelerate some
- [Judaism 101](https://sarahpessin.com/anti-antisemitism/judaism-101/) - Getting Started: Diverse Jewish Positionalities & Expressions anti-antisemitism
- [Interfaith Families](https://sarahpessin.com/anti-antisemitism/judaism-101/interfaith-families/) - anti-antisemitism
- [The Term "Jew"](https://sarahpessin.com/anti-antisemitism/judaism-101/the-term-jew/) - Part 1: Hebrew into Latin into English Derives from Hebrew term "Yehudi" which simply means--and originally refers to--a member of the Tribe of Judah (or, in Hebrew, "Yehudah"). [In that regard, think of the 'i' ending in Hebrew as functioning like the letters "-an" at the end of words like "American" or "Korean" or "African"].
- [It's Complicated](https://sarahpessin.com/anti-antisemitism/judaism-101/its-complicated/) - In its history, the term "Jewish" (and related terms in other languages) referred sometimes to a member of a certain tribe, sometimes to someone living in a certain region, sometimes to a religion. It is true that "race" is best understood as a social construct. But it is also true that Judaism has at times
- [Interfaith Families](https://sarahpessin.com/anti-antisemitism/interfaith-families/) - anti-antisemitism
- [The Term "Jew"](https://sarahpessin.com/anti-antisemitism/the-term-jew/) - Part 1: Hebrew into Latin into English Derives from Hebrew term "Yehudi" which simply means--and originally refers to--a member of the Tribe of Judah (or, in Hebrew, "Yehudah"). [In that regard, think of the 'i' ending in Hebrew as functioning like the letters "-an" at the end of words like "American" or "Korean" or "African"].
- [Meaning Maps](https://sarahpessin.com/meaning-maps/) - Drawing on a range of philosophical traditions, I study the making of meaning-- including the logics, motions, and geometries of conceptual and material reality from the human point of view. Yes, we construct a lot of our meaning. But once constructed, meaning structures take on lives of their own--with all sorts of tacit and overt
- [Method & Meaning](https://sarahpessin.com/meaning-maps/method-meaning/) - Different analyses require different kinds of tools (or: Why science can't tell us everything...) Empirical sciences like neuroscience and psychology can tell us all kinds of things based on different kinds of data-- MRI and other bio-brain data on the one hand, and behavioral data on the other. But there are often 'meaning' flavors that
- [Course Incubator](https://sarahpessin.com/humanities-hyperlink/course-incubator/) - Guidelines for humanities faculty participants in Humanities Hyperlink's Course Incubator: Interested in being part of the pilot? Contact sarah.pessin@du.edu 1: Craft a syllabus on "The Good Life" (title can vary) which is structured as a response to or interaction with specific ideas drawn from the following books: [Note: As part of satisfying this step, you
- [Community Partners](https://sarahpessin.com/humanities-hyperlink/community-partners/) - Humanities Hyperlink is currently working with... Want to join our list of partners? Contact sarah.pessin@du.edu Putting dual focus on "me" and on "we," our Course Pilots will link up with the "Project Zero" pilot at Harvard's School of Ed which sees higher ed as an opportunity to help students explore ethics more deeply. Creating connections
- [Humanities Hyperlink](https://sarahpessin.com/humanities-hyperlink/) - COMPARE | CONTRAST | CRITIQUE | COMMENT | EXPAND Putting some of the biggest ideas of the day in dialogue with philosophical, historical, anthropological, literary, and spiritual traditions across the ages. Q: How can we help students experience humanities coursework in direct relation to their most pressing questions about life, meaning, and purpose? A: Let's
- [Community Partnership](https://sarahpessin.com/humanities-hyperlink/community-partnership/) - Learn more about our growing list of Humanities Hyperlink partners! Want to join our list of partners? Contact sarah.pessin@du.edu Putting dual focus on "me" and on "we," our Course Pilots will link up with the "Project Zero" pilot at Harvard's School of Ed which sees higher ed as an opportunity to help students explore ethics
- [Ed Shelf](https://sarahpessin.com/ed-shelf/) - [my notes on higher ed] Community College Corner Food & Housing Security @ California Community Colleges https://icangotocollege.com/student-support-services/food-and-housing Affordable Student Housing cccco.edu Find PDF of the report here icangotocollege.com California Futures Foundation Meet Dr. Eloy Oakley The Values: Odds and Ends ...alternative providers are doing what too few traditional institutions, as the legacy providers trying to
- [Considerations](https://sarahpessin.com/humanities-hyperlink/considerations/) - Bookshelf of Big Ideas Re/Considering Design Thinking?
- [Considerations & Critiques](https://sarahpessin.com/humanities-hyperlink/considerations-critiques/) - Bookshelf of Big Ideas Re/Considering Design Thinking?
- [Bronze Age Mindset](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/bronze-age-mindset/) - Learn more: See 2019 Claremont Review of Books essay by Michael Anton: See the "A24 Fascism" closing section of Morgan Jones' 2022 Jacobin essay on Evola See Jack Butler for the Daily Beast, 2.10.23: See Jack Butler for the National Review, 2.14.23: 'emergent' main page
- [Geometry of Gaslighting](https://sarahpessin.com/meaning-maps/geometry-of-gaslighting/) - Gaslighting is an insidious form of manipulation where targets are made to feel disoriented--often like they are losing their minds. This can happen in a range of personal, professional, and political contexts. On the smaller scale, this can damage a target's emotional, mental, and physical health. On the larger social scale, this can threaten democracy--e.g.
- [Evola and Racism](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/evola-and-racism/) - A quick fact sheet. Julius Evola (1898-1974) is an anti-liberal associated with Italian Fascism. He is being cited by Bannon, so he's worth worrying about. Learn more about Evola's overall views by clicking on this box here: But is he a racist? Ummm...Yes. Evola Reading Shelf (page refs above and below are to these sources):
- [Bookshelf](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/bookshelf/) - Conservatism readings ||| National Conservatism website | Adrian Vermeule in First Things | Yoram Hazony, The Virtue of Nationalism | National Conservatism: A Statement of Principles (June 2022): The document (drafted by: Will Chamberlain, Christopher DeMuth, Rod Dreher, Yoram Hazony, Daniel McCarthy, Joshua Mitchell, N.S. Lyons, John O’Sullivan, and R.R. Reno on behalf of the
- [Curtis Yarvin](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/curtis-yarvin/) - A quick fact sheet. Curtis Yarvin (aka Mencius Moldbug; b. 1973-) is a New Right "neoreactionary" and "technolibertarian". He is anti-democracy, anti-equality, and favors a new monarchy. He is anti-patriotism, anti-populism, and pro-"corporate feudalism." He's been known to advise Peter Thiel. And his ideas seem to be spreading, especially among younger 'New Right' circles. One
- [Political Spiral Logics](https://sarahpessin.com/meaning-maps/political-spiral-logics/) - Politics moves in embodied non-linear ways. “Spiral Logics” is a diagnostic tool for better assessing and addressing the ins and outs–the vectors– of political motions. It helps you track the complexity of the problem so that you know what you’re actually trying to solve before you start solving for the wrong thing. It also helps
- [senate things](https://sarahpessin.com/senate-things/)
- [FSEC Town Hall](https://sarahpessin.com/senate-things/senate-templates/fsec-town-hall/) - This process should be followed by a Senate Ranking of Priorities informal poll to help inform FSEC for the year; also, the results of the Senate Ranking of Town Hall (and/or other) possible priorities are shared community-wide in connection with the Call for Applicants for possible FSEC Extra Seats. FSEC TOWN HALL COMMUNICATION 1: Early
- [5 Threat Sets](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/5-threat-sets/) - There are currently (at least) 5 discrete "threat sets" to democracy. Some are religious, some are anti-religious. Some are on the Right and some are on the Left. Some are pro-tech and some are tech-wary. Some are transhumanist, some are pro-human. Some are fascist, some are anti-fascist. And so on. In other words: The threats
- [Spiral Logics](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/spiral-logics/) - Politics moves in embodied non-linear ways. "Spiral Logics" is a diagnostic tool for better assessing and addressing the ins and outs--the vectors-- of political motions. It helps you track the complexity of the problem so that you know what you're actually trying to solve before you start solving for the wrong thing. It also helps
- [Democracy](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/democracy/) - Note: Kratos can also mean 'power'; consider this Greek lexicon entry: Furthermore, Kratos arguably referred not to "power of the majority" (or "majority rule") but a "capacity to do things"--so "power" in the sense of a capability or capacity. For this analysis (based on 4-5th c. BCE Greek vocabulary) see this working paper by Josiah
- [Fascism](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/fascism/) - A quick fact sheet. Readings & Notes: Arendt, Hannah. 1951. The Origins of Totalitarianism. Drucker, Peter. 1939. The End of Economic Man: A Study of new Totalitarianism. Griffin, Roger. 2018. Fascism. Key Concepts in Political Theory series. Medford; Cambridge: Polity. Hull, Katy. 2021. The Machine Has A Soul: American Sympathy with Italian Fascism. Princeton: Princeton
- [Highlights](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/highlights/) - Some other things to consider as we work to make sense of rising tides of Anti-Democracy... Note: I explore thinkers based on one or both of two criteria: Their anti-democracy ideas are (1) in the public record (publications, talks, credible interviews, etc.) and/or (2) being referenced (described, analyzed, etc.) in credible scholarship or news sources
- [Racism: Nazism vs. Fascism](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/racism-nazism-vs-fascism/) - 'emergent' main page civics salamander
- [Fourth Turning](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/fourth-turning/) - A quick fact sheet. 'emergent' main page civics salamander
- [Present Voices](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/present-voices/) - Steve Bannon He likes the book The Fourth Turning (1996) which claims to forecast inevitable, destined historic trends, including a time of 'crisis'; in short, it's an iffy book about 'destiny' and he uses it to support his sense of a necessary violent revolution on the horizon "The Man Who Wants to Unmake the West,"
- [Past Voices](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/past-voices/) - Some past thinkers being named in credible academic materials on emerging anti-democratic trends. Note: I explore thinkers based on one or both of two criteria: Their anti-democracy ideas are (1) in the public record (publications, talks, credible interviews, etc.) and/or (2) being referenced (described, analyzed, etc.) in credible scholarship or news sources as actively influencing
- [Conundrums](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/conundrums/) - One problem is that our current socio-political problem is hard to get a handle on. A second problem is that competing solutions sometimes can look identical. And unfortunately, there are real dangers to avoid–so we need to mind the gaps. It’s hard to address the subtleties in everyday journalism. So please have a peek at
- [heal](https://sarahpessin.com/heal/) - Friends suffering from disorganized detachment can be toxic. Be kind, but protect yourself and know when it's time to go. Here are some reminders to help.
- [Vault of Pauses](https://sarahpessin.com/vault-of-pauses/) - Fantods, Oblique Strategies, and Obsure Sorrows A collection of unusual things from Edward Gorey's Fantod Pack, the Oblique Strategies card set by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt (1975/2001), and John Koenig's The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (New York; London: Simon & Schuster, 2021) Other tools & projects Writing Rhino
- [Call for Nominations and Communications](https://sarahpessin.com/senate-things/senate-templates/fsec-extra-seats/call-for-nominations-and-communications/) - Here is the 2020 email sent to faculty AFTER the town hall and AFTER the senators ranked priorities. See here for the Town Hall and Senator Ranking steps that proceed this. Hi Faculty, [This email is being sent to all appointed faculty]. The Faculty Senate is issuing an open call to all appointed faculty to
- [FSEC Extra Seats](https://sarahpessin.com/senate-things/senate-templates/fsec-extra-seats/) - Communications informing Faculty about open FSEC seats and calling for nominations Note to Senators about the vote for extra FSEC seats Qualtrics templates for (1) faculty nominations, (2) Senate voting senate templates senate things
- [Qualtrics Templates- All-Faculty Nominations and Senator Voting](https://sarahpessin.com/senate-things/senate-templates/fsec-extra-seats/qualtrics-templates-all-faculty-nominations-and-senator-voting/) - Here is a PDF copy of the 2020 Call for Nominees that we sent out to all appointed faculty. Qualtrics_template_FSEC_Extra_SeatDownload Here is a PDF copy of the ballot that Senators voted on (we then had some run-offs and made separate Qualtrics ballots accordingly). Qualtrics_Senator_Vote_FSEC_Extra_SeatDownload fsec extra seat senate templates senate things
- [New Business](https://sarahpessin.com/senate-things/senate-templates/new-business/) - New_Business_and_First_and_Second_Readings_DRAFT_2_14_21Download senate templates senate things
- [Senate Templates](https://sarahpessin.com/senate-things/senate-templates/) - Extra FSEC seats protocol FSEC Town Hall (esp Fall) New Business - online protocol senate things
- [Note to Senators re Vote](https://sarahpessin.com/senate-things/senate-templates/fsec-extra-seats/note-to-senators-re-vote/) - Hi Senators (This note is only going to Senators). On Friday, we will hold an election during which you will be able to vote for 0-2 faculty additions to the FSEC for one-year terms related to topics you think (1) should be addressed by Senate this year and (2) are better served by adding colleague/s
- [senate food](https://sarahpessin.com/senate-things/senate-food/) - Click above to get to the DU Sodexo catering page. Gavin Markovits Gavin.Markovits@sodeoxo.com (303) 871-7684 Katy Young Katherine.Young@sodexo.com (303) 871-7451 Instructions: Perhaps a tray or two of vegan gluten free wraps and a tray or two of turkey wraps-- but ideally real (non-paper/plastic) cups, real (non-paper/plastic) plates, and real (non-plastic) cutlery for less waste. A
- [Curtis Yarvin](https://sarahpessin.com/curtis-yarvin/) - A quick fact sheet. Curtis Yarvin (aka Mencius Moldbug) is a New Right "neoreactionary" and "technolibertarian". He is anti-democracy, anti-equality, and favors a new monarchy. He is anti-patriotism, anti-populism, and pro-"corporate feudalism." He advises Peter Thiel. And he is growing in influence. There are important tensions in Moldbug's thought. He advocates hierarchy, yet deeply resents
- [Rushkoff - Survival of the Richest](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/rushkoff-survival-of-the-richest/) - civics salamander
- [Clemelia Bloodsworth Meets NYT 8.10.22](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/clemelia-bloodsworth-meets-nyt-8-10-22/) - New York Times, 8.10.22: Calling out Trump's Rudeness A Thought: I fear that this NYT writeup helps make the point (almost to comedic levels) that liberal politics is not designed to combat anti-democratic revolution. Our legal system allows Trump to do all the things this article expresses shock at: it allows him to plead the
- [On the difficulty of navigating anti-democratic spaces](https://sarahpessin.com/emergent/on-the-difficulty-of-navigating-anti-democratic-spaces/) - Difficulty 1: Many groups critique liberalism; but only some are dangerously anti-democratic. For example: Emmanuel Levinas critiques liberalism– but he is not anti-democratic; Some communitarians are religious nationalists in waiting; some are not; Some Marxists are violent revolutionaries, some are not; Etc. Buzzwords are often not enough to help us figure out if a group
- [Anti-Democracy Watch](https://sarahpessin.com/anti-democracy-watch/) - Explore my "emergent" project where I try to capture some of the core ideas and ideologies of political and philosophical figures whose names keep coming up in a range of anti-democratic contexts.
- [Julius Evola](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/emergent/julius-evola/) - (1898-1974) Italian-Right anti-liberal with a penchant for the transcendent. Steve Bannon and Peter Thiel like this guy a lot. “superiority is not based upon power, but power upon superiority. To need ‘power’ is impotence.” Evola, Man as Power (1925) Every traditional society is characterized by the presence of beings who, by virtue of the innate
- [Leads: Voices from the past](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/emergent/leads-voices-from-the-past/) - Lists of past thinkers being named in credible academic materials on dangerous emerging anti-democratic trends. No intended equivalences are drawn but researchers should be exploring these singly and in consort. Julius Evola (1898-1974) Unabomber's Manifesto "Industrial Society and its Future" (1995) Oswald Spengler - The Decline of the West (1918 vol 1; 1922 vol 2;
- [Present voices](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/emergent/present-voices/) - See too: Spengler's The Decline of the West in 1918/1922 Some Websites, Orgs, et al. Turning Point USA (org) Human Dignity Institute (org) Breitbart News (website) Bannon’s War Room (podcast) QAnon (movement) National Policy Institution (think-tank) Some Political Figures 'He ran Thiel’s personal investment fund and his foundation and co-wrote Thiel’s business memoir, Zero to
- [Leads: Contemporary Figures](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/emergent/leads-contemporary-figures/) - See too: Spengler's The Decline of the West in 1918/1922 Some Websites, Orgs, et al. Turning Point USA (org) Human Dignity Institute (org) Breitbart News (website) Bannon’s War Room (podcast) QAnon (movement) National Policy Institution (think-tank) Some Political Figures 'He ran Thiel’s personal investment fund and his foundation and co-wrote Thiel’s business memoir, Zero to
- [Highlights](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/emergent/highlights-2/) - An August 2022 Takeaway: When we express shock at Trump being rude to people, we reveal not really “getting” what anti-democratic revolution is; and that makes it hard for us to respond to it. See my take here. Other Highlights to Consider... There are both Christian and anti-Christian dimensions of the phenomenon and scholars and
- [Liberal consternation as the tides roll in](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/emergent/liberal-consternation-as-the-tides-roll-in/) - New York Times, 8.10.22: Calling out Trump's Rudeness A Starting Comment: I fear that this NYT writeup helps make the point (almost to comedic levels) that liberal politics is not designed to combat anti-democratic revolution. Our legal system allows Trump to do all the things this article expresses shock at: it allows him to plead
- [Bookshelf](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/emergent/bookshelf/) - Conservatism readings ||| National Conservatism website | Adrian Vermeule in First Things | Yoram Hazony, The Virtue of Nationalism | National Conservatism: A Statement of Principles (June 2022): The document (drafted by: Will Chamberlain, Christopher DeMuth, Rod Dreher, Yoram Hazony, Daniel McCarthy, Joshua Mitchell, N.S. Lyons, John O’Sullivan, and R.R. Reno on behalf of the
- [On the difficulty of navigating anti-democratic spaces](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/emergent/on-the-difficulty-of-navigating-anti-democratic-spaces/) - Difficulty 1: Many groups critique liberalism; but only some are dangerously anti-democratic. For example: Emmanuel Levinas critiques liberalism– but he is not anti-democratic; Some communitarians are religious nationalists in waiting; some are not; Some Marxists are violent revolutionaries, some are not; Etc. Buzzwords are often not enough to help us figure out if a group
- [Leads: Orgs & Websites](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/emergent/leads-orgs-websites/) - Turning Point USA (org) Human Dignity Institute (org) Breitbart News (website) Bannon's War Room (podcast) QAnon (movement) National Policy Institution (think-tank)
- [Hope & Responsibility](https://sarahpessin.com/hope-responsibility/) - Sarah's research centers on hope and responsibility, including themes of political coexistence, ethics, civic response, memory, and meaning-making. Led campus efforts in role as Interfaith Chair... Read more here about some of her accomplishments around Shared Governance and DEI in her role as Faculty Senate President (2020-2022). She is also currently working on a book
- [Phenomenological / Political](https://sarahpessin.com/phenomenological-political/) - Books in Progress... Ethics and Embodiment: Early Levinas on Paradox, Pardon, and Pause (book in progress) This is a study of Levinas' paradoxical phenomenology of embodiment. In the broadest sense, it provides readers new ways to understand Levinas' difficult sense of "transcendence-in-immanence." A curative to religious readings which don't take the 'immanence' part seriously enough,
- [Kafka on the political?](https://sarahpessin.com/civics-salamander/kafka-on-the-political/) - Kafka's "Fellowship": A Short Story about The Political? In this very short story, Kafka writes of 5 humans who form an "us" and refuse a 6th as an unwelcome "them." Even though it doesn't make too much sense. Sound familiar? "We are five friends, one day we came out of a house one after the
- [Eisenbaum on writing](https://sarahpessin.com/eisenbaum-on-writing/) - Pam Eisenbaum Pamela Eisenbaum is professor of Biblical studies and Christian origins at Iliff, and is associate faculty of the Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Denver. One of four Jewish New Testament scholars teaching in Christian theological schools, she is the author of The Jewish Heroes of Christian History: Hebrews 11 in
- [garden](https://sarahpessin.com/garden/) - Xeric + deer-proof Colorado vistas!
- [Shartz on writing](https://sarahpessin.com/shartz-on-writing/) - Cosmas Shartz Cosmas Shartz is an Orthodox Christian monk living in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, in the southern part of Moldova, in Eastern Europe, helping to translate church services and spiritual literature into the Gagauz language. He writes a lot of fiction which is read only by a handful of people, but perhaps
- [Lily Padding with RLGN 6000!](https://sarahpessin.com/lily-padding-with-rlgn-6000/) - Thanks to "Team 2019" Joint Doctoral Program students in my Spring 2022 RLGN 6000 course for lily padding! Jeff Zust He opened His heart, the door of Heaven was opened to Him. When we are in touch with the highest spirit in ourselves, we too are a Buddha, filled with the Holy Spirit, and we
- [other tools & projects](https://sarahpessin.com/other-tools-projects/) - writing & research prompt-tools miscellanies & what nots to help you write Writing Rhino
- [Word Search](https://sarahpessin.com/word-search/) - A Set of Prompts to Help You Iterate From One "Tetrad" to the Next Getting Started: Consulting your tetrad, answer the following: What are key words or phrases that appear in your title and subtitle? What are key words and phrases that appear in your Thrifty 3-5? What are key words and phrases that appear
- [lily padding](https://sarahpessin.com/lily-padding/) - Lily padding is a technique for... jumping from idea to idea towards the goal of generating / discovering connections and narrative arcs as we* go. [*We're the hoppy happy frog in this scenario]. It's about leaping around to create new meaning. And this is good why? The exercise is fun--especially if you do it with
- [Inspire Squares](https://sarahpessin.com/inspire-squares/) - Motivational posters. But often snarkier. Other tools & projects Writing Rhino
- [twenty-six 1.17.20](https://sarahpessin.com/twenty-six-1-17-20/) - on the medium is the message/massage and Alice gets a thimble in Wonderland Alice text = Page 26 from: Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass, Illustrated by John Tenniel, Illustrated Junior Library. Grosset & Dunlap Publishers, 1983. McLuhan text = Page 26 from: Marshall McLuhan and Quentin Fiore, The Medium is the Massage:
- [twenty-six](https://sarahpessin.com/twenty-six/) - Find your way to the 26th something-or-other in 2+ random texts (e.g. choose page 26 of a book, or line 26 of a song, etc.) Work to create a throughline connecting the data points. (Get creative. Be receptive. Explore and play!) Marvel at the meaning you have found/made out of chance encounters! Some of my
- [tables of content](https://sarahpessin.com/tables-of-content/) - Looking at tables of contents on themes you're working on can help you organize your own thinking. For a great example of the organizational prowess of a good TOC, consider Leora Batnitzky's account (right) of Emmanuel Levinas' Totality and Infinity TOC (left): Leora Batnitzky on the structure of Levinas’ TOC (from “Encountering the Modern Subject
- [Thomas on writing](https://sarahpessin.com/thomas-on-writing/) - David Thomas David Thomas Ph.D, is the Executive Director of Online Programs at the University of Denver and Assistant Professor Attendant in the Department of Architecture at the University of Colorado Denver. His research centers around fun, fun objects (like buildings!) and the meaning of play. A self-described "Professor of Fun," David is co-author of
- [Rushkoff on writing](https://sarahpessin.com/rushkoff-on-writing/) - Douglas Rushkoff Named one of the “world’s ten most influential intellectuals” by MIT, Douglas Rushkoff is an author and documentarian who studies human autonomy in a digital age. He is the author of 20 books on media, technology, and society, including Media Virus, Present Shock, and Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus. His book Team
- [Reshotko on writing](https://sarahpessin.com/reshotko-on-writing/) - Naomi Reshotko Naomi Reshotko is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Denver who works in ancient philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, and moral psychology. She has interests in perception, universals as the objects of scientific study, social constructions, and happiness, and she explores the nature of social constructions like race, gender, disability,
- [Nathan on writing](https://sarahpessin.com/nathan-on-writing/) - Marco Nathan Marco Nathan is associate professor and chair in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Denver. His research focuses on the philosophy of science, with particular emphasis on biology, neuroscience, cognitive neuropsychology and economics. He is the author of Black Boxes: How Science Turns Ignorance into Knowledge (2021) as well as numerous
- [Nail on writing](https://sarahpessin.com/nail-on-writing/) - Thomas Nail Thomas Nail is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Denver. A philosopher of movement, his research has had significant international influence: His work has been translated into eleven languages, read in more than 200 countries, and cited across more than 20 academic disciplines. He is the author of many books, including: The
- [Masket on writing](https://sarahpessin.com/masket-on-writing/) - Seth Masket Seth Masket is professor of political science and director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver. He is the author of the book Learning From Loss: The Democrats 2016-2020 (Cambridge University Press, 2020); The Inevitable Party: Why Attempts to Kill the Party System Fail and How They Weaken Democracy
- [Fleischacker on writing](https://sarahpessin.com/fleischacker-on-writing/) - Sam Fleischacker Sam Fleischacker is a professor of philosophy at University of Illinois Chicago. He works in moral and political philosophy, the history of moral and philosophy,and the philosophy of religion. Among the issues that have particularly interested him are the moral status of culture, the nature and history of liberalism, the relationship between moral
- [twenty-six 2.19.20](https://sarahpessin.com/twenty-six-2-19-20/) - twenty-six Writing Rhino
- [twenty-six 2.18.20](https://sarahpessin.com/twenty-six-2-18-20/) - twenty-six Writing Rhino
- [twenty-six 2.15.20](https://sarahpessin.com/twenty-six-2-15-20/) - On a Little Prince tending, Radiohead’s "Faust Arp" & Jean Arp’s lyrical plains & chairs... today: page 26 from The Little Prince showing him raking a volcano that might be active & line 26 from Radiohead's "Faust Arp" in dialogue with Jean Arp poetry and a portrait of "two heads." From The Little Prince: "In order
- [Senate President](https://sarahpessin.com/senate-president/) - After three years serving as the Chair of the Faculty Senate's Academic Planning Committee, Sarah was elected to serve as Senate President from 2020-2022. She began this role at the very start of the COVID pandemic during an especially challenging time in higher ed. After her term ended in May 2022, Senate voted to establish
- [Some Tables of Contents](https://sarahpessin.com/some-tables-of-contents/)
- [Pop Civics!](https://sarahpessin.com/pop-civics/) - Led campus efforts in role as Interfaith Chair...
- [Hate & Protect Project](https://sarahpessin.com/hate-protect-project/) - Sarah's Radio Interview (2018) Click here to hear Sarah's interview on "Hate & Protect" on Colorado Public Radio (November 2018; 13 minutes)
- [PHIL 2200 - Social & Political Philosophy (Winter 2022)](https://sarahpessin.com/phil-2200-social-political-philosophy-winter-2022/) - https://youtu.be/9i4jb5XBX5s AMOUR-PROPRE: When we're kind of an ass... Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains..." Rousseau, The Social Contract (1762) Rousseau on "amour propre": a self-indulgent sort of self love that he thinks grows in our hearts and minds as an artificial outgrowth of human society & culture and the unhealthy ways
- [Op-Eds & Press](https://sarahpessin.com/op-eds-press/) - Do You Weep At Small-Town Parades? I just moved to Monrovia, California for a few months on a work detail. And I love it. Dec 02, 2022 / Read More I Have 9 Podcasts — Keep Up, Losers Nov 10, 2022 / Read More Cronkite, Cyborgs, and the Crisis of Democracy Earlier today I attended Denver Dialogues where
- [Poetry](https://sarahpessin.com/poetry/) - sukkot (10.2.20) tinfoil and plastic pictures are a flood of colors in reds and golds paperlinks rustle like chandelier treetops as grandfather greets the evening in prayer splinter-walls are palaces where I sat with my father under the bamboo portalbridge then down comes the bread like manna from heaven in a basket drop (openroofed moonscapeis
- [On the Fragility of Speechless Speaking](https://sarahpessin.com/on-the-fragility-of-speechless-speaking/) - Excerpt from my essay “Self-knowledge & the Horizon of Humility in Jewish Thought,” for Ax:son Johnson Foundation volume on Self Knowledge (Stolpe Publishing: Sweden, forthcoming): We turn in like spirit to Moses, the giver of the Law. First, we find the Torah’s primary depiction of Moses: And the man Moses was very humble—indeed, he was
- [Interfaith](https://sarahpessin.com/interfaith/) - Religious Inclusivity Projects Click here to see some of the new and recent grants and projects Sarah is involved with at the University of Denver, in Denver, and nationally.
- [Teaching](https://sarahpessin.com/teaching/) - Some recent courses...

## Draw Attention

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