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Good in Theory is a podcast about political philosophy and how it can help us understand the world today. Want to know what's in Plato's Republic or Hobbes's Leviathan but don't want to read them? This is your pod. I explain my favourite books in political theory in enough detail that you’ll feel like you read them yourself. Deep but not heavy. No experience needed.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Political philosophy classics explained (Plato, Hobbes) • Ancient Greek democracy, Sparta/Athens, justice, education • Critiques of liberal democracy, meritocracy, class elites, workplace power • War ethics, drones, geopolitics • Technology shaping desire • Moral dilemmas, utilitarianism, free speech, rhetoricThis podcast uses political philosophy and the history of ideas to interpret contemporary politics, culture, and moral life. It is structured around clear, accessible explanations of classic texts—especially Plato—and also brings in interviews and crossovers with academics and other podcasters to connect theoretical debates to present-day questions. A recurring focus is how ancient political arrangements like Athenian democracy, Sparta, and the Greek polis worked in practice, and how thinkers such as Plato theorized justice, education, leadership, rhetoric, and the relationship between character and regime type.
Across the episodes, the show also turns to modern political theory and political science touchstones, examining liberal democracy and its critics, competing narratives about global order after the Cold War, and influential arguments about international conflict and geopolitics. Several conversations explore whether efforts to make war “more humane” change its nature, and how ideas like “the end of history” or “clash of civilizations” shape political imagination.
Another thread is applied moral and political philosophy: thought experiments and cases involving harm, taboo, moral luck, and utilitarian demands; questions about what it means to be good; and how emotions, storytelling, and propaganda affect moral judgment. The podcast also treats work and economic life as sites of power—discussing workplace authority, market society, and contemporary class stratification—and considers how technology and platforms may influence desire and social relations. Overall, listeners can expect a mix of close reading, conceptual analysis, and topical discussion intended for people without prior background in philosophy.
| Episodes: |
46 - Athenian democracy and Plato w/ Graham Culbertson (Everyday Anarchism Podcast)2023-May-11 64 minutes |
45 - Humane War feat. Samuel Moyn2022-Sep-05 65 minutes |
44 - Samuel Huntington "The Clash of Civilizations?"2022-Aug-17 36 minutes |
43 - Tyranny at Work feat. Elizabeth Anderson2022-Jun-06 54 minutes |
42 - The New Aristocracy feat. Matthew Stewart2022-May-02 54 minutes |
41 - Love in the Time of Big Data feat. Alfie Bown2022-Apr-18 58 minutes |
40 - Is Liberal Democracy the Best We Can Do? feat. The Morality of Everyday Things2022-Feb-08 74 minutes |
39 - The Glorious History and Ugly Present of Rhetoric feat. Rob Goodman2022-Jan-24 73 minutes |
38 - GiT Holiday Special with Sep2021-Dec-26 39 minutes |
37 - Thought Lab 4: The Psychology of Horror2021-Oct-28 36 minutes |
36 - Moral Saints 2: Why Be a Saint?2021-Oct-12 33 minutes |
35 - Susan Wolf, “Moral Saints”2021-Sep-28 26 minutes |
34 - The Esoteric Plato feat. Earl Fontainelle2021-Sep-13 88 minutes |
33 - The End of the End of History feat. Philip Cunliffe and George Hoare2021-Aug-30 65 minutes |
32 - Fukuyama’s “The End of History?”2021-Aug-17 27 minutes |
31 - Thought Lab 3: Utilitarianism & the Great Spreadsheet2021-Aug-02 47 minutes |
30 - Plato's Republic 13: Choose Yourself2021-Jul-19 33 minutes |
29 - Plato's Republic 12: Poetic Sweet Tooth2021-Jul-05 45 minutes |
28 - Plato's Republic 11: A Tyrant's Life2021-Jun-19 36 minutes |
27 - Plato's Republic 10: Degenerate Cities, Degenerate Souls2021-Jun-07 49 minutes |
26 - Plato's Republic 9: Horny for the Good2021-May-14 55 minutes |
25 - Thought Lab 2: Tainted Art and Moral Luck2021-Apr-19 54 minutes |
24 - Plato's Republic 8: The Philosopher Kings2021-Mar-29 43 minutes |
23 - Plato’s Republic 7: Socratic Family Values2021-Mar-16 33 minutes |
22 - Thought Lab 1: The Dead Chicken Experiment2021-Mar-01 44 minutes |
21 - GiT Valentine's Day Special: Rousseau and Romance Past2021-Feb-15 62 minutes |
20 - Do Free Markets Make Free Humans? Interview with Jeffrey Bercuson2021-Jan-18 76 minutes |
19 - Granny Gore to Girl Power: Naomi Hamer on the History of Fairy Tales2021-Jan-04 61 minutes |
18 - GiT Xmas movie special with Sep2020-Dec-21 49 minutes |
17 - Plato's Republic 6: How to be a Good Person2020-Dec-07 45 minutes |
16 - Plato's Republic 5: Lies, Noble Lies and Gymnastics2020-Nov-16 43 minutes |
15 - Interview: politics v. philosophy with Agnes Callard2020-Nov-02 42 minutes |
14 - Plato's Republic 4: Myths 4 KidZ2020-Oct-19 37 minutes |
13 - Plato’s Republic 3: City of Pigs, Army of Dogs2020-Oct-05 41 minutes |
12 - Interview: Paul Sagar, what's your problem with Plato?2020-Sep-21 19 minutes |
11 - Plato's Republic 2: Good to be Bad2020-Sep-21 34 minutes |
10 - Plato's Republic 1: Justice for Beginners2020-Sep-07 34 minutes |
9 - Athens: Ahoy Polloi!2020-Aug-11 53 minutes |
8 - Sparta: Killer Beehive2020-Jul-21 45 minutes |
7 - Interview: Rebecca Goldstein2020-Jul-13 62 minutes |
6 - The Polis: Freedom Farms, Phalanxes and Class War2020-Jul-06 32 minutes |
5 - Plato’s Apology 5: The Apology of Athens2020-Jun-22 37 minutes |
4 - Plato's Apology 4: Your Brain On Politics2020-Jun-08 51 minutes |
3 - Plato's Apology 3: Not-So-Dangerous Minds2020-May-25 33 minutes |
2 - Plato’s Apology 2: Free Speech Hero?2020-May-11 39 minutes |
1 - Plato's Apology 1: The Divine Troll2020-May-11 41 minutes |
Trailer2020-May-04 1 minute |