157. Manipulation

Should we be sympathetic towards manipulators? In episode 157 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk about manipulation. They discuss what makes up a manipulative personality, why manipulators see social interaction as inherently combative, and what you can do when you find yourself entangled with a manipulator. They also explore what Niccolo Machiavelli tell us about the role of manipulation in politics. Should political leaders always be kind? Or, as Machiavelli says, do they need to learn to “be bad”? And what can we say about manipulation outside of politics? Does manipulative behavior require awareness and intention? Are all forms of manipulation inherently bad? And where do we draw the line between manipulation and other types of social influence? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts discuss how manipulators perform on the ultimatum game and whether philosophy is the only form of non-manipulative discourse. Go to Quince.com/overthink for free shipping on your orders and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Visit Progressive.com to see if you could save on car insurance. Overthink is a philosophy podcast hosted by your new favorite professors, Ellie Anderson (Pomona College) and David Peña-Guzmán (San Francisco State University). Check out our episodes for deep dives into concepts such as existential anxiety, empathy, and gaslighting. Works discussed: Anne Barnhill, “How philosophy might contribute to the practical ethics of online manipulation” Robert Greene, 48 Laws of Power Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince George Simon, In Sheep’s Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People Enjoy our work? Support Overthink via tax-deductible donation: https://www.givecampus.com/fj0w3v Subscribe to our Substack for ad-free versions of both audio and video episodes, extended episodes, exclusive live chats, and more: https://overthinkpod.substack.com/ Website: overthinkpodcast.com Substack: overthinkpod.substack.com Facebook:   / overthink-podcast-105420885026249   Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aIlXHT... Art19 RSS: https://rss.art19.com/overthink Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at @overthink_pod