Het Filosofisch Kwintet

Writer Arnon Grunberg speaks with various thinkers to explore a socially urgent theme. This season, he delves into the question: How do we live alongside monsters? About this Grunberg says: “In Het filosofisch kwintet, listening is still valued, silence is no disgrace, and disagreement is not the ultimate goal—though we also don’t believe that consensus is the path to paradise.”

Friday June 20th: The Psyche of the Autocrat
Autocratic leaders are on the rise across the globe. At breakneck speed, they dismantle democratic institutions, upend the world order, and consolidate as much power as possible. The logic of democracy does not apply to them. They operate according to their own frameworks, aimed at increasing power and disabling systems that hold them accountable. 

In this episode of Het filosofisch kwintet, Arnon Grunberg speaks with experts on autocratic leaders. How did they become the leaders they are today? Is there such a thing as the psyche of the autocrat—one that must contain a hefty dose of narcissism or even masochism? And how are they able to amass so much power? 

Guests include the American Philip Gorski, professor of sociology and religious studies at Yale University, whose research focuses on the interaction between religion and politics in Western Europe and North America; the German philosopher Bettina Stangneth, known for her new perspective on Adolf Eichmann, one of the organizers of the Holocaust, and philosopher Hanno Sauer, who specializes in the history of good and evil.

Saturday June 21st: Truth machines
In times of uncertainty, purveyors of truth have presented themselves since time immemorial, but with the advent of social media, the market for truth-sellers has grown enormously. With a phone in hand, anyone can offer their version of the truth. Our attention is a scarce commodity, and the battle for it influences what can be called truth. 

In this episode, Arnon Grunberg explores how the machinery of truth production has been digitized. Is truth still truth, or rather a disguised opinion? Has truth become the hottest battleground in the struggle for power? And where does critical thinking end, and conspiracy theory begin? Guests are Thijs Lijster, cultural philosopher and university lecturer in art and cultural philosophy in Groningen; technology philosopher Marjolein Lanzing, who studies the ethical and political impact of new technologies; and interdisciplinary sociologist Jaron Harambam, who conducts research on conspiracy theories and algorithms. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A, during which you can ask questions to Arnon and the guests. The conversation will be followed by a Q&A session in which you can ask Arnon and the guests your questions.