Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
“What Is X?” has been described as “a cross between a Platonic dialogue and ‘The Price Is Right.’” It combines dialectical inquiry of the sort perfected by Socrates and his interlocutors with a distinctly ludic spirit. Here’s how it works: For each episode, host Justin E. H. Smith invites on a guest distinguished in their field (or occasionally a “regular” person who really likes to talk). Smith asks the guest to answer a question of the form “What is X?” (for example, “What is beauty?” “What is nature?” “What are dreams?”), after which the two partners in dialogue undertake a Socratic inquiry into the nature of X, in search of a definition that satisfies both of them. There are three possible outcomes: agreement, disagreement, and aporia (Greek for “dead end”), each with its own sound effect: if we arrive at agreement, a church bell will chime; disagreement is signaled by a bleating goat; if aporia is the best we can do, we will hear naught but a gust of wind. Rigorous but freewheeling, fun and serious at once, accessibly highbrow, these conversations model rational inquiry in a new way, providing answers for truth-seekers... or perhaps just more questions. /// Host: Justin E.H. Smith (justinehsmith.substack.com) /// Presented by The Point Magazine (thepointmag.com)Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Philosophical inquiry • Socratic dialogue • Fundamental concepts • Varied topics like wisdom, reality, society • Intellectual exploration • Guests from diverse fields • Engaging questions • Dialectical investigationThis podcast, aptly named "What Is X?," takes listeners on a philosophical journey through diverse and often abstract concepts, employing a lively dialectical approach reminiscent of Socratic dialogue. Each episode poses a titular question "What is X?" and endeavors to dissect and analyze this question with the help of a guest who is either a distinguished expert or an enthusiastic conversationalist. The host, Justin E. H. Smith, engages his guests in discussions that blend intellectual rigor with a playful spirit, exploring fundamental questions about existence, ideas, and the human experience.
The show's thematic content ranges widely, covering topics such as identity, ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, and aesthetics. Some inquiries delve into philosophical staples like being, time, and consciousness, while others consider socio-cultural phenomena including money, gender, and mental health. Each question prompts an exploration of its concept through philosophical debate, with outcomes of agreement, disagreement, or aporia—a philosophical dead end—signaled through sound effects, adding a unique auditory dimension to the discussions.
Although deep and thought-provoking, the podcast strives to remain accessible, balancing serious inquiry with moments of humor and levity. The episodes foster a reflective exploration of not only what constitutes various Xs, but also the methods by which we define and understand them. By engaging in this exercise, the podcast illuminates the complexities and subtleties of human thought, inviting listeners to join in the quest for definition and understanding, and often raising further questions rather than providing definitive answers. Through these rich dialogues, the podcast showcases a fresh take on rational inquiry, making philosophical exploration both entertaining and enlightening.
| Episodes: |
|
What Is Being? | Kris McDaniel 2022-Dec-14 55 minutes |
|
What Is Money? | Joseph Tinguely 2022-Nov-15 59 minutes |
|
What Is Breakfast? | Seb Emina 2022-Oct-14 63 minutes |
|
What Are Numbers? | Michael Harris 2022-Sep-15 62 minutes |
|
What Is Punk? | Joseph M. Keegin 2022-Aug-15 85 minutes |
|
What Is War? | Vladislav Davidzon 2022-Jul-15 62 minutes |
|
What Is Authorship? | Jonathan Egid 2022-Jun-14 70 minutes |
|
What Is Time? | Emily Thomas 2022-Jun-01 58 minutes |
|
What Are Conspiracy Theories? | Sam Kriss 2022-May-01 87 minutes |
|
What Is Humor? | Luvell Anderson 2022-Apr-16 66 minutes |
|
What Is Friendship? | S. Abbas Raza 2022-Apr-01 57 minutes |
|
What Is Consciousness? | Eric Schwitzgebel 2022-Mar-15 69 minutes |
|
What Is Virtue? | Jennifer Frey 2022-Mar-02 73 minutes |
|
What Is Love? | Dominic Pettman 2022-Feb-14 64 minutes |
|
What Is Gender? | Robin Dembroff 2022-Feb-01 58 minutes |
|
What Are Slurs? | Jason Stanley 2022-Jan-16 59 minutes |
|
What Is Criticism | Ryan Ruby 2022-Jan-01 61 minutes |
|
What Is History? | D. Graham Burnett 2021-Dec-14 62 minutes |
|
What Is Art? | Becca Rothfeld 2021-Nov-30 41 minutes |
|
What Is Memory? | Julian Lucas 2021-Nov-15 58 minutes |
|
What Is Matter? | Sean Carroll 2021-Nov-01 61 minutes |
|
What Is Mental Health? | Danielle Carr 2021-Oct-21 65 minutes |
|
What Is Poetry? | Jeff Dolven 2021-Oct-01 54 minutes |
|
What Are Dreams? | Matthew Spellberg 2021-Sep-01 62 minutes |
|
What Is Philosophy? | Agnes Callard 2021-Jul-31 62 minutes |