From Liberation to Fragmentation

What if the movements that promised freedom and equality—civil rights, feminism, decolonization—ended up creating new forms of isolation? In this lecture, we will explore how collective struggles for justice were gradually transformed into personal identity projects, and how this shift has fragmented our sense of community. We will examine the roles of culture, consumerism, and technology in amplifying this fragmentation. Philosophy offers a companionable space to think together about these challenges: to understand both what is true and what truly matters. During the lecture, I will also share what philosophy means to me and why it continues to matter in our shared journey.