"In the frenzy over Edward Snowden's leak of classified information about government data-mining surveillance, public officials and pundits have tried to lock us into a narrowly defined and diversionary discussion that ignores the most important question we face about terrorism. . . . "

"If a healthy political culture is rooted in conversation and based on honest argumentation, then one of the most corrosive rhetorical tactics is the use of false alternatives. An argument based on false alternatives keeps people from considering the full range of relevant possibilities. Typically, this involves presenting an issue as if there are two - and only two - possible courses of action, one of which is unattractive for practical and/or moral reasons. An argument from false alternatives also routinely builds into its claim one or more assumptions that could be challenged. . . . "

Robert Jensen discusses "Getting Apocalypitic," an article he wrote for Yes!Magazine. 

"A potent attack on the rabid, irrational saber-rattling that passes for political and social discourse today, Arguing for Our Lives is a cogent, closely argued, sober, yet passionate call for ordinary men and women to help save our democracy by reclaiming our intellect, by honing our powers of rational argumentation."

Read Robert Jensen's article, "Get Apocalyptic" about turning despair into action in the face of life in a broken economy on a strained planet. 

Robert Jensen discusses his new book on Ken Rose's KOWS show "What Now."

Robert Jensen discusses his new book on Thorne Dreyer's KOOP show "Rag Radio."

Robert Jensen discusses his new book.

Robert Jensen discusses his new book on Deb Hobson's KOPN show "Chautauqua."

Robert Jensen discusses his new book on Mitchell Szczepanczyk's WLUW show "From the Trenches."

"The universe is an undifferentiated whole. About that we can say nothing more."

This catchy aphorism from political philosopher Bruce Wright may seem nonsensical at first glance, but is worth exploring in the service of deepening our intellectual humility. Facing multiple, cascading ecological crises, we humans need science more than ever—and more than ever we need to understand the limits of science. . . .

Robert Jensen shows how critical thought and constructive dialogue are the necessary tools to claiming a social sphere working for the public interest. 

Over 100 people came out to celebrate the publication of Robert Jensen's latest book, Arguing for Our Lives.

"Politicians and pundits, on all sides, are quick to suggest that opponents are 'blinded by ideology'; competing proposals that have been successfully tagged as excessively ideological are easy to dismiss as being impractical. But the accusation begs a question: Does ideology always undermine our ability to understand the world? . . . "

Robert Jensen is interviewed on Barry Seidman's WBAI show "Equal Time for Freethought" about his book, Arguing for our Lives

On the 10th anniversary of the war in Iraq, Robert Jensen investigates the truths behind the anti-war slogan "No blood for oil."  Jensen's latest book is Arguing for Our Lives, just published by City Lights.

An audio interview with Dr. Robert Jensen – author, activist and professor of journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.

In this wide-ranging interview, Jensen discusses his views on U.S. foreign policy, criticism that he is "anti-American," his religious beliefs as a Christian-atheist, the line between teaching and activism, and finding sources of hope in troubled times.

If we are rational and consider objective scientific evidence of environmental collapse including groundwater depletion, topsoil loss, chemical contamination, ocean dead zones, species extinction, bio-diversity reduction and climate disruption, we need to be apocalypticists, argues Robert Jensen.

Robert Jensen discusses the idea of living your life honestly in front of students as key to good teaching.

Robert Jensen discusses table conversation at Thanksgiving time, encouraging us to have thoughtful discussions about religion and politics no matter how hard that may seem.