Philosophical lessons from lockdown: Why everything must change

There is a class and race divide in the Covid-19 death rate, which is why we must find the courage to reshape our society, writes Vittorio Bufacchi, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at University College Cork

A traffic information sign on the N27 South Link Road states ‘keep your guard up, stay safe, #holdfirm’. Over the last 18 months, we have seen a surge in Covid-19 related slogans, all apparently sensible and well-intended: to educate us, to comfort us, to encourage us. Unfortunately, all these slogans are also profoundly problematic, for a variety of different reasons. Picture: Larry Cummins

‘We are in it all together’. ‘Wash your hands’. ‘Let’s go back to normal’. In the last 18 months we have seen a surge in Covid-19 related slogans, all apparently sensible and well-intended: to educate us, to comfort us, to encourage us. 

Unfortunately, all these slogans are also profoundly problematic, for a variety of different reasons.