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Cynical Theories
Authors: Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay
Reading Level: Adult
Score: 5/5

Why should you read this book?

Cynical Theories objectively explores the foundation of Critical Theories from postmodernism. It focuses not only on Critical Race Theory (CRT) but includes Postcolonial Theory, Queer Theory, Feminisms, Gender Studies and Disability and Fat Studies. The book is organized nicely to easily concentrate on a specific interest, however reading the full book to understand the history of each Theory and how they overlap is helpful!

The foundation of all these Critical Theories is Postmodernism. Postmodernism dangerously rejects science, reason and objectives truths – Critical Race theory embraces this thought and expands with the belief that “racism is both ordinary and permanent, everywhere and always.”

Learn key buzz words such as intersectionality and applied social justice. Discover the difference in the individual, group identity and the universal and why CRT only believes in group identity.

Cynical Theories takes a deep dive into the true objective of CRT:

“It does the same thing over and over again: look for the power imbalances, bigotry, and biases that it assumes must be present and pick at them. It reduces everything to one single variable, one single topic of conversation, one single focus and interpretation: prejudice, as understood under the power dynamics asserted by Theory. This, for example, disparate outcomes can have one and only one, explanation, and it is prejudicial bigotry.”

What is Critical Race Theory? CRT rejects science, reason and objective truths. As defined by Pluckrose and Lindsay in Cynical Theories, CRT believes “[unequal] outcomes can have one and only one explanation – prejudicial bigotry”. It does not look for improvement it simply places blame. It is purposely divisive and breeds a renewed and never-ending cycle of racism.

CRT denies the individual and the universal, favoring only group identities such as one’s race. By only looking at group identities CRT teaches our children that good or bad, their choices in life have no significance. According to CRT if your group identity is white, you are and always will be the oppressor. It does not open the door for improvement or look at an individual’s actions, instead it permanently labels you from birth. Self-accountability becomes obsolete with devastating effects. Pluckrose and Lindsay question that in assuming the worst of an entire group identity CRT could we actually be “[reducing] antiracism activism and [increasing] aggression towards marginalized groups”.

CRT declares that if you are a minority you are and always will be the oppressed. It teaches that equal opportunity is not even possible. Whether you are born with a silver spoon or you work hard to become a productive member of society, if you are a minority you will always be considered oppressed. Think about it, if we teach our children from the moment they are born that the world is against them, to look for prejudice in every interaction, why will they even bother trying to overcome this permanent characterization. CRT will rob minority children of their motivation and ensure they will not thrive.

While continuous improvement in our school system is needed, CTR does not make the world a better place. It leads only to hate – self-hate and the hate of other group identities. It trains children to believe that “racism is both ordinary and permanent, everywhere and always.”

One of the best things you can do to combat CRT is educate yourself. Why? We all need to be informed so we can have meaningful conversations with family, friends and neighbors, speak out at board meetings and write to our legislators.

Books:
“Cynical Theories” by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay
“Discrimination and Disparities” by Thomas Sowell

PodCast:
Parents Begin to Fight Back Against Critical Race Theory by Charlie Kirk

Videos:
What is Critical Race Theory by PragerU

Articles:
The Miseducation of America’s Elites

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