Oxford Handbook of Sangayana to be published soon by Oxford University Press. Chris Skowroński’s chapter: “Populism and Democracy” discusses Santayana’s political thought in the context of populism and democracy.

From Chris Skowrońsk’s “Populism and Democracy” Abstract:

George Santayana’s political thought deserves attention for a variety of reasons. In his widely commented on in books such as The Life of Reason (1905-6), Egotism in German Philosophy (1915), Character and Opinion in the United States (1920), Dominations and Powers (1951), and in other texts. He proposed a definite vision of the political realm that is refreshing and one that provokes reflection on the readers’ part. He discusses the condition of the West in accordance with classic lay humanism, in its naturalistic and non-anthropocentric version, in which the lot of the individual agent should be seen as a primary “seat of observation and judgment.” At the same time, he warns us against illiberal tendencies within liberal democracy itself, “industrial” liberalism in the first instance. He appreciates cultural pluralism but warns us against various forms of populism that could refer to some utopian idea of the ‘people’ as carriers of ‘pure’ values in a given political body, be it a state or a collection of states. He criticizes democracy when it seems to lose its roots in the tradition and historical heritage of the West, and “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” is widely quoted in a variety of political contexts. One can even see a plaque with this quote in the former German Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz.

21.01. 2026, Instituto de Estudios Culturales Avanzados

video AQUI

Info about: George Santayana Society, The Santayana Edition, Overhead in Seville: Bulletin of the George Santayana Society, bibliography, and projects HERE

Instituto, revista, actividades AQUÍ

Lydia Amir (Tufts University, USA) is the author of books: Taking Philosophy Seriously (Cambridge Scholars 2018), Philosophy, Humor, and the Human Condition (Palgrave 2019), Humor and the Good Life in Modern Philosophy (SUNY Press 2014), The Legacy of Nietzsche’s Philosophy of Laughter (Routledge 2011), Rethinking Philosopher’s Responsibilities (Cambridge Scholars 2017), and others.

Lydia Amir and Chris Skowronski on the human condition, humour, and the good life.

A video talk recorded in December 2025

Why Practical Philosophy Matters Today

The good life – an old topic with many questions now. Many people today feel exhausted. Burnout, moral overload, and constant self-optimization are common experiences. In this context, philosophy cannot remain only an academic subject. It must speak to everyday life.

The central question has changed. It is no longer only what is true in theory. The real question is: How can we live well under real conditions? These conditions include limited time, limited energy, imperfect institutions, and fragile relationships.

This conversation, Practical Philosophy at Work: Humour, Limits, and the Good Life, brings together two approaches to address this challenge. The first is stoic pragmatism. The second is philosophical humour understood as a tool for orientation in life.

Instead of offering utopias or abstract ideals, the dialogue focuses on practice. It presents philosophy as a way of learning how to judge situations wisely. It helps us see where effort makes sense and where acceptance is the better choice. In this way, philosophy supports a full and meaningful life—without demanding the impossible.