A Philosophical Analysis of Cancel Culture

Lately, a new cultural phenomenon dubbed "cancel culture" has gained momentum in the United States. Proponents of cancel culture have used social media to amplify calls to boycott, remove, and ostracize individuals that they label as racist, homophobic, or misogynistic. Those who are targeted may lose their social media platforms, their social standing with friends and family, and their livelihoods. In this meetup, we will analyze this phenomenon in order to understand its philosophic roots and significance. Questions to discuss include:

-How should cancel culture be defined? What are some examples of it?
-Who engages in cancel culture? Who are their targets? What motivates the proponents of cancel culture?
-Are there any comparisons one can draw between cancel culture and other historical events, such as the Salem Witch Trials, Mao's Cultural Revolution, the French Revolution, and lynching in the Old South?
-What is the philosophic basis for cancel culture? What is the relationship between cancel culture and collectivism, determinism, and tribalism?
-What can one do if they are concerned about cancel culture?