Twitter: @iamstephenwest (followed by 55 philosophers)
Site: philosophizethis.org
177 episodes
2013 to present
Average episode: 29 minutes
Open in Apple Podcasts • RSS
Categories: Monologue (Non-Course)
Podcaster's summary: Beginner friendly if listened to in order! For anyone interested in an educational podcast about philosophy where you don't need to be a graduate-level philosopher to understand it. In chronological order, the thinkers and ideas that forged the world we live in are broken down and explained.
| Episodes |
| 2023-Mar-22 • 33 minutes Episode #177 ... Susan Sontag - Do you speak the language of pictures and videos? Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips... Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: philosophizethispodcast TikTok:... |
| 2023-Mar-01 • 33 minutes Episode #176 ... Susan Sontag - Do you criticize yourself the way you criticize a movie? Today we talk about the essay titled Against Interpretation by Susan Sontag. :) |
| 2023-Feb-02 • 28 minutes Episode #175 ... Simone Weil - Vessels of God Today we continue talking about the work of Simone Weil. |
| 2023-Feb-02 • 31 minutes Episode #174 ... Simone Weil - The Mathematician Today we continue talking about the work of the brilliant Simone Weil. Hope you love it. |
| 2023-Jan-10 • 31 minutes Episode #173 ... Simone Weil - The Need for Roots Today we continue talking about Simone Weil. Hope you love it. |
| 2022-Nov-21 • 38 minutes Episode #172 ... Simone Weil - Attention Today we begin some general discussions in the direction of the thought of Simone Weil and tell some stories from her life. |
| 2022-Nov-01 • 41 minutes Episode #171 ... Guy Debord - The Society of the Spectacle Today we talk about a famous call to action by the philosopher Guy Debord. |
| 2022-Sep-23 • 39 minutes Episode #170 ... Albert Camus - The Fall Today we explore some of the themes discussed in The Fall by Albert Camus. :) |
| 2022-Aug-20 • 29 minutes Episode #169 ... Bruno Latour - We Have Never Been Modern Today we cover thought provoking pieces of an early work by a great philosopher named Bruno Latour. Hope you love it. |
| 2022-Jul-13 • 43 minutes Episode #168 ... Introduction to an Ethics of Care Today we begin discussing an Ethics of Care. @iamstephenwest on twitter for updates. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2022-Jun-25 • 27 minutes Episode #167 ... Jose Ortega - Revolt of the Masses Today we continue talking about the work of Ortega. This time about his book Revolt of the Masses. Twitter - @iamstephenwest for updates Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2022-Jun-01 • 30 minutes Episode #166 ... Jose Ortega - Circumstance Today we begin talking about the work of Jose Ortega Y Gasset. |
| 2022-Apr-30 • 28 minutes Episode #165 ... Ralph Waldo Emerson - Nature and Other Things Today we continue our discussion of Emerson. |
| 2022-Apr-22 • 34 minutes Episode #164 ... Ralph Waldo Emerson - Self Reliance Today we talk about Emerson and his essay about self reliance. |
| 2022-Mar-02 • 30 minutes Episode #163 ... The Creation of Meaning - Escape From Evil Today we continue talking about the work of Ernest Becker. |
| 2022-Jan-25 • 27 minutes Episode #162 ... The Creation of Meaning - The Denial of Death Today we begin talking about the work of Ernest Becker. |
| 2022-Jan-15 • 32 minutes Episode #161 ... Karl Popper - The Open Society and Its Enemies Today we talk about a famous book from the work of Karl Popper. Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: philosophizethispodcast TikTok:... |
| 2022-Jan-05 • 36 minutes Episode #160 ... The Creation of Meaning - Kierkegaard - Silence, Obedience and Joy Today we discuss the work of Soren Kierkegaard. His famous work The Lily of the Field and The Bird of The Air. |
| 2021-Nov-10 • 29 minutes Episode #159 ... The Creation of Meaning - Nietzsche - Amor Fati Today we continue our discussion on the creation of meaning. |
| 2021-Oct-05 • 31 minutes Episode #158 ... The Creation of Meaning - Nietzsche - The Ascetic Ideal Today we look at the creation of meaning through the work of Nietzsche. |
| 2021-Sep-01 • 25 minutes Episode #157 ... The Creation of Meaning - Beauvoir Today we talk about the creation of meaning. |
| 2021-Aug-10 • 29 minutes Episode #156 ... Emil Cioran part 2 - Failure and Suicide Today we continue talking about Cioran. |
| 2021-Jul-08 • 23 minutes Episode #155 ... Emil Cioran - Absurdity and Nothingness Today we begin our discussion on Emil Cioran. |
| 2021-Jun-22 • 21 minutes Episode #154 ... Pragmatism and Truth Today we discuss Pragmatism. |
| 2021-Apr-01 • 25 minutes Episode #153 ... The Frankfurt School - Walter Benjamin pt. 2 - Distraction Today we continue talking about Walter Benjamin. |
| 2021-Mar-19 • 24 minutes Episode #152 ... The Frankfurt School - Walter Benjamin pt. 1 Today we begin discussing the work of Walter Benjamin. |
| 2021-Feb-06 • 26 minutes Episode #151 ... The Frankfurt School - Erich Fromm on Freedom Today we continue our discussion of the work of Erich Fromm. |
| 2021-Jan-31 • 23 minutes Episode #150 ... The Frankfurt School - Erich Fromm on Love Today we discuss Erich Fromm and his work The Art of Loving. |
| 2021-Jan-05 • 26 minutes Episode #149 ... On Media pt. 2 - Marshall McLuhan Today we discuss the work of Marshall McLuhan. |
| 2020-Dec-14 • 25 minutes Episode #148 ... On Media pt. 1 - Manufacturing Consent Today we discuss the 1988 work of Chomsky and Herman entitled Manufacturing Consent. |
| 2020-Nov-10 • 24 minutes Episode #147 ... Being and Becoming Today we discuss the ancient philosophical debate of being and becoming. |
| 2020-Oct-20 • 25 minutes Episode #146 ... Bergson on Laughter pt. 2 - Vitalism Today we continue our discussion on the work of Henri Bergson. |
| 2020-Sep-19 • 23 minutes Episode #145 ... Bergson on Laughter pt. 1 - History Today we begin our discussion on the work of Bergson. |
| 2020-Jun-29 • 24 minutes Episode #144 ... Max Weber - Iron Cage Today we discuss some of the work of Max Weber in preparation for an upcoming series. |
| 2020-Apr-30 • 25 minutes Episode #143 ... Jürgen Habermas pt. 1 - The Public Sphere Today we begin our discussion of the work of Jürgen Habermas. |
| 2020-Apr-15 • 29 minutes Episode #142 ... Richard Rorty Today we begin our discussion of the work of Richard Rorty. |
| 2020-Mar-28 • 24 minutes Episode #141 ... Isaiah Berlin pt. 2 - Pluralism and Culture Today we continue talking about the work of Isaiah Berlin. |
| 2020-Mar-11 • 23 minutes Episode #140 ... Isaiah Berlin pt. 1 - Pluralism Today we begin discussing the work of Isaiah Berlin. |
| 2020-Feb-12 • 23 minutes Episode #139 ... Friedrich Von Hayek - The Road to Serfdom Today we begin our discussion of the work of Friedrich Hayek. |
| 2020-Jan-21 • 23 minutes Episode #138 ... Robert Nozick - The Minimal State Today we begin our discussion of the work of Robert Nozick. |
| 2019-Dec-30 • 29 minutes Episode #137 ... John Rawls - A Theory of Justice Today we discuss the work of John Rawls. |
| 2019-Oct-31 • 29 minutes Episode #136 ... Hannah Arendt - The Banality of Evil Today we discuss the work of Hannah Arendt. |
| 2019-Oct-08 • 26 minutes Episode 135 ... Leo Strauss - Ancients vs. Moderns Today we talk about the work of Leo Strauss. |
| 2019-Aug-07 • 26 minutes Episode #134 ... Consequences of Reason Today we talk about the growing dissatisfaction with Enlightenment Reason during the early 20th century. |
| 2019-Jul-01 • 22 minutes Episode #133 ... Carl Schmitt on Liberalism pt. 2 Today we continue our discussion of the work of Carl Schmitt. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2019-Jul-01 • 24 minutes Episode #132 ... Carl Schmitt on Liberalism pt. 1 Today we begin our discussion on the work of Carl Schmitt. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2019-May-22 • 25 minutes Episode #131 ... Gramsci - Cultural Hegemony Today we discuss the work of Antonio Gramsci. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2019-Apr-30 • 22 minutes Episode #130 ... Dewey and Lippman on Democracy Today we talk about a famous debate from the early 20th century. |
| 2019-Mar-16 • 22 minutes Episode #129 ... Gilles Deleuze pt. 5 - Difference Today we continue our discussion on the work of Deleuze. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2019-Mar-16 • 23 minutes Episode #128 ... Gilles Deleuze pt. 4 - Flows Today we continue our discussion on the work of Deleuze. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2019-Feb-07 • 30 minutes Episode #127 ... Gilles Deleuze pt. 3 - Anti-Oedipus Today we continue our discussion on the work of Gilles Deleuze. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-Dec-22 • 23 minutes Episode #126 ... Gilles Deleuze pt. 2 - Immanence Today we continue our discussion on the work of Deleuze. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-Dec-08 • 23 minutes Episode #125 ... Gilles Deleuze pt. 1 - What is Philosophy? Today we begin our discussion on Gilles Deleuze with a special thanks to Felix Guatarri. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-Oct-25 • 30 minutes Episode #124 ... Simulacra and Simulation Today we begin our discussion of Jean Baudrillard's book Simulacra and Simulation. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-Sep-24 • 21 minutes Episode #123 ... Michel Foucault pt. 3 - Power Today we talk about the work of Michel Foucault. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-Sep-24 • 23 minutes Episode #122 ... Michel Foucault pt. 2 - The Order of Things Today we talk about the work of Michel Foucault. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-Aug-15 • 34 minutes Episode #121 ... Michel Foucault pt. 1 Today we begin talking about the work of Michel Foucault. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-Jul-27 • 26 minutes Episode #120 ... Logical Positivism Today we talk about Logical Positivism. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-Jun-25 • 21 minutes Episode #119 ... Derrida and Words Today we begin our discussion on the work of Jacques Derrida. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-May-21 • 23 minutes Episode #118 ... A Basic Look At Postmodernism Today we begin a lengthy conversation on the critiques of Postmodernism. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-Mar-18 • 27 minutes Episode #117 ... Structuralism and Mythology pt. 2 Today we continue to talk about the projects of Structuralism. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-Mar-18 • 28 minutes Episode #116 ... Structuralism and Mythology pt. 1 Today we begin talking about the initial projects of Structuralism. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2018-Jan-28 • 32 minutes Episode #115 ... Structuralism and Context Today we talk about the origins of Structuralism. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Dec-23 • 39 minutes Episode #114 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 7 - The Great Refusal Today we talk about Herbert Marcuse's concepts of The Great Refusal and The New Sensibility. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Dec-02 • 23 minutes Episode #113 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 6 - Art As A Tool For Liberation Today we talk about the revolutionary potential of Art through the eyes of Herbert Marcuse. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Nov-06 • 30 minutes Episode #112 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 5 - Civilization Today we continue our discussion of Marcuse's work Eros and Civilization. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Oct-20 • 26 minutes Episode #111 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 4 - Eros Today we talk about Freud's views on civilization and the first half of Marcuse's response to them. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Sep-07 • 28 minutes Episode #110 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 3 - The Culture Industry Today we talk about an important chapter from The Dialectic of Enlightenment entitled The Culture Industry. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Aug-26 • 26 minutes Episode #109 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 2 - The Enlightenment Today we talk about the Frankfurt School critique of enlightenment style thinking and Herbert Marcuse's book One Dimensional Man. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Aug-17 • 30 minutes Episode #108 ... The Frankfurt School pt. 1 - Introduction Today we talk about The Frankfurt School. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Jul-29 • 27 minutes Episode #107 ... Simone De Beauvoir pt .3 - Responsibility Today we talk about part three of Simone De Beauvoir's work The Ethics of Ambiguity. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Jul-19 • 24 minutes Episode #106 ... Simone De Beauvoir pt. 2 - The Ethics of Ambiguity Today we talk about the first half of The Ethics of Ambiguity by Simone De Beauvoir. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Jul-09 • 27 minutes Episode #105 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 6 - The Self Today a cloudy, muddled brain weary from fighting off sickness talks about Sartre's view on the self. Thank you for your patience. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Jun-01 • 29 minutes Episode #104 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 5 - Consciousness is Freedom Today we talk about Sartre's view of consciousness and the notion of radical freedom. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-May-24 • 32 minutes Episode #103 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 4 - The Quest For Certainty Today we tell a story from the history of philosophy in an attempt to prepare us for understanding the Phenomenology of Sartre. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-May-12 • 31 minutes Episode #102 ... Heidegger pt. 3 - Authenticity Today we talk about Martin Heidegger and his concept of Authenticity. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Apr-30 • 26 minutes Episode #101 ... Heidegger pt. 2 - Science and Technology Today we discuss Martin Heidegger and his views on Modern Technology. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Apr-14 • 31 minutes Episode #100 ... Heidegger pt. 1 - Phenomenology and Dasein Today we begin our discussion of the philosophy of Martin Heidegger by looking at his roots in Phenomenology and his revolutionary concept of Dasein. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Mar-29 • 23 minutes Episode #099 ... Schopenhauer pt. 2 - Ethics Today we talk about the ethics of Arthur Schopenhauer. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Mar-14 • 23 minutes Episode #098 ... Schopenhauer pt. 1 - Metaphysics and Love Today we begin our discussion on Arthur Schopenhauer. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Mar-01 • 26 minutes Episode #097 ... Wittgenstein ep. 1 Today we talk about Ludwig Wittgenstein. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2017-Jan-20 • 24 minutes Episode #096 ... Is Ayn Rand A Philosopher? Today we talk about Ayn Rand. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Dec-30 • 26 minutes Episode #095 ... Are you living in a simulation? Today we discuss the famous paper by Nick Bostrom about the probability that we are living in a simulation. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Nov-24 • 29 minutes Episode #094 ... A Look at Suffering Today we look at the concept of suffering from multiple different angles including the philosopher Fyodor Dostoyevsky and the movement in Transhumanism known as The Hedonistic Imperative. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to... |
| 2016-Nov-06 • 27 minutes Episode #093 ... Nietzsche pt. 4 - Love Today we look at the concept of love from several different angles in an attempt to better understand our own thoughts on love. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Oct-04 • 30 minutes Episode #092 ... Nietzsche pt. 3 - Thus Spoke Zarathustra Today we talk about Nietzsche's famous work Thus Spoke Zarathustra. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Sep-21 • 28 minutes Episode #091 ... Nietzsche pt. 2 - The Will to Power Today we talk about Nietzsche, the concept of the Will to Power and the dangers of predatory buffalos. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Aug-26 • 27 minutes Episode #090 ... Nietzsche pt. 1 - God is dead and so is Captain Morgan Today we begin our discussion on the work of Friedrich Nietzsche. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Aug-17 • 31 minutes Episode #089 ... Simone De Beauvoir - The Second Sex Today we discuss the revolutionary work of Simone De Beauvoir entitled: The Second Sex for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Jul-27 • 27 minutes Episode #088 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 3 - The Great Debate Today we talk about the great post WW2 debate between Sartre and Camus. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Jul-14 • 23 minutes Episode #087 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 2 Today we talk about the philosopher Albert Camus. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Jun-29 • 24 minutes Episode #086 ... Sartre and Camus pt. 1 - Freedom Today's episode is the first installment of a series on the great Cold War era thinkers Sartre and Camus. Today we lay the foundations for the line of thinking known as existentialism and focus on Sartre's view of freedom. for additional... |
| 2016-Jun-21 • 24 minutes Episode #085 ... Peter Singer on Effective Altruism Today we talk about the great Peter Singer, his views on the unique moral obligations that we face as members of modern society and how we might fulfill the obligations in the most effective manner. for additional content. Thank you for... |
| 2016-Jun-14 • 27 minutes Episode #084 ... William James on Truth Today we take a look at William James and his work on the concept of Truth. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Jun-04 • 27 minutes Episode #083 ... Henry David Thoreau Today we take a look at Henry David Thoreau's views on the individual, society and civil disobedience. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-May-26 • 26 minutes Episode #082 ... Austrians and Marx Today we talk about various classic critiques of Marx's economics made by the Austrian School of Economics. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-May-11 • 25 minutes Episode #081 ... Capitalism vs. Communism Today we talk about Karl Marx and his famous critiques of Capitalism. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-May-03 • 28 minutes Episode #80 ... Feuerbach on Religion On this episode we talk about Ludwig Feuerbach and his (occasionally) controversial views on the origins of religion. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Mar-23 • 23 minutes Episode #079 ... Kierkegaard on Anxiety On this episode of the podcast we talk about Kierkegaard's views on anxiety. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Jan-27 • 25 minutes Episode #078 ... Marx and Kierkegaard on Religion pt. 2 Today we talk about Soren Kierkegaard and his views on the function and value of religion. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2016-Jan-17 • 27 minutes Episode #077 ... Marx and Kierkegaard on Religion pt. 1 Today we discuss Marx, his views on religion as a means of oppression, and his connection to Hegel's Dialectic. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Dec-31 • 25 minutes Episode #076 ... Hegel's God Today we talk about Hegel and a unique possibility of what God could be. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Dec-21 • 25 minutes Episode #075 ... How To Win An Argument Pt. 2 Today we answer listener questions clarifying How To Win An Argument Pt. 1 and discuss several other common logical fallacies, how to spot them and how to deal with them. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today... |
| 2015-Dec-17 • 28 minutes Episode #074 ... Hegel Returns Today we talk about an overview of Hegel and what is truly important about his work. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Dec-01 • 30 minutes Episode #073 ... How To Win An Argument Pt. 1 Today we take a look at several common logical fallacies and how to spot them. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Nov-18 • 34 minutes Episode #072 ... Insecurity On this episode of the podcast we talk about insecurity. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Nov-01 • 29 minutes Episode #071 ... Is Killing Animals For Food Morally Justifiable? Today we talk about whether killing animals for food is morally justifiable. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Oct-20 • 23 minutes Episode #070 ... Off Moodiness On this episode we talk about several outlooks on negative emotions. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Oct-12 • 32 minutes Episode #069 ... An Appeal To Reason for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Oct-06 • 22 minutes Episode #068 ... On Moodiness On this episode we talk about one angle of the complex subject known to us all as: moodiness. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Sep-21 • 22 minutes Episode #067 ... What Hegel Was Saying! We continue our unfortunately abridged discussion on Hegel from last episode. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Sep-14 • 19 minutes Episode #066 ... Hegel pt. 1 - Introduction Today we begin our discussion on the work of Hegel. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Sep-07 • 23 minutes Episode #065 ... Mary Wollstonecraft On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the feminist philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft. First, we learn about the unexpected origin of The Royal Humane Society and how they assisted Mary Wollstonecraft. Next, we learn about the many ways... |
| 2015-Aug-19 • 21 minutes Episode #064 ... Interpreting Interpretations On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Hermeneutics, or “the art of avoiding misunderstanding.” First, we meet Johnny--a disgruntled Philosophize This! listener who is bored and frustrated by episodes about philosophers who make unverifiable... |
| 2015-Jul-01 • 29 minutes Episode #063 ... Kant pt. 8 - Limits of Knowledge On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Kant’s views on the limits of human knowledge. First, we ask ourselves why we seek knowledge at all and whether there will ever be an endpoint to our search for it. Next, we discuss our human experience of... |
| 2015-Jun-23 • 33 minutes Episode #062 ... Kant pt. 7 - Suicide On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the morality of suicide. We begin by questioning our own biases and assumptions about suicide and where they come from. Next, we examine suicide from a Christian perspective by considering the arguments posed... |
| 2015-Jun-14 • 27 minutes Episode #061 ... Kant pt. 6 - What is Enlightenment? On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Kant’s answer to the question “What is enlightenment?” We begin by recounting the story of how Kant came to answer this question in the first place and why this was an important question to consider at... |
| 2015-Jun-01 • 31 minutes Episode #060 ... Kant pt. 5 - The Sublime On this episode of the podcast, we attempt to tackle the elusive concept of the sublime. We begin by clarifying everything the sublime is NOT, and then attempt to pin it down by considering a common motif that is has been associated with the sublime... |
| 2015-May-28 • 28 minutes Episode #059 ... Kant pt. 4 - Categorical Trolley Cars On this episode of the podcast, we analyze the infamous Trolley Car Problem and think about it in relation to Kant’s categorical imperative. First, we discuss the value of thought experiments and call into question the concept of “common sense”.... |
| 2015-May-20 • 27 minutes Episode #058 ... Kant pt. 3 - Deontology vs Consequentialism On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Kant, this time focusing on ethics. We begin with a thought experiment that calls into question whether or not lying is morally justifiable if it results in preserving human life. Next, we... |
| 2015-May-11 • 26 minutes Episode #057 ... Kant pt. 2 - The Actual Introduction On this episode of the podcast we continue our discussion of Kant, this time focusing on his contributions to the debate between rationalism and empiricism . We begin by reviewing the major points of contention between the rationalists and empiricists... |
| 2015-Apr-22 • 26 minutes Episode #056 ... Kant pt. 1 - An Introduction to the Introduction On this episode of the podcast, we begin our discussion of Immanuel Kant. We first examine the historical context Kant was born into and consider the challenges philosophy was faced with, thanks to David Hume. We also discuss the change in the way... |
| 2015-Apr-01 • 31 minutes Episode #055 ... Interview on Hume with Massimo Pigliucci On this episode of the podcast, Massimo Pigliucci calls in to help tie together some loose ends in our overview of David Hume. Massimo is a professor of philosophy at City University of New York. He is the author of the best sellers Philosophy of... |
| 2015-Mar-27 • 30 minutes Episode #054 ... Hume pt. 4 - Art On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Hume’s views on taste and find out whether or not all of our opinions about art are equally valid. First, we compare the poetry of Shakespeare and Shel Silverstein, the music of Beethoven and Skrillex, and... |
| 2015-Mar-16 • 24 minutes Episode #053 ... David Hume pt. 3 - Custom On this episode of the podcast we talk about David Hume's thoughts on the soul, the self and how "custom is the great guide of human life." All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This! for additional content. Thank you for... |
| 2015-Mar-05 • 30 minutes Episode #052 ... David Hume pt. 2 - Design On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of David Hume. This time, we focus on Hume's response to the Teleological Argument, which goes a little something like this: “Look at how perfectly everything works! All of this must have... |
| 2015-Feb-25 • 30 minutes Episode #051 ... David Hume pt. 1 On this episode of the podcast, we talk about David Hume! First, we learn about Hume’s ‘is’ versus ‘ought’ distinction and how not being mindful of this pitfall can lead us down a dangerous path. Next, we discuss the limitations of science... |
| 2015-Feb-07 • 26 minutes Episode #050 ... Are You Left Or Right? On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the contrasting political philosophies of Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine. First, we find out the origin of the terms “left” and “right” in relation to politics, and find out that the meanings of these... |
| 2015-Jan-27 • 30 minutes Episode #049 ... Adam Smith pt. 2 - The Tip of the Iceberg of Wealth On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Adam Smith. First, we look at two towns with the same name on opposite sides of the US-Mexico border, and consider why their residents have such markedly different standards of living.... |
| 2015-Jan-18 • 24 minutes Episode #048 ... Adam Smith pt. 1 - Specialization On this episode of the podcast we begin our discussion of Adam Smith. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2015-Jan-10 • 25 minutes Episode #047 ... Rousseau pt. 3 - The General Will On this episode of the podcast, we continue our desert island thought experiment, this time focusing on the general will of the people. First, we examine several interpretations of what "the general will of the people" actually means. Next, we take an... |
| 2015-Jan-02 • 30 minutes Episode #046 ... Rousseau pt. 2 - Democracy, Aristocracy or Monarchy? On this episode of the podcast, we continue last week's thought experiment about creating a society from scratch on a deserted island. First, we find out how building a society is similar to making cupcakes, in the sense that every ingredient... |
| 2014-Dec-15 • 27 minutes Episode #045 ... Rousseau Government pt. 1 On this episode of the podcast, we examine the origins of government and discuss several opinions on how to construct the best system. First, we imagine that we’re stranded on an island and are forced to devise a system to organize ourselves into a... |
| 2014-Dec-02 • 37 minutes Episode #044 ... Slavery On this episode of the podcast, we revisit the topic of belief, this time focusing on the ramifications of the beliefs we hold. First, we ask ourselves why we should even attempt to arrive at truth if certainty is impossible, and examine this question... |
| 2014-Nov-21 • 32 minutes Episode #043 ... Tolerance On this episode of the podcast, we examine the true implications of tolerance and intolerance. First, we ask ourselves the inception-esque question of how tolerant we should be of intolerance, and find out that the answer may not be as simple as it... |
| 2014-Nov-12 • 30 minutes Episode #042 ... Optimism On this episode, we explore the benefits and drawbacks of optimism. First, we examine the various motivations for pessimism, and hear what Winston Churchill, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Marcus Aurelius have to say about optimism. Next, we think about the... |
| 2014-Nov-04 • 40 minutes Episode #041 ... Belief On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the many facets of belief. We start out by discussing two major complications that belief brings to the table. First, absolute certainty is impossible--even certainty about the fact that "certainty is... |
| 2014-Oct-16 • 51 minutes Episode #040 ... Superstition On this episode of the podcast, we explore superstition in its various forms and examine the ways Berkeley and Voltaire tried to eliminate it in their work. First, we think about the superstitions we subscribe to in our everyday lives, whether it’s... |
| 2014-Oct-08 • 28 minutes Episode #039 ... The Limits of Empiricism On this episode of the podcast, we explore the idea of reality and how our senses prevent us from perceiving its true nature. First, we launch a smear campaign against human eyes and their limitations. Next, we discuss the difference between deductive... |
| 2014-Oct-02 • 28 minutes Episode #038 ... Leibniz pt. 2 - The Best of All Possible Worlds On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Gottfried Leibniz. First, we delve more into the feud between Leibniz and Isaac Newton, which we briefly mentioned last week. Next, we ask ourselves why God sometimes allows Steve Buschemi... |
| 2014-Sep-23 • 34 minutes Episode #037 ... Leibniz pt. 1 - A Million Points of Light On this episode of the podcast, we begin our discussion of Gottfried Leibniz. First, we find out what important invention created a riff between Leibniz and Isaac Newton. Next, we learn about Leibniz’s theory of Monads (which are basically the atoms... |
| 2014-Sep-15 • 29 minutes Episode #036 ... John Locke pt. 2 - The Blank Slate On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of John Locke. We first admire how brave Locke was to share his ideas during a time when dissent earned you the privilege of being drawn and quartered (literally… quartered). Next, we... |
| 2014-Sep-09 • 32 minutes Episode #035 ... John Locke pt. 1 On this episode of the podcast, we begin learning about John Locke. First, we ask ourselves whether or not we own our bodies and what other things we are entitled to simply by virtue of being born. Next, we consider whether its possible to develop a... |
| 2014-Sep-02 • 29 minutes Episode #034 ... Spinoza pt. 2 - Force of Nature On this episode of the podcast, we continue learning about Spinoza, this time focusing on his concept of God. We begin by asking ourselves whether or not Stephen’s English bulldog Charlie is part of God, and analyzing the implications of our answer.... |
| 2014-Aug-26 • 30 minutes Episode #033 ... Spinoza pt. 1 - From Baruch to Benedicto On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Baruch De Spinoza. We find out why it was not only life-threatening to have an unpopular opinion during the time Spinoza lived, but also potentially very profitable. We also question whether religion is... |
| 2014-Aug-19 • 30 minutes Episode #032 ... Blaise Pascal pt. 2 - +EV your way to success!! On this episode of the podcast we continue our discussion of Blaise Pascal, this time focusing on his assertion that man is “the supreme paradox of creation.” First, we learn about Pascal’s early life and feel completely inadequate when we learn... |
| 2014-Aug-12 • 29 minutes Episode #031 ... Pascal's Wager On this episode of the podcast, we begin our discussion of Blaise Pascal by examining Pascal's Wager. We begin by hearkening back to last week's episode and imagine Pascal as Descartes' wingman in a door-to-door campaign to convince us to believe in... |
| 2014-Aug-05 • 26 minutes Episode #030 ... Descartes pt. 3 - God Exists On this episode of the podcast we conclude our three-part installment on Rene Descartes. First we discuss what the concept of God meant to Descartes. Then we discuss why the concept of God was crucial for his system to be received well. Finally we... |
| 2014-Jul-16 • 28 minutes Episode #029 ... Descartes pt. 2 - See episode description The audio file for this episode was lost years ago. There is a transcript available on the website: Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2014-Jul-09 • 28 minutes Episode #028 ... Rene Descartes pt. 1 - Context On this episode of the podcast, we begin learning about Rene Descartes. First, we find out why the entire human race can be compared to the loud, obnoxious guy at a party who thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. Next, we examine Descartes’... |
| 2014-Jul-01 • 30 minutes Episode #027 ... Thomas Hobbes pt. 2 On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Thomas Hobbes. for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2014-Jun-17 • 31 minutes Episode #026 ... Thomas Hobbes pt. 1 - The Social Contract On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Thomas Hobbes. We first ask ourselves what it would be like to live in a society with no laws or government, much like the scenario depicted in The Purge. Next, we question whether or not humans are... |
| 2014-Jun-10 • 30 minutes Episode #025 ... A Scientific Method For Your Life! On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Francis Bacon, a 16th century English philosopher. We first discuss what it meant to pursue knowledge during the time Francis Bacon lived and why he thought that scientific advancement should be... |
| 2014-Jun-04 • 28 minutes Episode #024 ... Montaigne On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Michel de Montaigne. We first discuss how a case of 16th century road rage led to a near-death experience which ironically helped Montaigne overcome his fear of dying. Next, we learn why Montaigne valued... |
| 2014-May-20 • 27 minutes Episode #023 ... Machiavelli On this episode of the podcast, we discuss The Protestant Reformation and Machiavellianism. We begin by examining what it was like to live during the Renaissance under the rule of The Church and why the people of that time could have really benefited... |
| 2014-May-13 • 27 minutes Episode #022 ... Blast off to the Renaissance! On this episode of the podcast, we begin learning about the Renaissance. We first discuss the Black Death, a bacterial plague that wiped out 30-60% of the population of Europe. We examine how the population crisis caused by the Black Death led to an... |
| 2014-May-05 • 26 minutes Episode #021 ... One God - St. Thomas Aquinas On this episode of the podcast, we learn about the Christian Aristotelean philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas. We begin by examining a song by The Postal Service which sets the stage for a discussion about how often humans mistake correlation with... |
| 2014-Apr-24 • 36 minutes Episode #020 ... Two Medieval Approaches To God On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the concept of God from a philosophical perspective. We first broaden our definition of God by recalling the multitude of ways that the philosophers we’ve already studied have approached the subject. Next,... |
| 2014-Apr-14 • 32 minutes Episode #019 ... Three Islamic Truths On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the nature of truth and examine it through the lenses of three Islamic philosophers who each had a different approach to truth seeking. We first discuss Al Kindi and what he would have to say about modern day... |
| 2014-Apr-04 • 28 minutes Episode #018 ... Avicenna On this episode of the podcast we learn about Avicenna, an Arabic philosopher who is most known for his “Flying Man” thought experiment. We discuss the mind-body connection (or lack thereof) and ask ourselves what becomes of an iPhone if you... |
| 2014-Mar-26 • 25 minutes Episode #017 ... Boethius On this episode of the podcast, we learn about the medieval neoplatonist philosopher Boethius. We find out how he came to be wrongly convicted of treason and subsequently sentenced to death, and how this led him to write a philosophical text that... |
| 2014-Feb-28 • 30 minutes Episode #016 ... Saint Augustine On this episode of the podcast, we discuss St. Augustine, a philosopher who is known for merging the ideas of Neoplatonism and Christianity. We learn how an unsuspecting child led St. Augustine to devote his life to Christianity through divine... |
| 2014-Feb-13 • 38 minutes Episode #015 ... A Period of Transition - Plotinus On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Plotinus, a Neo-Platonist philosopher who lived in Rome during "the crisis of the third century.” We discuss the difference between religion and philosophy and question whether or not JK Rowling stole... |
| 2014-Jan-18 • 45 minutes Episode #014 ... The Hellenistic Age Pt. 5 - A Race To The Dark Ages On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Middle Platonism and the Race to the Dark Ages. We learn how Philo of Alexandria reconciled Judaism with Plato's vision of God as a master craftsman, and find out how this relates to building an IKEA... |
| 2014-Jan-05 • 47 minutes Episode #013 ... The Hellenistic Age Pt. 4 - Skepticism On this episode of the podcast, we continue our study of the Hellenistic Age, this time focusing on Skepticism. We find out how Pyrrho used Skepticism to endure surgery without anesthesia, and learn why you can never really know if a pomegranate is a... |
| 2013-Dec-20 • 50 minutes Episode #012 ... The Hellenistic Age Pt. 3 - Hallmarks of Stoic Ethics On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Stoicism, this time focusing on ethics. We learn about the three most noteworthy contributors to Stoic ethics--a crippled slave, a statesman, and the emperor of Rome--and find out how much... |
| 2013-Dec-07 • 44 minutes Episode #011 ... The Hellenistic Age Pt. 2 - The Early Stoa and the Cynics This is the first of two episodes on Stoicism; in this episode, we learn about stoic physics and logic. We learn how the Stoics would likely react if faced with a zombie apocalypse and how a shipwreck caused a guy named Zeno to start dabbling in... |
| 2013-Nov-24 • 48 minutes Episode #010 ... The Hellenistic Age Pt. 1 - Epicurus This week on the podcast, we shift our focus back to Western philosophy. On this episode, we learn about Epicureanism—one of four schools of thought that were prevalent during the Hellenistic Age, which will be our focus for the next few episodes.... |
| 2013-Nov-11 • 44 minutes Episode #009 ... The Buddha On this episode of the podcast, we learn about the life of Siddhartha Gautama and his Heisenberg-esque transformation into Buddha. We learn how Buddha left a lifestyle of being fed grapes and being fanned with palm leaves to pursue a life of celibacy,... |
| 2013-Oct-29 • 41 minutes Episode #008 ... Confucianism On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Confucius, a man whose ideas impacted China and eastern philosophy for thousands of years after his death. We find out how Confucius went from being the poor, friendless son of an ancient Chinese 'Teen... |
| 2013-Aug-10 • 40 minutes Episode #007 ... Daoism for additional content. Thank you for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday. :) |
| 2013-Jul-26 • 39 minutes Episode #006 ... Aristotle Pt. 2 On this episode of the podcast, we continue learning about Aristotle, a man who created the first system of biological classification, the first system of logic, and the first formal scientific method. We find out why Aristotle was anti-women and... |
| 2013-Jul-14 • 39 minutes Episode #005 ... Aristotle Pt. 1 This week we talk about various different applications of Aristotle's ethics in modern life. We discuss making a "plan" for your life, the underlying similarities between all human desires and the best way to live life. for additional... |
| 2013-Jul-01 • 45 minutes Episode #004 ... Plato In this week's episode, we learn about Plato's "Symposium", which you might think of as philosophy's version of fan fiction. We also learn about Plato's "Theory of Forms" and ask ourselves what makes a tree, well, a tree. This leads to discussion of... |
| 2013-Jun-23 • 40 minutes Episode #003 ... Socrates and the Sophists This week we talk about the prosperity of athens and how it led to the rise and ideas of a group of philosopher teachers called the Sophists, we tied up some loose ends and helped put all that we've learned in the last two episodes into context with a... |
| 2013-Jun-15 • 37 minutes Episode #002 ... Presocratic Philosophy - Italian Today we talk about why philosophy is taken for granted, the crazed cult leader of ancient Greek philosophy, Pythagoras, the annoying dark cloud of deductive reasoning, Parmenides and the super hero Empedocles. for additional content. Thank you... |
| 2013-Jun-06 • 49 minutes Episode #001 ... Presocratic Philosophy - Ionian Today we discussed the "Out of Africa" theory, the adversity of early humans, the term "Pre-Socratic", the first philosopher Thales, the meanest philosopher Heraclitus and Democritus, the godfather of the theory of atomism. for additional... |