James Orr and Mary Harrington: Why Aristotle Would Disagree With Modern Politics

In this episode of Socrates in the City, Mary Harrington engages James Orr, a Cambridge philosopher and senior advisor to Nigel Farage, in a deep exploration of how Aristotelian metaphysics underpins a revitalized politics of national preference. Orr traces his intellectual journey from classical philosophy and scholasticism to political activism, arguing that modern liberalism’s rejection of essence and teleology—seen in ideologies like gender constructivism—has severed politics from reality. He contends that Aristotle’s vision of the polis, rooted in the natural order of human life (family, community, country), offers a more truthful and sustainable framework than the cosmopolitan, anti-essentialist currents dominating Western discourse. Drawing on thinkers from Aquinas to Hume and Sartre, Orr illustrates how the collapse of metaphysical realism has enabled radical social engineering, but insists that reality ultimately 'comes back'—a process he sees unfolding in grassroots movements defending traditional family values and national identity. The conversation closes on a note of cautious hope: despite the damage done by anti-essentialist ideologies, the natural order is resilient, and the politics of home is gaining momentum across Europe.