About this episode

The episode discusses the complexities of decision-making in social justice and theology, critiquing the notion of neutrality in ethical choices.

Michael Oliver’s Deconstructing Undecidability explores the unavoidable and often exclusionary nature of decision-making within the realms of social justice and theology . He argues against the common progressive tendency to favor indecision or "openness" as a way to avoid the violence of exclusion , suggesting that such a position is often an illusion afforded by power and privilege . Drawing heavily on Jacques Derrida , Oliver contends that while every choice involves a problematic "cut" that divides, making these difficult decisions is both an impossible necessity and an inescapable responsibility . He critiques the work of scholars like John D. Caputo , who prioritize undecidability , by asserting that true ethical rigor requires acknowledging that we are always already making exclusive choices . Ultimately, the text serves as a call for self-critical transparency , urging individuals to own the "messy" reality of their decisions rather than retreating into a false sense of neutrality .

People in this episode

Host: Dimas P. Muharam

Topics covered

• decision-making
• social justice
• theology
• ethical rigor
• undecidability

Keywords

• decision-making
• social justice
• theology
• undecidability
• ethical choices

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