Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
Dr Andrew McDonald with several years of teaching experience at the University of Dundee takes listeners through a close reading of philosophical texts that allow us to delve into a deeper understanding of them. It is friendly to those new to philosophy and gives easy to understand examples throughout.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Close readings of philosophical texts • Discussions on authors like Herbert Marcuse, Guy Debord, Hannah Arendt • Analysis of Marx and Engels' works • Examination of Nietzsche’s concepts • Interviews with scholars."Dissecting Philosophy with Dr. McDonald" is a podcast that delves deep into the study of philosophy, guided by Dr. Andrew McDonald, a seasoned academic with years of teaching experience at the University of Dundee. This podcast aims to make complex philosophical texts accessible and comprehensible, particularly for those new to the subject. Through a structured and thematic exploration, Dr. McDonald fosters a deeper understanding of various philosophical works, using straightforward examples to elucidate intricate concepts.
The episodes predominantly focus on dissecting two major works: Herbert Marcuse's "One Dimensional Man" and Guy Debord's "Society of the Spectacle." Marcuse's critique of advanced industrial society is scrutinized chapter by chapter, exploring themes such as one-dimensional philosophy, language, and thought, the role of science in societal struggles, and the wider implications on intellectual life and culture. These discussions touch on the transition from Marxist industrial society to the socio-political landscapes of the 1960s, highlighting the transformation of culture and the arts within these contexts.
Similarly, Debord's seminal text on spectacle and capitalism receives meticulous analysis. The discussions span a wide range of topics, including the historical development of the spectacle, the commodification of society, and the intricate relationships between globalization, politics, and celebrity culture. These episodes intricately unravel Debord’s theories, exploring concepts such as urbanism, detournement, and the dual nature of societal perception in the context of art and politics.
Occasionally, the podcast features special episodes that explore other philosophical works, such as Aristotle’s "Metaphysics" and Nietzsche’s "Birth of Tragedy," providing insights into classical philosophical arguments and their relevance to contemporary issues.
Additionally, interview-based episodes bring in guest contributions exploring the enduring relevance of Marxist thought, particularly the "Communist Manifesto," and other related political theories. Overall, the podcast serves as a comprehensive guide for listeners eager to understand and discuss philosophical ideas within both historical and modern frameworks.
| Episodes: |
|
Episode 122| Herbert Marcuse One Dimensional Man | One Dimensional Philosophy 2021-Nov-01 51 minutes |
|
Episode 121| Herbert Marcuse One Dimensional Man | Science and the Perpetual Struggle 2021-Oct-25 50 minutes |
|
Episode 120| Herbert Marcuse One Dimensional Man | Philosophy, The Search for Truth and the Privileging of the Intellectual Life 2021-Oct-18 67 minutes |
|
Episode 119| Herbert Marcuse One Dimensional Man | One Dimensional Language 2021-Oct-11 50 minutes |
|
Episode 118| Herbert Marcuse One Dimensional Man l The Artist and Culture in PreIndustrial Society and in 1960s Society 2021-Oct-04 66 minutes |
|
Episode 117| Herbert Marcuse One Dimensional Man l From Marx's Industrial Society to 1960s Society 2021-Sep-27 37 minutes |
|
Episode 116| Herbert Marcuse One Dimensional Man l Totalitarianism and One Dimensional Thought 2021-Sep-20 42 minutes |
|
Episode 115| Guy Debord Society of the Spectacle l Urbanism and Detournement 2021-Sep-13 36 minutes |
|
Episode 114| Guy Debord Society of the Spectacle l Time and the Spectacle 2021-Sep-06 38 minutes |
|
Episode 113| Guy Debord Society of the Spectacle l A History of The Spectacle 2021-Aug-30 32 minutes |
|
Episode 112| Guy Debord Society of the Spectacle l The Spectacle and Globalisation, Politics, Celebrities and Banality 2021-Aug-23 40 minutes |
|
Episode 111| Guy Debord Society of the Spectacle l Commodities as a Spectacle 2021-Aug-16 36 minutes |
|
Episode 110| Guy Debord Society of the Spectacle l The Spectacle 2021-Aug-09 32 minutes |
|
Special Episode 18| Nietzsche's Birth of Tragedy| Socrates' Removal of the Dionysian 2021-Aug-02 27 minutes |
|
Special Episode 17| Nietzsche's Birth of Tragedy| Apollonian and Dionysian Art 2021-Jul-26 38 minutes |
|
Episode 109| Interview with Frank Ruda l The Relevance of The Communist Manifesto 2021-Jul-19 66 minutes |
|
Episode 108| Interview with Frank Ruda l How Do We Think Like The Proletariat? 2021-Jul-12 67 minutes |
|
Episode 107| Interview with Frank Ruda l Part 3 of The Communist Manifesto 2021-Jul-05 62 minutes |
|
Episode 106| Interview with Frank Ruda l Marx and Engel's Ideas of The Bourgeoisie, The Proletariat And Communism 2021-Jun-28 61 minutes |
|
Episode 105| Interview with Frank Ruda l Marx and Engel's Use of History and The Bourgeoisie 2021-Jun-21 35 minutes |
|
Episode 104| Interview with Frank Ruda l Reading Marx and His Relation to Hegel 2021-Jun-14 62 minutes |
|
Special Episode 16| Aristotle's Metaphysics| Problems with Plato 2021-Jun-07 33 minutes |
|
Special Episode 15| Aristotle's Metaphysics| Problems with the PreSocratics 2021-May-31 28 minutes |
|
Episode 103| Hannah Arendt's The Origins of Totalitarianism l Ideology and Terror Part 2 2021-May-24 29 minutes |
|
Episode 102| Hannah Arendt's The Origins of Totalitarianism l Ideology and Terror 2021-May-17 29 minutes |
|
Episode 101| Hannah Arendt's The Origins of Totalitarianism l 3 Steps To Total Domination 2021-May-10 35 minutes |
|
Episode 100| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | Concentration Camps 2021-May-03 40 minutes |
|
Episode 99| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | A Surveillance Society 2021-Apr-26 40 minutes |
|
Episode 98| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | Tracking And Hunting Down Enemies 2021-Apr-19 37 minutes |
|
Episode 97| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | Problems With The Totalitarian State 2021-Apr-12 48 minutes |
|
Episode 96| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | The Creation of The Totalitarian State 2021-Apr-05 41 minutes |
|
Episode 95| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | Permanent Revolution 2021-Mar-29 55 minutes |
|
Episode 94| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | Lies and Fanaticism 2021-Mar-22 46 minutes |
|
Episode 93| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | Leaders' Rise to Power, Tyrants and Secret Societies 2021-Mar-15 49 minutes |
|
Episode 92| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | Sympathisers, Party Members, and the Totalitarian Regime's Fictional World 2021-Mar-09 54 minutes |
|
Episode 91| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | The Masses' Psychology and the Nazi's Antisemitism 2021-Mar-01 59 minutes |
|
Episode 90| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | Indoctrination, Science and Prophecy 2021-Feb-24 49 minutes |
|
Episode 89| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | The Removal of Hypocrisy, 20th Century Art and the Holocaust 2021-Feb-15 66 minutes |
|
Episode 88| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | WWI and The Origins of the Masses 2021-Feb-08 50 minutes |
|
Episode 87| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | Psychology and the Difference Between Totalitarianism and Dictatorships 2021-Feb-01 42 minutes |
|
Episode 86| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | Lenin, Stalin and the Atomisation of Society 2021-Jan-25 57 minutes |
|
Episode 85| Hannah Arendt The Origins of Totalitarianism | The Indifferent Mass and Propaganda 2021-Jan-18 44 minutes |
|
Episode 84| Camus The Fall Part 2 |Clamence Reveals His Game 2021-Jan-11 34 minutes |
|
Episode 83| Camus The Fall Part 1 | Meeting Jean Baptiste Clamence 2021-Jan-04 43 minutes |
|
Special Episode 14| Kobe Bryant Mamba Mentality | Kobe Bryant's Philosophy for Greatness 2020-Dec-28 45 minutes |
|
Episode 82| Camus The Plague Part 5 | Life After The Plague 2020-Dec-21 60 minutes |
|
Episode 81| Camus The Plague Part 4 | Forks in the Road 2020-Dec-14 64 minutes |
|
Episode 80| Camus The Plague Part 3 | The Horror of Banality 2020-Dec-07 68 minutes |
|
Episode 79| Camus The Plague Part 2 | A Psychology of Lockdown and an Ethics of Decency 2020-Nov-30 62 minutes |
|
Episode 78| Camus The Plague Part 1 | Camus and Covid-19 2020-Nov-23 56 minutes |
|
Episode 77| Camus Create Dangerously | Creativity and Taking A Risk 2020-Nov-16 70 minutes |
|
Special Episode 13| Plato's Phaedo | Plato's Purpose of Philosophy 2020-Nov-09 59 minutes |
|
Episode 76| Zarathustra Part 4 General Discussion| What Would It Be Like To Accept The Death of God? 2020-Nov-02 66 minutes |
|
Special Episode 12| Plato's Meno Part 2| Plato's Theory of Knowledge 2020-Oct-29 67 minutes |
|
Episode 75| Zarathustra The Sign | The Lion, Newness and Change 2020-Oct-26 51 minutes |
|
Special Episode 11| Plato's Meno Part 1| Achieving Clarity 2020-Oct-22 48 minutes |
|
Episode 74| Zarathustra The Intoxicated Song Sections 7-12 | Love and the Eternal Return 2020-Oct-19 55 minutes |
|
Special Episode 10| Plato's Apology | The Socratic Method and The Athenian Law Court 2020-Oct-15 73 minutes |
|
Episode 73| Zarathustra The Intoxicated Song Sections 1-6 | Intoxicated by Happiness and Contentment 2020-Oct-12 51 minutes |
|
Special Episode 9| Plato on Greek Oration and Plato's Style | The Art of Persuasion and Achieving Consensus 2020-Oct-08 62 minutes |
|
Episode 72| Zarathustra The Donkey Festival | Idols, Consumer Society and New Seasonal Holidays 2020-Oct-05 66 minutes |
|
Special Episode 8| Parmenides | There Can Be Only One 2020-Oct-01 63 minutes |
|
Episode 71| Zarathustra The Awakening | In Praise of Donkeys 2020-Sep-28 45 minutes |
|
Special Episode 7| The Pre-Socratics and Heraclitus | Early Philosophy and The Importance of Novelty 2020-Sep-22 45 minutes |
|
Episode 70| Zarathustra Among the Daughters of the Desert |A European Mindset 2020-Sep-20 36 minutes |
|
Episode 69| Zarathustra The Song of Melancholy and Of Science |Animals, Ethics and Courage 2020-Sep-07 66 minutes |
|
Episode 68| Zarathustra The Higher Men Sections 15-20 | The Joy and Necessity of Laughter 2020-Aug-31 55 minutes |
|
Episode 67| Zarathustra The Higher Men Sections 7-14 | Getting out of a Creative Slump 2020-Aug-24 50 minutes |
|
Episode 66| Zarathustra The Last Supper and The Higher Men Sections 1-6 | Diets, The Mob and Critical Thinking 2020-Aug-17 54 minutes |
|
Episode 65| Zarathustra The Greeting | Creating a New Child Like Foundation 2020-Aug-10 44 minutes |
|
Episode 64| Zarathustra At Noontide | Happiness is the Little Things in Life 2020-Aug-03 43 minutes |
|
Episode 63| Zarathustra The Shadow | Existential Crisis 2020-Jul-27 48 minutes |
|
Episode 62| Zarathustra The Voluntary Beggar |Living the Good Life in Nature with Cows 2020-Jul-20 41 minutes |
|
Episode 61| Zarathustra The Ugliest Man | A Conversation With The Murderer of God 2020-Jul-13 46 minutes |
|
Episode 60| Zarathustra Retired From Service | The Death of God 2020-Jul-06 53 minutes |
|
Episode 59| Zarathustra The Sorcerer | The Strawman of Greatness 2020-Jun-29 51 minutes |
|
Episode 58| Zarathustra The Leech | The Manipulation of Opinions 2020-Jun-22 41 minutes |
|
Episode 57| Zarathustra The Cry of Distress and Conversation with Kings| Nihilism, Falsity and Acting 2020-Jun-15 62 minutes |
|
Episode 56| Zarathustra The Honey Offering| Becoming and the Self 2020-Jun-08 28 minutes |
|
Episode 55| Zarathustra Part 3 General Summary| The Eternal Return and Creating Our Self 2020-Jun-01 32 minutes |
|
Episode 54| Zarathustra The Seven Seals| Time and Fragility 2020-May-25 39 minutes |
|
Episode 53| Zarathustra The Second Dance| Life, the World and Cracking the Whip 2020-May-18 30 minutes |
|
Episode 52| Zarathustra The Great Longing| Creativity and Longing for Acceptance 2020-May-11 30 minutes |
|
Episode 51| Zarathustra The Convalescent |Cruelty, Music and the Eternal Return 2020-May-04 39 minutes |
|
Episode 50| Zarathustra Old and New Law Tables Sections 23 - 30| Relationships, Morality and Anthropology 2020-Apr-27 48 minutes |
|
Episode 49| Zarathustra Old and New Law Tables Sections 17 - 22| Parasites and Success 2020-Apr-20 49 minutes |
|
Episode 48| Zarathustra Old and New Law Tables Sections 11 - 16| History and Liberation 2020-Apr-17 40 minutes |
|
Episode 47| Zarathustra Old and New Law Tables Sections 6 - 10| Good and Evil, Ethics and Flux 2020-Apr-06 42 minutes |
|
Episode 46| Zarathustra Old and New Law Tables Sections 1 - 5| Towards New Ideas 2020-Mar-30 37 minutes |
|
Episode 45| Zarathustra The Spirit of Gravity| Finding Our Own Way 2020-Mar-23 35 minutes |
|
Episode 44| Zarathustra Three Evil Things |Sensuality, Lust For Power And Selfishness 2020-Mar-16 35 minutes |
|
Episode 43| Zarathustra The Homecoming |Philosophy and Misanthropy 2020-Mar-09 23 minutes |
|
Episode 42| Zarathustra The Apostates |Belief Without Religion 2020-Mar-02 36 minutes |
|
Episode 41| Zarathustra Mount of Olives and Passing By |Hardship, Veils and Critical Analysis 2020-Feb-24 35 minutes |
|
Episode 40| Zarathustra The Virtue That Makes Small |Striving for Excellence 2020-Feb-17 38 minutes |
|
Episode 39| Zarathustra Involuntary Bliss and Before Sunrise |Care for Ourselves and Chance 2020-Feb-10 44 minutes |
|
Episode 38| Zarathustra The Vision and The Riddle |Courage and the Eternal Return 2020-Feb-03 29 minutes |
|
Episode 37| Zarathustra The Wanderer |Knowledge as Mountain Climbing 2020-Jan-27 28 minutes |
|
Episode 36| Zarathustra Part 2 General Discussion 2020-Jan-20 32 minutes |
|
Special Episode 6| Rene Descartes Meditation Three| God and Establishing The Metaphysical Foundation 2020-Jan-14 84 minutes |
|
Episode 35| Zarathustra Manly Prudence and the Stillest Hour |Affirming Our Flaws and Rejecting Idolatry 2020-Jan-13 42 minutes |
|
Episode 34| Zarathustra Redemption |Challenges of Self Improvement 2020-Jan-06 33 minutes |
|
Episode 33| Zarathustra The Prophet |Schopenhauer and Laughter 2020-Jan-03 27 minutes |
|
Episode 32| Zarathustra Great Events| The Importance of The Little Things 2019-Dec-23 39 minutes |
|
Episode 31| Zarathustra Scholars and Poets| Thinking and Creating Dangerously 2019-Dec-16 36 minutes |
|
Episode 30| Zarathustra Immaculate Perception |Breaking Ideality 2019-Dec-09 20 minutes |
|
Episode 29| Zarathustra Land of Culture | Problems in The Present 2019-Dec-02 25 minutes |
|
Special Episode 5| Rene Descartes Meditation Two| The Mind, Thought and Wax 2019-Nov-26 60 minutes |
|
Episode 28| Zarathustra Self Overcoming and Sublime Men| Psychology of Truth and Problems with Self Superiority 2019-Nov-25 59 minutes |
|
Episode 27| Zarathustra The Dance Song and The Funeral Song| Life, Wisdom and Perseverance 2019-Nov-18 52 minutes |
|
Episode 26| Zarathustra Famous Philosophers and The Night Song| Task of Philosophers and Opinions as Gifts 2019-Nov-11 53 minutes |
|
Special Episode 4| Rene Descartes Meditation One| Doubt, Dreams and the Evil Deceiver 2019-Nov-05 44 minutes |
|
Episode 25| Zarathustra The Rabble and The Tarantulas| Power, Resistance and The Problems of Equality 2019-Nov-04 56 minutes |
|
Episode 24| Zarathustra The Virtuous |Superheroes and Parenting 2019-Oct-28 31 minutes |
|
Episode 23| Zarathustra The Compassionate and The Priests| Psychology of Compassion and Faith vs. Science 2019-Oct-14 47 minutes |
|
Episode 22| Zarathustra The Child with the Mirror and The Blissful Islands| Challenging Our Views and Creativity as Therapy 2019-Oct-07 52 minutes |
|
Special Episode 3| Roland Barthes on Toys, the Poor and the Working Class| Psychology of Toys and the Work Place 2019-Oct-01 38 minutes |
|
Episode 21| Zarathustra Part 1 General Discussion| Child-like Creativity and the Problems of Creation 2019-Sep-30 31 minutes |
|
Special Episode 2| An Introduction to Philosophy| Knowledge and Apprenticeship 2019-Sep-24 16 minutes |
|
Episode 20| Zarathustra Bestowing Virtue | Creativity, Teaching and Personal Development 2019-Sep-23 49 minutes |
|
Episode 19| Zarathustra Voluntary Death | Death and Christ 2019-Sep-16 22 minutes |
|
Episode 18| Zarathustra Adders Bite and Marriage and Children| Debate, Relationships and Raising Children 2019-Sep-11 40 minutes |
|
Episode 17| Zarathustra Way of the Creator and Old and Young Women| Creativity and Women 2019-Sep-02 45 minutes |
|
Episode 16| Zarathustra Love of One's Neighbor| Ethics, Acting and Ideality 2019-Aug-26 23 minutes |
|
Episode 15| Zarathustra Friends and One Thousand and One Goals| Companions, Ethical Principals, Evaluation 2019-Aug-19 44 minutes |
|
Episode 14| Zarathustra Flies of the Marketplace and Chastity| Herd mentality, Actors, Sex drive 2019-Aug-14 39 minutes |
|
Episode 13| Zarathustra War and Warriors and New Idols| Critical thinking, Government, Politicians 2019-Aug-05 38 minutes |
|
Episode 12| Zarathustra Tree On The Mountainside And Preachers Of Death| Creativity, Ideality and Goals 2019-Jul-29 28 minutes |
|
Episode 11| Zarathustra Reading and Writing| Creativity and Style 2019-Jul-22 28 minutes |
|
Episode 10| Zarathustra Joys and Passions and the Pale Criminal |Ethics, Life Coaches and Murder 2019-Jul-15 32 minutes |
|
Episode 9| Zarathustra Despisers of the Body| Instinctual Drives, the Body and the Self 2019-Jul-08 23 minutes |
|
Episode 8| Zarathustra Chairs of Virtue and Afterworldsmen| Psychology, Virtue and the Afterlife 2019-Jul-01 35 minutes |
|
Episode 7| Zarathustra Of The Three Metamorphoses| Burdens, Freedom and the Creation of New Values 2019-Jun-24 24 minutes |
|
Special Episode 1| Roland Barthes on Wrestling| Morality, Suffering and Justice 2019-Jun-17 62 minutes |
|
Episode 6| Zarathustra Prologue General Discussion| Prophecy, Idolatry and A Way of Life 2019-Jun-17 24 minutes |
|
Episode 5| Zarathustra Prologue Sections 9 and 10| Friendship, Revaluation and Reason vs. Desire 2019-Jun-10 24 minutes |
|
Episode 4| Zarathustra Prologue Sections 6, 7 and 8| Buffoons, Knowledge and Living Dangerously 2019-Jun-03 27 minutes |
|
Episode 3| Zarathustra Prologue Sections 4 and 5 Goals, Love and the Ultimate Men 2019-May-24 33 minutes |
|
Episode 2| Zarathustra Prologue Section 3 The Superman 2019-May-20 32 minutes |
|
Episode 1| Zarathustra Prologue Sections 1 and 2| Going Down The Mountain 2019-May-15 25 minutes |