The philosophy behind Thanksgiving | Property, Power, and Indigenous Land Rights

Philosophy For Our Times

Land, ownership and hypocrisy with Peter Singer, Dale Turner, Tommy J. Curry and Janne Teller

Since Magna Carta, the right to property is seen as universal, yet this principle often favours the strong. While nations like Ukraine are supported in reclaiming invaded land, Indigenous peoples in North America—who lost 99% of their land after European invasion—face severe inequalities and little restitution. Despite the belief in inalienable rights, almost no one advocates returning land to Native Americans. Is this principle applied hypocritically? Or is our attachment to universal rights genuine and should we be returning a major part of the land in North America to its original inhabitants?

This episode, hosted by Barry C. Smith, features a panel of distinguished experts exploring justice, rights, and ownership. Peter Singer, a leading ethicist renowned for his work in bioethics and animal rights, has received accolades including the Berggruen Prize and the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award. Dale Turner, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, specializes in Indigenous politics and postcolonial thought, with a highly anticipated novel, Vision, on the horizon. Tommy J. Curry, Chair in Africana Philosophy and Black Male Studies at the University of Edinburgh, is the award-winning author of The Man-Not: Race, Class, Genre, and the Dilemmas of Black Manhood. Janne Teller, an acclaimed writer of fiction and essays, has been celebrated for her works promoting peace and understanding. Together, they bring unique perspectives to this timely conversation.

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