Jonas Jakobsen
Job description
Associate Professor of Philosophy with a focus on society and politics (theories of democracy, freedom of expression, recognition and inclusion, politics and religion, populism and polarization), as well as philosophy of life and contemplative traditions (existential philosophy, theories of meaning, happiness, the good life, mindfulness, and Buddhist philosophy).
My research articles address, among other topics, the normative, epistemic, and institutional foundations of democracy; the threat posed by polarization and political populism; multiculturalism and struggles for recognition; religious arguments in politics; freedom of expression and its limits; as well as various challenges involved in living a good and meaningful life in modern capitalist societies.
My op-eds and public commentary on contemporary social and political issues can be read on my blog: Philosophical Debate.
I primarily teach political philosophy and philosophy of life, in addition to Examen philosophicum.
The 50 latest publications is shown on this page. See all publications in NVA here →
Research interests
Is Democracy the Best Form of Government, and How Can We Justify It? What does the ideal of a democratic public sphere entail, and how is this ideal threatened by polarization, disinformation, and the concentration of power on social media?
Populism and Democracy: What is populism, and how does populist politics challenge liberal democracy? What are the ideological foundations of today’s right-wing populist wave, including the criticism of "woke" culture and "cancel culture"? Is there a left-wing populist alternative to right-wing populism? How should democratic states and citizens respond to the threats posed by authoritarian populism?
Trump’s Philosophers: Which philosophical ideas are used by people in Trump’s administration, as well as wealthy donors, to legitimize his policies?
Freedom of Speech: How can we justify freedom of speech, and how extensive should it be? How is hate speech defined, and should it be prohibited? Should blasphemy and the offense of "religious feelings" be outlawed in secular democracies?
Teaching
Political philosophy; philosophy of life; examen philosophicum.
Member of research group
CV
Associate Professor, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway University, 2014 -
PhD-student, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway University, 2009 - 2014
University Lecturer, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway University, 2007 - 2009
High School Teacher, Nykøbing Katedralskole, Denmark, 2004 - 2007