TrueSciPhi

Podcast Profile: Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast

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47 episodes
2020 to 2023
Median: 44 minutes
Collection: Philosophy

Description (podcaster-provided):

Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):

This podcast uses political philosophy and the history of ideas to interpret contemporary political life. It often works by walking listeners through major texts in enough detail to convey the central arguments, puzzles, and stakes without assuming prior background. A recurring focus is ancient Greek political thought and its setting: the institutions and social conditions of the polis, contrasts among Sparta, Athens, and Athenian democracy, and the philosophical controversies surrounding Socrates. Extended attention is given to Plato’s political philosophy, using close reading to explore themes like justice, education and “noble lies,” the structure of the soul, the appeal and dangers of poetry and storytelling, the prospect of philosopher-rulers, the relationship between regime types and character, and how political order shapes desire and moral development.

Alongside classic works, the show connects theory to modern debates about liberal democracy and its critics, asking what democracy is for, why it’s defended, and how it might fail. It also examines influential contemporary political arguments about world order and conflict, including attempts to explain post–Cold War politics, cultural and civilizational narratives, and shifting ways governments justify military violence, such as efforts to make war appear more “humane” through technology and targeted force.

Many episodes take an interview or conversation format with scholars and authors, using their books and arguments to explore topics such as workplace power and freedom, class and meritocracy among professional elites, and the political effects of markets and commerce. The podcast also branches into moral philosophy and political psychology through thought experiments and case studies, probing questions about harmful versus harmless wrongdoing, moral luck, demandingness in ethics, and how emotions and social norms shape judgment. Other discussions extend political theory into culture and everyday life, including rhetoric and political speech, the evolution of fairy tales, and the ways digital platforms may influence desire and intimacy. Overall, the show aims to make dense ideas accessible while linking them to recognizable features of modern politics and social experience.

Episodes:

46 - Athenian democracy and Plato w/ Graham Culbertson (Everyday Anarchism Podcast) 2023-May-11 64 minutes

45 - Humane War feat. Samuel Moyn 2022-Sep-05 65 minutes

44 - Samuel Huntington "The Clash of Civilizations?" 2022-Aug-17 36 minutes

43 - Tyranny at Work feat. Elizabeth Anderson 2022-Jun-06 54 minutes

42 - The New Aristocracy feat. Matthew Stewart 2022-May-02 54 minutes

41 - Love in the Time of Big Data feat. Alfie Bown 2022-Apr-18 58 minutes

40 - Is Liberal Democracy the Best We Can Do? feat. The Morality of Everyday Things 2022-Feb-08 74 minutes

39 - The Glorious History and Ugly Present of Rhetoric feat. Rob Goodman 2022-Jan-24 73 minutes

38 - GiT Holiday Special with Sep 2021-Dec-26 39 minutes

37 - Thought Lab 4: The Psychology of Horror 2021-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 Fontainelle 2021-Sep-13 88 minutes

33 - The End of the End of History feat. Philip Cunliffe and George Hoare 2021-Aug-30 65 minutes

32 - Fukuyama’s “The End of History?” 2021-Aug-17 27 minutes

31 - Thought Lab 3: Utilitarianism & the Great Spreadsheet 2021-Aug-02 47 minutes

30 - Plato's Republic 13: Choose Yourself 2021-Jul-19 33 minutes

29 - Plato's Republic 12: Poetic Sweet Tooth 2021-Jul-05 45 minutes

28 - Plato's Republic 11: A Tyrant's Life 2021-Jun-19 36 minutes

27 - Plato's Republic 10: Degenerate Cities, Degenerate Souls 2021-Jun-07 49 minutes

26 - Plato's Republic 9: Horny for the Good 2021-May-14 55 minutes

25 - Thought Lab 2: Tainted Art and Moral Luck 2021-Apr-19 54 minutes

24 - Plato's Republic 8: The Philosopher Kings 2021-Mar-29 43 minutes

23 - Plato’s Republic 7: Socratic Family Values 2021-Mar-16 33 minutes

22 - Thought Lab 1: The Dead Chicken Experiment 2021-Mar-01 44 minutes

21 - GiT Valentine's Day Special: Rousseau and Romance Past 2021-Feb-15 62 minutes

20 - Do Free Markets Make Free Humans? Interview with Jeffrey Bercuson 2021-Jan-18 76 minutes

19 - Granny Gore to Girl Power: Naomi Hamer on the History of Fairy Tales 2021-Jan-04 61 minutes

18 - GiT Xmas movie special with Sep 2020-Dec-21 49 minutes

17 - Plato's Republic 6: How to be a Good Person 2020-Dec-07 45 minutes

16 - Plato's Republic 5: Lies, Noble Lies and Gymnastics 2020-Nov-16 43 minutes

15 - Interview: politics v. philosophy with Agnes Callard 2020-Nov-02 42 minutes

14 - Plato's Republic 4: Myths 4 KidZ 2020-Oct-19 37 minutes

13 - Plato’s Republic 3: City of Pigs, Army of Dogs 2020-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 Bad 2020-Sep-21 34 minutes

10 - Plato's Republic 1: Justice for Beginners 2020-Sep-07 34 minutes

9 - Athens: Ahoy Polloi! 2020-Aug-11 53 minutes

8 - Sparta: Killer Beehive 2020-Jul-21 45 minutes

7 - Interview: Rebecca Goldstein 2020-Jul-13 62 minutes

6 - The Polis: Freedom Farms, Phalanxes and Class War 2020-Jul-06 32 minutes

5 - Plato’s Apology 5: The Apology of Athens 2020-Jun-22 37 minutes

4 - Plato's Apology 4: Your Brain On Politics 2020-Jun-08 51 minutes

3 - Plato's Apology 3: Not-So-Dangerous Minds 2020-May-25 33 minutes

2 - Plato’s Apology 2: Free Speech Hero? 2020-May-11 39 minutes

1 - Plato's Apology 1: The Divine Troll 2020-May-11 41 minutes

Trailer 2020-May-04 1 minute