Philosophize This!
By Stephen West
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Category: Philosophy
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Subscribers: 10814
Reviews: 51
Episodes: 180
Apr 25, 2023
Apr 20, 2023
Mar 23, 2023
Jan 30, 2023
Nov 28, 2022
Top tier philosophy podcast. Presented by an excellent and insightful host, who's mission to make sure your time spent listening is well spent is always achieved.
Description
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Episode #180 ... What if everything is consciousness? - Phillip Goff on Panpsychism
35:16
Today we talk about one theory of consciousness known as Panpsychism.
www.patreon.com/philosophizethis
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May 24, 2023 |
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Episode #179 ... Why is consciousness something worth talking about?
35:42
Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips
Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philosophizethispodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow
Thank you for making the show possible. 🙂
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Apr 24, 2023 |
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Episode #178 ... Susan Sontag - How Much Is Your View Of Everything Affected By Metaphors?
36:51
Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips
Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philosophizethispodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow
Thank you for making the show possible. 🙂
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Apr 05, 2023 |
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Episode #177 ... Susan Sontag - Do you speak the language of pictures and videos?
33:06
Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philosophizethispodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow
Thank you for making the show possible. 🙂 RSS: http://www.philosophizethis.libsyn.org/ |
Mar 22, 2023 |
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Episode #176 ... Susan Sontag - Do you criticize yourself the way you criticize a movie?
33:21
Today we talk about the essay titled Against Interpretation by Susan Sontag. :) www.patreon.com/philosophizethis www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast www.twitter.com/iamstephenwest
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Mar 01, 2023 |
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Episode #175 ... Simone Weil - Vessels of God
28:01
Today we continue talking about the work of Simone Weil.
www.patreon.com/philosophizethis www.instagram.com/philosophizethisshow www.twitter.com/iamstephenwest
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Feb 02, 2023 |
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Episode #174 ... Simone Weil - The Mathematician
30:51
Today we continue talking about the work of the brilliant Simone Weil. Hope you love it.
www.patreon.com/philosophizethis www.instagram.com/philosophizethisshow www.twitter.com/iamstephenwest
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Feb 02, 2023 |
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Episode #173 ... Simone Weil - The Need for Roots
31:13
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Jan 10, 2023 |
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Episode #172 ... Simone Weil - Attention
37:55
Today we begin some general discussions in the direction of the thought of Simone Weil and tell some stories from her life. |
Nov 21, 2022 |
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Episode #171 ... Guy Debord - The Society of the Spectacle
40:33
Today we talk about a famous call to action by the philosopher Guy Debord. |
Nov 01, 2022 |
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Episode #170 ... Albert Camus - The Fall
39:19
Today we explore some of the themes discussed in The Fall by Albert Camus.
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Sep 23, 2022 |
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Episode #169 ... Bruno Latour - We Have Never Been Modern
28:52
Today we cover thought provoking pieces of an early work by a great philosopher named Bruno Latour. Hope you love it. |
Aug 20, 2022 |
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Episode #168 ... Introduction to an Ethics of Care
42:35
Today we begin discussing an Ethics of Care. @iamstephenwest on twitter for updates.
Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 13, 2022 |
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Episode #167 ... Jose Ortega - Revolt of the Masses
26:32
Today we continue talking about the work of Ortega. This time about his book Revolt of the Masses. Twitter - @iamstephenwest for updates
Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 25, 2022 |
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Episode #166 ... Jose Ortega - Circumstance
30:14
Today we begin talking about the work of Jose Ortega Y Gasset. |
Jun 01, 2022 |
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Episode #165 ... Ralph Waldo Emerson - Nature and Other Things
27:56
Today we continue our discussion of Emerson.
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Apr 30, 2022 |
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Episode #164 ... Ralph Waldo Emerson - Self Reliance
33:33
Today we talk about Emerson and his essay about self reliance.
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Apr 22, 2022 |
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Episode #163 ... The Creation of Meaning - Escape From Evil
30:17
Today we continue talking about the work of Ernest Becker. |
Mar 02, 2022 |
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Episode #162 ... The Creation of Meaning - The Denial of Death
26:33
Today we begin talking about the work of Ernest Becker. |
Jan 25, 2022 |
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Episode #161 ... Karl Popper - The Open Society and Its Enemies
32:08
Today we talk about a famous book from the work of Karl Popper.
Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis
Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philosophizethispodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow
Thank you for making the show possible. 🙂
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Jan 15, 2022 |
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Episode #160 ... The Creation of Meaning - Kierkegaard - Silence, Obedience and Joy
36:20
Today we discuss the work of Soren Kierkegaard. His famous work The Lily of the Field and The Bird of The Air. |
Jan 05, 2022 |
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Episode #159 ... The Creation of Meaning - Nietzsche - Amor Fati
29:18
Today we continue our discussion on the creation of meaning. |
Nov 10, 2021 |
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Episode #158 ... The Creation of Meaning - Nietzsche - The Ascetic Ideal
30:53
Today we look at the creation of meaning through the work of Nietzsche. |
Oct 05, 2021 |
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Episode #157 ... The Creation of Meaning - Beauvoir
24:55
Today we talk about the creation of meaning. |
Sep 01, 2021 |
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Episode #156 ... Emil Cioran part 2 - Failure and Suicide
28:47
Today we continue talking about Cioran. |
Aug 10, 2021 |
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Episode #155 ... Emil Cioran - Absurdity and Nothingness
23:19
Today we begin our discussion on Emil Cioran. |
Jul 08, 2021 |
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Episode #154 ... Pragmatism and Truth
21:04
Today we discuss Pragmatism. |
Jun 22, 2021 |
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Episode #153 ... The Frankfurt School - Walter Benjamin pt. 2 - Distraction
24:39
Today we continue talking about Walter Benjamin. |
Apr 01, 2021 |
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Episode #152 ... The Frankfurt School - Walter Benjamin pt. 1
24:00
Today we begin discussing the work of Walter Benjamin. |
Mar 19, 2021 |
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Episode #151 ... The Frankfurt School - Erich Fromm on Freedom
25:52
Today we continue our discussion of the work of Erich Fromm. |
Feb 06, 2021 |
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Episode #150 ... The Frankfurt School - Erich Fromm on Love
22:41
Today we discuss Erich Fromm and his work The Art of Loving. |
Jan 31, 2021 |
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Episode #149 ... On Media pt. 2 - Marshall McLuhan
26:23
Today we discuss the work of Marshall McLuhan. |
Jan 05, 2021 |
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Episode #148 ... On Media pt. 1 - Manufacturing Consent
24:53
Today we discuss the 1988 work of Chomsky and Herman entitled Manufacturing Consent. |
Dec 14, 2020 |
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Episode #147 ... Being and Becoming
24:25
Today we discuss the ancient philosophical debate of being and becoming. |
Nov 10, 2020 |
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Episode #146 ... Bergson on Laughter pt. 2 - Vitalism
25:27
Today we continue our discussion on the work of Henri Bergson. |
Oct 20, 2020 |
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Episode #145 ... Bergson on Laughter pt. 1 - History
23:28
Today we begin our discussion on the work of Bergson. |
Sep 19, 2020 |
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Episode #144 ... Max Weber - Iron Cage
24:27
Today we discuss some of the work of Max Weber in preparation for an upcoming series. |
Jun 29, 2020 |
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Episode #143 ... Jürgen Habermas pt. 1 - The Public Sphere
25:25
Today we begin our discussion of the work of Jürgen Habermas. |
Apr 30, 2020 |
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Episode #142 ... Richard Rorty
29:08
Today we begin our discussion of the work of Richard Rorty. |
Apr 15, 2020 |
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Episode #141 ... Isaiah Berlin pt. 2 - Pluralism and Culture
24:19
Today we continue talking about the work of Isaiah Berlin. |
Mar 28, 2020 |
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Episode #140 ... Isaiah Berlin pt. 1 - Pluralism
22:35
Today we begin discussing the work of Isaiah Berlin. |
Mar 11, 2020 |
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Episode #139 ... Friedrich Von Hayek - The Road to Serfdom
23:20
Today we begin our discussion of the work of Friedrich Hayek. |
Feb 12, 2020 |
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Episode #138 ... Robert Nozick - The Minimal State
23:14
Today we begin our discussion of the work of Robert Nozick. |
Jan 21, 2020 |
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Episode #137 ... John Rawls - A Theory of Justice
28:43
Today we discuss the work of John Rawls. |
Dec 30, 2019 |
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Episode #136 ... Hannah Arendt - The Banality of Evil
29:14
Today we discuss the work of Hannah Arendt. |
Oct 31, 2019 |
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Episode 135 ... Leo Strauss - Ancients vs. Moderns
25:49
Today we talk about the work of Leo Strauss. |
Oct 08, 2019 |
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Episode #134 ... Consequences of Reason
25:53
Today we talk about the growing dissatisfaction with Enlightenment Reason during the early 20th century. |
Aug 07, 2019 |
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Episode #133 ... Carl Schmitt on Liberalism pt. 2
22:21
Today we continue our discussion of the work of Carl Schmitt. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 01, 2019 |
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Episode #132 ... Carl Schmitt on Liberalism pt. 1
23:45
Today we begin our discussion on the work of Carl Schmitt. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :)
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Jul 01, 2019 |
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Episode #131 ... Gramsci - Cultural Hegemony
24:41
Today we discuss the work of Antonio Gramsci. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 22, 2019 |
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Episode #130 ... Dewey and Lippman on Democracy
21:38
Today we talk about a famous debate from the early 20th century. |
Apr 30, 2019 |
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Episode #129 ... Gilles Deleuze pt. 5 - Difference
22:24
Today we continue our discussion on the work of Deleuze. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Mar 16, 2019 |
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Episode #128 ... Gilles Deleuze pt. 4 - Flows
22:54
Today we continue our discussion on the work of Deleuze. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Mar 16, 2019 |
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Episode #127 ... Gilles Deleuze pt. 3 - Anti-Oedipus
29:31
Today we continue our discussion on the work of Gilles Deleuze. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Feb 07, 2019 |
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Episode #126 ... Gilles Deleuze pt. 2 - Immanence
22:37
Today we continue our discussion on the work of Deleuze. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 22, 2018 |
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Episode #125 ... Gilles Deleuze pt. 1 - What is Philosophy?
22:31
Today we begin our discussion on Gilles Deleuze with a special thanks to Felix Guatarri. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 08, 2018 |
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Episode #124 ... Simulacra and Simulation
30:26
Today we begin our discussion of Jean Baudrillard's book Simulacra and Simulation. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Oct 25, 2018 |
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Episode #123 ... Michel Foucault pt. 3 - Power
21:14
Today we talk about the work of Michel Foucault. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Sep 24, 2018 |
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Episode #122 ... Michel Foucault pt. 2 - The Order of Things
22:36
Today we talk about the work of Michel Foucault. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Sep 24, 2018 |
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Episode #121 ... Michel Foucault pt. 1
34:24
Today we begin talking about the work of Michel Foucault. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Aug 15, 2018 |
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Episode #120 ... Logical Positivism
26:10
Today we talk about Logical Positivism. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 27, 2018 |
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Episode #119 ... Derrida and Words
20:34
Today we begin our discussion on the work of Jacques Derrida. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 25, 2018 |
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Episode #118 ... A Basic Look At Postmodernism
23:12
Today we begin a lengthy conversation on the critiques of Postmodernism. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 21, 2018 |
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Episode #117 ... Structuralism and Mythology pt. 2
26:35
Today we continue to talk about the projects of Structuralism. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Mar 18, 2018 |
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Episode #116 ... Structuralism and Mythology pt. 1
27:31
Today we begin talking about the initial projects of Structuralism. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Mar 18, 2018 |
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Episode #115 ... Structuralism and Context
32:00
Today we talk about the origins of Structuralism. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :)
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Jan 28, 2018 |
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Episode #114 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 7 - The Great Refusal
38:55
Today we talk about Herbert Marcuse's concepts of The Great Refusal and The New Sensibility. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 23, 2017 |
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Episode #113 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 6 - Art As A Tool For Liberation
23:12
Today we talk about the revolutionary potential of Art through the eyes of Herbert Marcuse. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 02, 2017 |
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Episode #112 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 5 - Civilization
29:37
Today we continue our discussion of Marcuse's work Eros and Civilization. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Nov 06, 2017 |
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Episode #111 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 4 - Eros
26:12
Today we talk about Freud's views on civilization and the first half of Marcuse's response to them. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Oct 20, 2017 |
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Episode #110 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 3 - The Culture Industry
28:07
Today we talk about an important chapter from The Dialectic of Enlightenment entitled The Culture Industry. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Sep 07, 2017 |
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Episode #109 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 2 - The Enlightenment
25:42
Today we talk about the Frankfurt School critique of enlightenment style thinking and Herbert Marcuse's book One Dimensional Man. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Aug 26, 2017 |
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Episode #108 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 1 - Introduction
30:23
Today we talk about The Frankfurt School. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Aug 17, 2017 |
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Episode #107 ... Simone De Beauvoir pt .3 - Responsibility
26:31
Today we talk about part three of Simone De Beauvoir's work The Ethics of Ambiguity. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 29, 2017 |
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Episode #106 ... Simone De Beauvoir pt. 2 - The Ethics of Ambiguity
24:18
Today we talk about the first half of The Ethics of Ambiguity by Simone De Beauvoir. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 19, 2017 |
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Episode #105 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 6 - The Self
26:37
Today a cloudy, muddled brain weary from fighting off sickness talks about Sartre's view on the self. Thank you for your patience. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 09, 2017 |
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Episode #104 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 5 - Consciousness is Freedom
29:27
Today we talk about Sartre's view of consciousness and the notion of radical freedom. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 01, 2017 |
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Episode #103 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 4 - The Quest For Certainty
32:03
Today we tell a story from the history of philosophy in an attempt to prepare us for understanding the Phenomenology of Sartre. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 24, 2017 |
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Episode #102 ... Heidegger pt. 3 - Authenticity
31:20
Today we talk about Martin Heidegger and his concept of Authenticity. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 12, 2017 |
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Episode #101 ... Heidegger pt. 2 - Science and Technology
26:00
Today we discuss Martin Heidegger and his views on Modern Technology. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Apr 30, 2017 |
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Episode #100 ... Heidegger pt. 1 - Phenomenology and Dasein
31:06
Today we begin our discussion of the philosophy of Martin Heidegger by looking at his roots in Phenomenology and his revolutionary concept of Dasein. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Apr 14, 2017 |
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Episode #099 ... Schopenhauer pt. 2 - Ethics
22:48
Today we talk about the ethics of Arthur Schopenhauer. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Mar 29, 2017 |
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Episode #098 ... Schopenhauer pt. 1 - Metaphysics and Love
22:37
Today we begin our discussion on Arthur Schopenhauer. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Mar 14, 2017 |
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Episode #097 ... Wittgenstein ep. 1
25:44
Today we talk about Ludwig Wittgenstein. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Mar 01, 2017 |
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Episode #096 ... Is Ayn Rand A Philosopher?
24:10
Today we talk about Ayn Rand. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jan 20, 2017 |
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Episode #095 ... Are you living in a simulation?
26:15
Today we discuss the famous paper by Nick Bostrom about the probability that we are living in a simulation. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 30, 2016 |
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Episode #094 ... A Look at Suffering
29:04
Today we look at the concept of suffering from multiple different angles including the philosopher Fyodor Dostoyevsky and the movement in Transhumanism known as The Hedonistic Imperative. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Nov 24, 2016 |
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Episode #093 ... Nietzsche pt. 4 - Love
26:40
Today we look at the concept of love from several different angles in an attempt to better understand our own thoughts on love. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Nov 06, 2016 |
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Episode #092 ... Nietzsche pt. 3 - Thus Spoke Zarathustra
29:55
Today we talk about Nietzsche's famous work Thus Spoke Zarathustra. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Oct 04, 2016 |
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Episode #091 ... Nietzsche pt. 2 - The Will to Power
27:54
Today we talk about Nietzsche, the concept of the Will to Power and the dangers of predatory buffalos. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Sep 21, 2016 |
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Episode #090 ... Nietzsche pt. 1 - God is dead and so is Captain Morgan
27:12
Today we begin our discussion on the work of Friedrich Nietzsche. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Aug 26, 2016 |
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Episode #089 ... Simone De Beauvoir - The Second Sex
30:50
Today we discuss the revolutionary work of Simone De Beauvoir entitled: The Second Sex www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Aug 17, 2016 |
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Episode #088 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 3 - The Great Debate
26:49
Today we talk about the great post WW2 debate between Sartre and Camus. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 27, 2016 |
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Episode #087 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 2
23:15
Today we talk about the philosopher Albert Camus. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 14, 2016 |
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Episode #086 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 1 - Freedom
23:46
Today's episode is the first installment of a series on the great Cold War era thinkers Sartre and Camus. Today we lay the foundations for the line of thinking known as existentialism and focus on Sartre's view of freedom. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 29, 2016 |
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Episode #085 ... Peter Singer on Effective Altruism
24:02
Today we talk about the great Peter Singer, his views on the unique moral obligations that we face as members of modern society and how we might fulfill the obligations in the most effective manner. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 21, 2016 |
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Episode #084 ... William James on Truth
26:44
Today we take a look at William James and his work on the concept of Truth. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 14, 2016 |
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Episode #083 ... Henry David Thoreau
27:02
Today we take a look at Henry David Thoreau's views on the individual, society and civil disobedience. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 04, 2016 |
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Episode #082 ... Austrians and Marx
25:36
Today we talk about various classic critiques of Marx's economics made by the Austrian School of Economics. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :)
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May 26, 2016 |
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Episode #081 ... Capitalism vs. Communism
24:35
Today we talk about Karl Marx and his famous critiques of Capitalism. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 11, 2016 |
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Episode #80 ... Feuerbach on Religion
28:00
On this episode we talk about Ludwig Feuerbach and his (occasionally) controversial views on the origins of religion. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 03, 2016 |
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Episode #079 ... Kierkegaard on Anxiety
22:33
On this episode of the podcast we talk about Kierkegaard's views on anxiety. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :)
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Mar 23, 2016 |
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Episode #078 ... Marx and Kierkegaard on Religion pt. 2
25:24
Today we talk about Soren Kierkegaard and his views on the function and value of religion. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jan 27, 2016 |
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Episode #077 ... Marx and Kierkegaard on Religion pt. 1
27:17
Today we discuss Marx, his views on religion as a means of oppression, and his connection to Hegel's Dialectic. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jan 17, 2016 |
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Episode #076 ... Hegel's God
24:56
Today we talk about Hegel and a unique possibility of what God could be. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 31, 2015 |
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Episode #075 ... How To Win An Argument Pt. 2
24:51
Today we answer listener questions clarifying How To Win An Argument Pt. 1 and discuss several other common logical fallacies, how to spot them and how to deal with them. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 21, 2015 |
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Episode #074 ... Hegel Returns
27:38
Today we talk about an overview of Hegel and what is truly important about his work. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 17, 2015 |
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Episode #073 ... How To Win An Argument Pt. 1
29:30
Today we take a look at several common logical fallacies and how to spot them. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 01, 2015 |
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Episode #072 ... Insecurity
33:44
On this episode of the podcast we talk about insecurity. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Nov 18, 2015 |
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Episode #071 ... Is Killing Animals For Food Morally Justifiable?
29:04
Today we talk about whether killing animals for food is morally justifiable. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Nov 01, 2015 |
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Episode #070 ... Off Moodiness
23:24
On this episode we talk about several outlooks on negative emotions. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :)
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Oct 20, 2015 |
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Episode #069 ... An Appeal To Reason
31:48
www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Oct 12, 2015 |
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Episode #068 ... On Moodiness
22:11
On this episode we talk about one angle of the complex subject known to us all as: moodiness. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Oct 06, 2015 |
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Episode #067 ... What Hegel Was Saying!
22:13
We continue our unfortunately abridged discussion on Hegel from last episode. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Sep 21, 2015 |
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Episode #066 ... Hegel pt. 1 - Introduction
19:15
Today we begin our discussion on the work of Hegel. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Sep 14, 2015 |
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Episode #065 ... Mary Wollstonecraft
22:49
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the feminist philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft. First, we learn about the unexpected origin of The Royal Humane Society and how they assisted Mary Wollstonecraft. Next, we learn about the many ways Wollstonecraft challenged societal conventions and why she believed that women were essentially slaves to their husbands during her time. Finally, we consider the behavioral conditioning that is perpetuated by society even today and think about how we enact change when we’re not satisfied with the results. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Sep 07, 2015 |
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Episode #064 ... Interpreting Interpretations
20:54
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Hermeneutics, or “the art of avoiding misunderstanding.” First, we meet Johnny--a disgruntled Philosophize This! listener who is bored and frustrated by episodes about philosophers who make unverifiable speculations about metaphysics. Next, we discuss the effects our individual biases have on the way we interpret the world around us, and how this changes the reality we experience. Finally, we examine why Hermeneutics is so important, how this relates to Kant’s metaphysical claims, and why Johnny may want to consider giving those ideas a second glance. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Aug 19, 2015 |
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Episode #063 ... Kant pt. 8 - Limits of Knowledge
28:48
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Kant’s views on the limits of human knowledge. First, we ask ourselves why we seek knowledge at all and whether there will ever be an endpoint to our search for it. Next, we discuss our human experience of the world in contrast to the world as it actually exists and what limits this imposes on our ability to know. Finally, we learn why Kant believed in god, human souls, and free will, and the important distinction he made between two types of faith-based thinking. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 01, 2015 |
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Episode #062 ... Kant pt. 7 - Suicide
33:20
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the morality of suicide. We begin by questioning our own biases and assumptions about suicide and where they come from. Next, we examine suicide from a Christian perspective by considering the arguments posed by St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. Finally, we discuss the perspectives of enlightenment thinkers Hume, Voltaire, and Kant and ultimately discover that suicide may not be as easy to categorize as many people think. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 23, 2015 |
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Episode #061 ... Kant pt. 6 - What is Enlightenment?
27:02
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Kant’s answer to the question “What is enlightenment?” We begin by recounting the story of how Kant came to answer this question in the first place and why this was an important question to consider at the time. Next, we examine why Kant believed that we impose immaturity on ourselves by outsourcing our thinking to others. Finally, we discuss why it takes courage to think for yourself and the importance of “daring to be wise." All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 14, 2015 |
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Episode #060 ... Kant pt. 5 - The Sublime
30:49
On this episode of the podcast, we attempt to tackle the elusive concept of the sublime. We begin by clarifying everything the sublime is NOT, and then attempt to pin it down by considering a common motif that is has been associated with the sublime throughout history. Next, we discuss several anecdotes from people who have experienced the sublime and why one described it as “an agreeable kind of horror.” Finally, we discuss how the sublime relates to beauty and question some commonly made assumptions about ugliness. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 01, 2015 |
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Episode #059 ... Kant pt. 4 - Categorical Trolley Cars
27:48
On this episode of the podcast, we analyze the infamous Trolley Car Problem and think about it in relation to Kant’s categorical imperative. First, we discuss the value of thought experiments and call into question the concept of “common sense”. Next, we look at the Trolley Car Problem from various perspectives and try to understand why we react to it in the ways we do. Finally, we discuss Kant’s categorical imperative and four other prerequisites he felt were necessary for arriving at moral principles. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 28, 2015 |
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Episode #058 ... Kant pt. 3 - Deontology vs Consequentialism
27:26
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Kant, this time focusing on ethics. We begin with a thought experiment that calls into question whether or not lying is morally justifiable if it results in preserving human life. Next, we discuss the nature of morality and question the validity of the sources from which we typically derive these concepts. Finally, we explore the strengths and weaknesses of Deontology and Consequentialism and find out that there isn’t an easy answer when it comes to how human action should be judged. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 20, 2015 |
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Episode #057 ... Kant pt. 2 - The Actual Introduction
25:37
On this episode of the podcast we continue our discussion of Kant, this time focusing on his contributions to the debate between rationalism and empiricism . We begin by reviewing the major points of contention between the rationalists and empiricists regarding how we arrive at knowledge. Next, we learn about Kant’s “eureka!” moment, which arose from his discovery of a major assumption made by empiricist David Hume. Finally, we find out why Kant believed that we can never truly know the external world as it actually is, an idea which calls into questions basic concepts like space, time, and causality and goes well beyond the “veil of perception” discussed in previous episodes. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 11, 2015 |
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Episode #056 ... Kant pt. 1 - An Introduction to the Introduction
26:22
On this episode of the podcast, we begin our discussion of Immanuel Kant. We first examine the historical context Kant was born into and consider the challenges philosophy was faced with, thanks to David Hume. We also discuss the change in the way humans were beginning to look at the universe during Kant’s time. Finally, we hear what Kant has to say about whether or not we can know anything beyond “I think, therefore I am.” All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Apr 22, 2015 |
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Episode #055 ... Interview on Hume with Massimo Pigliucci
30:35
On this episode of the podcast, Massimo Pigliucci calls in to help tie together some loose ends in our overview of David Hume. Massimo is a professor of philosophy at City University of New York. He is the author of the best sellers Philosophy of Pseudoscience and Answers For Aristotle, and is currently working on a book called How To Be A Stoic. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Apr 01, 2015 |
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Episode #054 ... Hume pt. 4 - Art
30:22
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Hume’s views on taste and find out whether or not all of our opinions about art are equally valid. First, we compare the poetry of Shakespeare and Shel Silverstein, the music of Beethoven and Skrillex, and throw in the profound prose of Spongebob Squarepants just for good measure. Next, we examine some of the biases that influence our ability to judge art, and Stephen correctly guesses your favorite song of all time by throwing a dart at the Top 40 chart from your senior year of high school. Finally, we learn how to be better art critics by employing the five qualities Hume sets out as pre-requisites for Art Appreciation 101. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Mar 27, 2015 |
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Episode #053 ... David Hume pt. 3 - Custom
24:25
On this episode of the podcast we talk about David Hume's thoughts on the soul, the self and how "custom is the great guide of human life." All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Mar 16, 2015 |
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Episode #052 ... David Hume pt. 2 - Design
29:57
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of David Hume. This time, we focus on Hume's response to the Teleological Argument, which goes a little something like this: “Look at how perfectly everything works! All of this must have been designed by God.” We also learn about Hume’s view on miracles, and find out how unimpressed he is that Bruce Willis was the sole survivor of that train accident. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Mar 05, 2015 |
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Episode #051 ... David Hume pt. 1
30:25
On this episode of the podcast, we talk about David Hume! First, we learn about Hume’s ‘is’ versus ‘ought’ distinction and how not being mindful of this pitfall can lead us down a dangerous path. Next, we discuss the limitations of science and learn what Hume thought should fill in the gaps it leaves (spoiler alert: it’s not religion). Finally, we discuss Hume’s thoughts on causality and ensure that you’ll never think about playing pool the same way again. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Feb 25, 2015 |
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Episode #050 ... Are You Left Or Right?
26:29
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the contrasting political philosophies of Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine. First, we find out the origin of the terms “left” and “right” in relation to politics, and find out that the meanings of these terms are not as simple as they may first seem. Next, we discuss the opposing viewpoints of Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine on how society should progress and implement change. Finally, we think about how their ideas relate to modern issues and consider whether or not their positions are mutually exclusive. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Feb 07, 2015 |
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Episode #049 ... Adam Smith pt. 2 - The Tip of the Iceberg of Wealth
29:33
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Adam Smith. First, we look at two towns with the same name on opposite sides of the US-Mexico border, and consider why their residents have such markedly different standards of living. Next, we ask ourselves what determines a nation’s wealth, which leads us to a discussion of Mercantilism and its various pitfalls. Finally, we learn about Adam Smith’s response to Mercantilism and how his ideas relate back to the two cities from the beginning of the episode. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jan 27, 2015 |
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Episode #048 ... Adam Smith pt. 1 - Specialization
24:13
On this episode of the podcast we begin our discussion of Adam Smith. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jan 18, 2015 |
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Episode #047 ... Rousseau pt. 3 - The General Will
25:21
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our desert island thought experiment, this time focusing on the general will of the people. First, we examine several interpretations of what "the general will of the people" actually means. Next, we take an in-depth look at Rousseau's interpretation, and discuss the difference between democratic and transcendental will. Finally, we explore the multitude of complications that arise when a government tries to enact the general will after it's (somewhat) agreed upon. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jan 10, 2015 |
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Episode #046 ... Rousseau pt. 2 - Democracy, Aristocracy or Monarchy?
29:52
On this episode of the podcast, we continue last week's thought experiment about creating a society from scratch on a deserted island. First, we find out how building a society is similar to making cupcakes, in the sense that every ingredient contributes something important and interacts with the other ingredients in a unique way. Next, we discuss “human nature” and consider how our perception of it may be unfairly influenced by a small handful of people. Finally, we compare the three categories into which Rousseau believs all governments can be classified (democracy, monarchy, and aristocracy), and analyze the pros and cons of each structure. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jan 02, 2015 |
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Episode #045 ... Rousseau Government pt. 1
27:13
On this episode of the podcast, we examine the origins of government and discuss several opinions on how to construct the best system. First, we imagine that we’re stranded on an island and are forced to devise a system to organize ourselves into a functional “society.” Next, we discuss Hobbes' and Rousseau’s viewpoints on the state of nature and how it relates to the formation of governments. Finally, we talk about the adverse affects civilization and government have on our happiness and why we should constantly reevaluate the systems that are in place. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 15, 2014 |
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Episode #044 ... Slavery
36:51
On this episode of the podcast, we revisit the topic of belief, this time focusing on the ramifications of the beliefs we hold. First, we ask ourselves why we should even attempt to arrive at truth if certainty is impossible, and examine this question in the context of how our beliefs affect others. Next, we introduce slavery as an example of the consequences that can come from false beliefs and learn why Aristotle, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas argued in favor of it. Finally, we hear Jean Jacque Rousseau’s rebuttal to the pro-slavery philosophers and ask ourselves what practices we might be engaged in today that future generations will see as barbaric. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 02, 2014 |
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Episode #043 ... Tolerance
31:46
On this episode of the podcast, we examine the true implications of tolerance and intolerance. First, we ask ourselves the inception-esque question of how tolerant we should be of intolerance, and find out that the answer may not be as simple as it seems. Next, we learn why intolerance was seen as a virtue during Voltaire’s time and discuss the paradox of tolerance. Finally, we consider the age-old question of the relative superiority of hot pockets and lean pockets, and think about the relationship between tolerance and the laws that govern our society. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Nov 21, 2014 |
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Episode #042 ... Optimism
29:46
On this episode, we explore the benefits and drawbacks of optimism. First, we examine the various motivations for pessimism, and hear what Winston Churchill, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Marcus Aurelius have to say about optimism. Next, we think about the vastly different implications of optimism in our personal lives and optimism on a societal level. Finally, we find out why Voltaire thought it was preposterous to think that we’re living in the best of all possible worlds and why he said, "Optimism is the madness of insisting all is well when we are miserable." All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Nov 12, 2014 |
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Episode #041 ... Belief
40:00
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the many facets of belief. We start out by discussing two major complications that belief brings to the table. First, absolute certainty is impossible--even certainty about the fact that "certainty is impossible”. Second, we can convince ourselves to believe in literally anything we want (such as the belief that demonic possession is achieved through rustling curtains and slamming doors). Next, we talk about justified, true belief and the multitude of ways our beliefs can be proven wrong. Finally, we learn how to put our beliefs under a microscope and why it’s absolutely necessary to do so in order to achieve true knowledge. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize this! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Nov 04, 2014 |
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Episode #040 ... Superstition
50:38
On this episode of the podcast, we explore superstition in its various forms and examine the ways Berkeley and Voltaire tried to eliminate it in their work. First, we think about the superstitions we subscribe to in our everyday lives, whether it’s “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” or “the key to happiness is buying lots and lots of stuff.” Next, we learn why Berkeley wanted to throw out the notion that true reality lies behind the veil of perception and find out his answer to that cliché question about a tree falling in the forest. Finally, we begin our discussion of Voltaire and find out why he called Christianity "the most ridiculous, the most absurd and the most bloody religion which has ever infected this world.” All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :)
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Oct 16, 2014 |
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Episode #039 ... The Limits of Empiricism
28:24
On this episode of the podcast, we explore the idea of reality and how our senses prevent us from perceiving its true nature. First, we launch a smear campaign against human eyes and their limitations. Next, we discuss the difference between deductive reasoning (the kind you see on CSI) and inductive reasoning (the kind you see on Bill Nye the Science Guy). Finally, we touch on Locke’s theory of primary and secondary qualities and end with Berkeley's teaser for next week’s episode: “To be is to be perceived.” All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Oct 08, 2014 |
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Episode #038 ... Leibniz pt. 2 - The Best of All Possible Worlds
27:45
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Gottfried Leibniz. First, we delve more into the feud between Leibniz and Isaac Newton, which we briefly mentioned last week. Next, we ask ourselves why God sometimes allows Steve Buschemi to murder innocent hitchhikers and why this question is so crucial to Leibniz. Finally, we return to the issue of free will vs. determinism and wonder whether we’re ever actually free to decide what kind of cheese to buy. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Oct 02, 2014 |
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Episode #037 ... Leibniz pt. 1 - A Million Points of Light
33:30
On this episode of the podcast, we begin our discussion of Gottfried Leibniz. First, we find out what important invention created a riff between Leibniz and Isaac Newton. Next, we learn about Leibniz’s theory of Monads (which are basically the atoms of the spirit world), and how they are programmed to ensure that we are living in the best of all possible worlds. Finally, we learn about Leibniz’s distinction between “necessary truths” and “truths of fact,” and how knowing the difference can save you a lot of time and confusion. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Sep 23, 2014 |
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Episode #036 ... John Locke pt. 2 - The Blank Slate
29:05
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of John Locke. We first admire how brave Locke was to share his ideas during a time when dissent earned you the privilege of being drawn and quartered (literally… quartered). Next, we discuss Locke’s views on the Nature vs. Nurture debate and how they differed from those of the Continental Rationalists. Finally, we find out what kind of changes Locke would make if he were the Secretary of Education (e.g., more dancing and less required reading). All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Sep 15, 2014 |
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Episode #035 ... John Locke pt. 1
31:50
On this episode of the podcast, we begin learning about John Locke. First, we ask ourselves whether or not we own our bodies and what other things we are entitled to simply by virtue of being born. Next, we consider whether its possible to develop a system of ethics by studying the world around us, just as we develop systems of science and mathematics. Finally, we discuss the three unalienable rights Locke believes humans have (they’ll sound a bit familiar!), and why he thinks its the government’s job to uphold those rights. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :)
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Sep 09, 2014 |
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Episode #034 ... Spinoza pt. 2 - Force of Nature
28:51
On this episode of the podcast, we continue learning about Spinoza, this time focusing on his concept of God. We begin by asking ourselves whether or not Stephen’s English bulldog Charlie is part of God, and analyzing the implications of our answer. Next, we discuss the concept of “substance” and what Spinoza thought the only one true substance was (hint: it’s not water). Finally, we consider how Spinoza’s concept of God/Nature impacts his thoughts on free will and why he would say Stephen has no choice but to imitate a drunk person singing “I Love Rock and Roll” every time he drives past that certain billboard. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Sep 02, 2014 |
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Episode #033 ... Spinoza pt. 1 - From Baruch to Benedicto
30:22
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Baruch De Spinoza. We find out why it was not only life-threatening to have an unpopular opinion during the time Spinoza lived, but also potentially very profitable. We also question whether religion is really to blame for the violent acts that are committed on its behalf, and find out why Spinoza was exiled from his community and forced to live a life of solitude. Finally, we read excerpts from Spinoza’s correspondence with his ex-friend Albert Burgh regarding Christianity and find out whose arguments hold the most water (spoiler alert: Spinoza wins). All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Aug 26, 2014 |
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Episode #032 ... Blaise Pascal pt. 2 - +EV your way to success!!
29:54
On this episode of the podcast we continue our discussion of Blaise Pascal, this time focusing on his assertion that man is “the supreme paradox of creation.” First, we learn about Pascal’s early life and feel completely inadequate when we learn that he invented the calculator (yes, the calculator) at age 18. Next, we learn why Pascal believed it was impossible to arrive at scientific truth, and how this led him to develop the foundations of probability theory. Finally, we discuss "expected value" and how Barack Obama utilized it to secure his residency in the White House and avoid living underneath a freeway overpass. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :)
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Aug 19, 2014 |
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Episode #031 ... Pascal's Wager
28:43
On this episode of the podcast, we begin our discussion of Blaise Pascal by examining Pascal's Wager. We begin by hearkening back to last week's episode and imagine Pascal as Descartes' wingman in a door-to-door campaign to convince us to believe in God. Whereas Descartes tries to prove that God exists, Pascal simply argues that believing in God is the most logical choice (assuming you want to avoid eternal damnation). We then examine various arguments for and against Pascal's wager, including some submitted by our Twitter followers. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Aug 12, 2014 |
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Episode #030 ... Descartes pt. 3 - God Exists
25:46
On this episode of the podcast we conclude our three-part installment on Rene Descartes. First we discuss what the concept of God meant to Descartes. Then we discuss why the concept of God was crucial for his system to be received well. Finally we imagine how it would feel to be lambasted by the most annoying/brilliant Jehovah's Witness in the history of the world. All this and more on this episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Aug 05, 2014 |
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Episode #029 ... Descartes pt. 2 - See episode description
28:09
The audio file for this episode was lost years ago. There is a transcript available on the website: www.philosophizethis.org Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 16, 2014 |
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Episode #028 ... Rene Descartes pt. 1 - Context
28:09
On this episode of the podcast, we begin learning about Rene Descartes. First, we find out why the entire human race can be compared to the loud, obnoxious guy at a party who thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. Next, we examine Descartes’ rigorous method of doubt and how it involves Morpheus from the Matrix and Sully from Monsters Inc. Finally, we think about how doubt can help us live better lives and why, when it comes to our beliefs, one bad apple really does spoil the barrel. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 09, 2014 |
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Episode #027 ... Thomas Hobbes pt. 2
29:36
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Thomas Hobbes. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 01, 2014 |
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Episode #026 ... Thomas Hobbes pt. 1 - The Social Contract
30:31
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Thomas Hobbes. We first ask ourselves what it would be like to live in a society with no laws or government, much like the scenario depicted in The Purge. Next, we question whether or not humans are inherently selfish and how this affects the way we relate to each other. Finally, we find out why society needs a quarterback, so to speak, and why it’s important that we follow his playbook even when we don’t understand the plays. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 17, 2014 |
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Episode #025 ... A Scientific Method For Your Life!
29:44
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Francis Bacon, a 16th century English philosopher. We first discuss what it meant to pursue knowledge during the time Francis Bacon lived and why he thought that scientific advancement should be society’s chief priority. Next, we examine Bacon’s “Four Idols of the Mind,” which were the biases he believed prevented humans from thinking scientifically. We touch on everything from germ theory to diet fads to healthcare reform to gender inequality, with some Flamin’ Hot Cheetos thrown in for good measure. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 10, 2014 |
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Episode #024 ... Montaigne
28:06
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Michel de Montaigne. We first discuss how a case of 16th century road rage led to a near-death experience which ironically helped Montaigne overcome his fear of dying. Next, we learn why Montaigne valued personal experience above all other evidence, and how his philosophy drew from the four dominant schools of thought of the Hellenistic age. Finally, we find out why Montaigne thought that “to philosophize is to learn how to die,” and how he believed this idea could be put into practice. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 04, 2014 |
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Episode #023 ... Machiavelli
26:41
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss The Protestant Reformation and Machiavellianism. We begin by examining what it was like to live during the Renaissance under the rule of The Church and why the people of that time could have really benefited from Google Translate. Next, we dispel a common misconception about Machiavellianism by discussing the subjective nature of virtue. Finally, we find out why Machiavelli thought that rulers needed to act immorally at times in order to be successful. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 20, 2014 |
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Episode #022 ... Blast off to the Renaissance!
26:54
On this episode of the podcast, we begin learning about the Renaissance. We first discuss the Black Death, a bacterial plague that wiped out 30-60% of the population of Europe. We examine how the population crisis caused by the Black Death led to an economic and political crisis that was ultimately the catalyst for a paradigm shift in philosophical thought. We also learn about the Humanist philosopher Erasmus, who, unlike the philosophers we’ve discussed on recent episodes, did not think that fusing faith and reason was a very good idea. It was much simpler than that. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 13, 2014 |
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Episode #021 ... One God - St. Thomas Aquinas
26:22
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about the Christian Aristotelean philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas. We begin by examining a song by The Postal Service which sets the stage for a discussion about how often humans mistake correlation with causation. Next, we learn about Aristotle’s conception of God as “The Unmoved Mover” and his thoughts on the nature of infinity. All of these ideas lead us to St. Thomas Aquinas’ quest to reconcile Aristotelianism and Christianity, which he approaches by arguing that the Christian belief that God created the universe and the Aristotelean belief that the universe has always existed are not mutually exclusive ideas. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
May 05, 2014 |
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Episode #020 ... Two Medieval Approaches To God
35:37
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the concept of God from a philosophical perspective. We first broaden our definition of God by recalling the multitude of ways that the philosophers we’ve already studied have approached the subject. Next, we examine St. Anselm’s famous “Ontological Argument” in proof of God’s existence, which is strangely reminiscent of a tongue twister Ron Burgundy might use to prepare for his evening newscast. Finally, we learn why Moses Maimonides would say that the first rule of God is, “You do not talk about God.” Or at least, “You do not talk about what God is, only what he isn’t.” All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Apr 24, 2014 |
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Episode #019 ... Three Islamic Truths
32:15
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the nature of truth and examine it through the lenses of three Islamic philosophers who each had a different approach to truth seeking. We first discuss Al Kindi and what he would have to say about modern day news organizations and their approach to reporting the “truth.” Then, we learn about Al Ghazali, who at one point became so skeptical about our ability to discover the truth, he actually made himself physically ill. Lastly, we take a look at Averroes who desperately wanted philosophy and religion to be business partners. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :)
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Apr 14, 2014 |
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Episode #018 ... Avicenna
27:34
On this episode of the podcast we learn about Avicenna, an Arabic philosopher who is most known for his “Flying Man” thought experiment. We discuss the mind-body connection (or lack thereof) and ask ourselves what becomes of an iPhone if you pulverize it in a blender. We also work in two Breaking Bad references, and apply Avicenna’s Flying Man argument to modern day ethical dilemmas relating to life support. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Apr 04, 2014 |
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Episode #017 ... Boethius
24:33
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about the medieval neoplatonist philosopher Boethius. We find out how he came to be wrongly convicted of treason and subsequently sentenced to death, and how this led him to write a philosophical text that solved one of the oldest problems in philosophy. We manage to compare the main characters of Boethius’ book to Lady Liberty and Eeyore selling a rice cooker on QVC, and explain why Boethius believed that we’re all just contestants on a never-ending episode of Wheel of Fortune. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Mar 26, 2014 |
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Episode #016 ... Saint Augustine
30:15
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss St. Augustine, a philosopher who is known for merging the ideas of Neoplatonism and Christianity. We learn how an unsuspecting child led St. Augustine to devote his life to Christianity through divine intervention, and find out why he thinks crying babies are sinners. We also discuss St. Augustine’s explanation of the concept of time and why he claims that the past and future don’t really exist. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Feb 28, 2014 |
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Episode #015 ... A Period of Transition - Plotinus
38:06
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Plotinus, a Neo-Platonist philosopher who lived in Rome during "the crisis of the third century.” We discuss the difference between religion and philosophy and question whether or not JK Rowling stole parts of Harry Potter’s backstory from Plotinus’ life. We also learn about Plotinus’ Hierarchy of Being and use the phrase “Polaroid picture” more times than Outkast does in their hit song “Hey Ya!”. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Feb 13, 2014 |
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Episode #014 ... The Hellenistic Age Pt. 5 - A Race To The Dark Ages
44:37
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Middle Platonism and the Race to the Dark Ages. We learn how Philo of Alexandria reconciled Judaism with Plato's vision of God as a master craftsman, and find out how this relates to building an IKEA bookcase. We also discuss the important distinction Plutarch made between a flatterer and a friend, and why he would have absolutely hated Facebook. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jan 18, 2014 |
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Episode #013 ... The Hellenistic Age Pt. 4 - Skepticism
47:12
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our study of the Hellenistic Age, this time focusing on Skepticism. We find out how Pyrrho used Skepticism to endure surgery without anesthesia, and learn why you can never really know if a pomegranate is a pomegranate. We also discover how winning the lottery could be the worst thing that ever happens to you, and compare Skepticism's key philosophers to their Smurf counterparts. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jan 05, 2014 |
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Episode #012 ... The Hellenistic Age Pt. 3 - Hallmarks of Stoic Ethics
49:48
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Stoicism, this time focusing on ethics. We learn about the three most noteworthy contributors to Stoic ethics--a crippled slave, a statesman, and the emperor of Rome--and find out how much they actually had in common. We discuss what angry sports fans and Stephen's English bulldog could learn from Stoic ethics, as well as why you should start each day expecting the worst. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 20, 2013 |
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Episode #011 ... The Hellenistic Age Pt. 2 - The Early Stoa and the Cynics
43:31
This is the first of two episodes on Stoicism; in this episode, we learn about stoic physics and logic. We learn how the Stoics would likely react if faced with a zombie apocalypse and how a shipwreck caused a guy named Zeno to start dabbling in philosophy. We also learn about Diogenes, a man who lived in a tub, urinated in public, barked at passersby, and somehow managed to be envied by Alexander the Great. Finally, we find out what John Locke, Charlie Pace and a wild boar from LOST have to do with Stoic philosophy. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Dec 07, 2013 |
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Episode #010 ... The Hellenistic Age Pt. 1 - Epicurus
47:56
This week on the podcast, we shift our focus back to Western philosophy. On this episode, we learn about Epicureanism—one of four schools of thought that were prevalent during the Hellenistic Age, which will be our focus for the next few episodes. We find out why Diogenes liked Epicurus’ ideas so much that he permanently graffitied them onto the walls of an ancient greek community center. We also learn why Epicurus thought that the most satisfying part of eating a half gallon of ice cream was the moment after the last spoonful, and why a jacket from Nordstrom really isn’t that much better than a jacket from Target. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Nov 24, 2013 |
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Episode #009 ... The Buddha
44:28
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about the life of Siddhartha Gautama and his Heisenberg-esque transformation into Buddha. We learn how Buddha left a lifestyle of being fed grapes and being fanned with palm leaves to pursue a life of celibacy, starvation, and sleep deprivation. We also learn about how Buddha reached enlightenment while sitting beneath a fruit tree à la Isaac Newton, and about the four noble truths which he believed were the key to ending human suffering once and for all. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Nov 11, 2013 |
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Episode #008 ... Confucianism
40:55
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Confucius, a man whose ideas impacted China and eastern philosophy for thousands of years after his death. We find out how Confucius went from being the poor, friendless son of an ancient Chinese 'Teen Mom' to becoming one of the most quoted people in history, as well as how he was reduced to selling his philosophy door-to-door after a brief career as a politician which ended in conspiracy and bribery. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Oct 29, 2013 |
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Episode #007 ... Daoism
40:14
www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Aug 10, 2013 |
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Episode #006 ... Aristotle Pt. 2
39:18
On this episode of the podcast, we continue learning about Aristotle, a man who created the first system of biological classification, the first system of logic, and the first formal scientific method. We find out why Aristotle was anti-women and pro-slavery, and learn how Plato and Aristotle differed when it came to their definitions of "tree-e-ness." We also learn why Aristotle would have been the world champion of Guess Who? and how to determine whether or not a carnivorous reptile with legs could possibly be a snake. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 26, 2013 |
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Episode #005 ... Aristotle Pt. 1
38:53
This week we talk about various different applications of Aristotle's ethics in modern life. We discuss making a "plan" for your life, the underlying similarities between all human desires and the best way to live life. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 14, 2013 |
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Episode #004 ... Plato
45:02
In this week's episode, we learn about Plato's "Symposium", which you might think of as philosophy's version of fan fiction. We also learn about Plato's "Theory of Forms" and ask ourselves what makes a tree, well, a tree. This leads to discussion of Plato's famous "Allegory of the Cave" and calls into question whether or not everything we see is merely a shadow of its true self. Finally, we learn about Plato's views on society and government and why he thought democracy was one of the worst forms of government, second only to tyranny. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jul 01, 2013 |
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Episode #003 ... Socrates and the Sophists
40:10
This week we talk about the prosperity of athens and how it led to the rise and ideas of a group of philosopher teachers called the Sophists, we tied up some loose ends and helped put all that we've learned in the last two episodes into context with a graph of the presocratics, and we ended by talking about a man named Socrates. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 23, 2013 |
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Episode #002 ... Presocratic Philosophy - Italian
37:27
Today we talk about why philosophy is taken for granted, the crazed cult leader of ancient Greek philosophy, Pythagoras, the annoying dark cloud of deductive reasoning, Parmenides and the super hero Empedocles. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 15, 2013 |
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Episode #001 ... Presocratic Philosophy - Ionian
49:17
Today we discussed the "Out of Africa" theory, the adversity of early humans, the term "Pre-Socratic", the first philosopher Thales, the meanest philosopher Heraclitus and Democritus, the godfather of the theory of atomism. www.philosophizethis.org for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
Jun 06, 2013 |