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):
➤ Socratic inquiries • philosophical questions • definitions of abstract concepts • dialectical discussions • expert guests • topics like money, love, consciousness, and humor • insights into various fields"What Is X?" is a podcast that delves into the philosophical inquiry of various broad and intricate topics through a format that emulates a Socratic dialogue. Hosted by Justin E.H. Smith, the show features discussions with guests from diverse fields, ranging from academics and writers to regular individuals with deep interests in specific subjects. Each episode is centered around a fundamental question framed as "What is X?" where "X" represents a concept, object, or phenomenon.
The discussions explore topics spanning a wide range, including but not limited to ontology, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, and social philosophy. Listeners are invited to consider foundational questions such as the nature of being, consciousness, money, and virtue. Each episode attempts to unravel these complex subjects by engaging in freewheeling yet rigorous dialogue, often without arriving at definitive conclusions. This open-ended approach underscores the podcast’s commitment to the journey of philosophical exploration rather than the destination of clear-cut answers.
Recurring themes in the episodes include the analysis of abstract concepts such as time, reality, and identity; the investigation of social constructs like gender, criticism, and authorship; and the examination of everyday phenomena like breakfast, humor, and friendship. Various episodes also reflect on the intersection of philosophy with other disciplines, considering how philosophical questions inform and are informed by fields like mathematics, history, and the arts.
"What Is X?" adopts a tone that is both accessible and intellectually engaging, making highbrow philosophical debates approachable to a broader audience. The podcast's unique format combines thoughtful inquiry with a playful spirit, as indicated by the distinctive sound effects used to signify agreement, disagreement, or indeterminate conclusions. Through its eclectic range of topics and dynamic conversational style, the podcast offers listeners a platform for reflecting on profound questions about the nature of the world and human experience.
| Episodes: |
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What Is Being? | Kris McDaniel 2022-Dec-14 55 minutes |
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What Is Money? | Joseph Tinguely 2022-Nov-15 59 minutes |
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What Is Breakfast? | Seb Emina 2022-Oct-14 63 minutes |
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What Are Numbers? | Michael Harris 2022-Sep-15 62 minutes |
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What Is Punk? | Joseph M. Keegin 2022-Aug-15 85 minutes |
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What Is War? | Vladislav Davidzon 2022-Jul-15 62 minutes |
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What Is Authorship? | Jonathan Egid 2022-Jun-14 70 minutes |
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What Is Time? | Emily Thomas 2022-Jun-01 58 minutes |
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What Are Conspiracy Theories? | Sam Kriss 2022-May-01 87 minutes |
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What Is Humor? | Luvell Anderson 2022-Apr-16 66 minutes |
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What Is Friendship? | S. Abbas Raza 2022-Apr-01 57 minutes |
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What Is Consciousness? | Eric Schwitzgebel 2022-Mar-15 69 minutes |
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What Is Virtue? | Jennifer Frey 2022-Mar-02 73 minutes |
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What Is Love? | Dominic Pettman 2022-Feb-14 64 minutes |
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What Is Gender? | Robin Dembroff 2022-Feb-01 58 minutes |
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What Are Slurs? | Jason Stanley 2022-Jan-16 59 minutes |
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What Is Criticism | Ryan Ruby 2022-Jan-01 61 minutes |
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What Is History? | D. Graham Burnett 2021-Dec-14 62 minutes |
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What Is Art? | Becca Rothfeld 2021-Nov-30 41 minutes |
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What Is Memory? | Julian Lucas 2021-Nov-15 58 minutes |
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What Is Matter? | Sean Carroll 2021-Nov-01 61 minutes |
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What Is Mental Health? | Danielle Carr 2021-Oct-21 65 minutes |
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What Is Poetry? | Jeff Dolven 2021-Oct-01 54 minutes |
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What Are Dreams? | Matthew Spellberg 2021-Sep-01 62 minutes |
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What Is Philosophy? | Agnes Callard 2021-Jul-31 62 minutes |