Episode #029 - Descartes Pt. 2
Descartes Part 2
The audio file for this episode was lost years ago.
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our three-part series on Rene Descartes. First, we discuss the obvious but unprovable superiority of fresh-caught tuna to Chicken of the Sea and how this parallels the divide between the continental rationalists and the British empiricists. Next, we learn about Descartes’ early life and how he essentially became Steve Jobs with neck ruffles. Finally, we examine the difference between people who avoid the boulder and those who find a way to demolish it. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
Meditations on First Philosophy by René Descartes (1641)
Descartes: A Biography by Desmond M. Clarke (2006)
Descartes: The Renewal of Philosophy by Steven Nadler (2023)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #028 - Descartes Pt. 1 - A Little Context
Descartes Part 1 - A little 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’ rigorous method of doubt and how it involves Morpheus from the Matrix and Sully from Monsters Inc. Finally, we think about how doubt can help us live better lives and why, when it comes to our beliefs, one bad apple really does spoil the barrel. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
Meditations on First Philosophy by René Descartes, translated by Donald A. Cress (1993)
Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy by René Descartes, translated by Donald A. Cress (1999)
The Philosophical Writings of Descartes: Volume I by René Descartes, translated by John Cottingham, Robert Stoothoff, and Dugald Murdoch (1985)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #027 - Thomas Hobbes Pt. 2
Thomas Hobbes Part 2
On this episode of the podcast, we continue our discussion of Thomas Hobbes. First, we learn about how Hobbes views fear, and find out how Stephen was almost murdered while eating a Five Dollar Footlong. Next, we examine the differences between the approaches of Thomas Hobbes and Francis Bacon when it came to achieving scientific progress. Finally, we find out why Hobbes thought language was so important, and how his ideas could help you prevent your wife from thinking you’re ‘in da club’ when you’re not. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
Leviathan (Oxford World's Classics) – Thomas Hobbes (2009)
Francis Bacon: The Major Works (Oxford World's Classics) – Francis Bacon (2002)
Francis Bacon: From Magic to Science – Paolo Rossi (2009)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #026 - The Social Contract, Thomas Hobbes Pt. 1
Thomas Hobbes Part 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 inherently selfish and how this affects the way we relate to each other. Finally, we find out why society needs a quarterback, so to speak, and why it’s important that we follow his playbook even when we don’t understand the plays. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes (1651)
The Political Philosophy of Hobbes: Its Basis and Its Genesis by Leo Strauss (1936)
Hobbes and the Social Contract Tradition by Jean Hampton (1986)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #025 - A Scientific Method For Your Life!
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 society’s chief priority. Next, we examine Bacon’s “Four Idols of the Mind,” which were the biases he believed prevented humans from thinking scientifically. We touch on everything from germ theory to diet fads to healthcare reform to gender inequality, with some Flamin’ Hot Cheetos thrown in for good measure. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
The Advancement of Learning – Francis Bacon (1605)
Novum Organum – Francis Bacon (1620)
Francis Bacon's Inquiry Touching Human Nature – Graham Rees (2012)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #024 - Montaigne
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 personal experience above all other evidence, and how his philosophy drew from the four dominant schools of thought of the Hellenistic age. Finally, we find out why Montaigne thought that “to philosophize is to learn how to die,” and how he believed this idea could be put into practice. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
How to Live – Sarah Bakewell (2010)
The Complete Essays of Montaigne – Michel de Montaigne, Donald M. Frame (1958)
The Essays: A Selection – Michel de Montaigne, M. A. Screech (1994)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #023 - Machiavelli
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 from Google Translate. Next, we dispel a common misconception about Machiavellianism by discussing the subjective nature of virtue. Finally, we find out why Machiavelli thought that rulers needed to act immorally at times in order to be successful. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
The Reformation: A History – Diarmaid MacCulloch (2003)
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther – Roland H. Bainton (1950)
The Prince – Niccolò Machiavelli (1513)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #022 - Blast off to the Renaissance!
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 economic and political crisis that was ultimately the catalyst for a paradigm shift in philosophical thought. We also learn about the Humanist philosopher Erasmus, who, unlike the philosophers we’ve discussed on recent episodes, did not think that fusing faith and reason was a very good idea. It was much simpler than that. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
Renaissance Humanism: An Anthology of Sources by Margaret L. King (2014)
The Black Death: Natural and Human Disaster in Medieval Europe by Robert S. Gottfried (1983)
Erasmus: A Critical Biography by Leon E. Halkin (1993)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #021 - Saint Thomas Aquinas
Saint 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 causation. Next, we learn about Aristotle’s conception of God as “The Unmoved Mover” and his thoughts on the nature of infinity. All of these ideas lead us to St. Thomas Aquinas’ quest to reconcile Aristotelianism and Christianity, which he approaches by arguing that the Christian belief that God created the universe and the Aristotelean belief that the universe has always existed are not mutually exclusive ideas. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
Aquinas: A Beginner's Guide – Edward Feser (2009)
The Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas – Étienne Gilson (1994)
Aristotle in Aquinas’s Theology – Gilles Emery, O.P. (2015)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #020 - Two Medieval Approaches To God
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, we examine St. Anselm’s famous “Ontological Argument” in proof of God’s existence, which is strangely reminiscent of a tongue twister Ron Burgundy might use to prepare for his evening newscast. Finally, we learn why Moses Maimonides would say that the first rule of God is, “You do not talk about God.” Or at least, “You do not talk about what God is, only what he isn’t.” All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
The Ontological Argument: From St. Anselm to Contemporary Philosophers, Alvin Plantinga and Richard Taylor (1965)
Worship of the Heart: A Study of Maimonides' Philosophy of Religion, Ehud Benor (1995)
Philosophy of Religion: A Beginner's Guide, Charles Taliaferro (2010)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #019 - Three Islamic Truths
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 news organizations and their approach to reporting the “truth.” Then, we learn about Al Ghazali, who at one point became so skeptical about our ability to discover the truth, he actually made himself physically ill. Lastly, we take a look at Averroes who desperately wanted philosophy and religion to be business partners. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
The Philosophical Works of al-Kindi by Peter Adamson and Peter E. Pormann (2012)
Al-Ghazali's Philosophical Theology by Frank Griffel (2009)
The Philosophy and Theology of Averroes by Averroës (2024)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #018 - Avicenna
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 pulverize it in a blender. We also work in two Breaking Bad references, and apply Avicenna’s Flying Man argument to modern day ethical dilemmas relating to life support. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
Avicenna – Lenn E. Goodman (2006)
Avicenna (Great Medieval Thinkers) – Jon McGinnis (2010)
Forming the Mind: Essays on the Internal Senses and the Mind/Body Problem from Avicenna to the Medical Enlightenment – Edited by Henrik Lagerlund (2007)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #017 - Boethius
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 solved one of the oldest problems in philosophy. We manage to compare the main characters of Boethius’ book to Lady Liberty and Eeyore selling a rice cooker on QVC, and explain why Boethius believed that we’re all just contestants on a never-ending episode of Wheel of Fortune. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, translated by Victor Watts (Penguin Classics, 1999)
The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, translated by Joel C. Relihan (Hackett Publishing Company, 2001)
The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, translated by David R. Slavitt (Harvard University Press, 2008)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #016 - Saint Augustine
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 intervention, and find out why he thinks crying babies are sinners. We also discuss St. Augustine’s explanation of the concept of time and why he claims that the past and future don’t really exist. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
The Confessions of St. Augustine, Augustine (2008)
St. Augustine on Neoplatonism, Grapevine (2023)
Augustine and Time, John Doody, Kim Paffenroth, and Mark Smillie (2021)
See the full transcript here.
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I could never do this without your support! :)
Episode #015 - A Period of Transition - Plotinus
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 parts of Harry Potter’s backstory from Plotinus’ life. We also learn about Plotinus’ Hierarchy of Being and use the phrase “Polaroid picture” more times than Outkast does in their hit song “Hey Ya!”. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
The Essential Plotinus by Plotinus, translated by Elmer O'Brien (1975)
Reading Plotinus: A Practical Introduction to Neoplatonism by Kevin Corrigan (2004)
Plotinus or the Simplicity of Vision by Pierre Hadot, translated by Michael Chase (1993)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #014 - The Hellenistic Age Pt. 5 - A Race to the Dark Ages
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 bookcase. We also discuss the important distinction Plutarch made between a flatterer and a friend, and why he would have absolutely hated Facebook. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
The Middle Platonists: 80 B.C. to A.D. 220 by John M. Dillon (1996)
Philo of Alexandria: An Intellectual Biography by Maren Niehoff (2018)
Plutarch: Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans (Modern Library Classics) by Plutarch (2001)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #013 - The Hellenistic Age Pt. 4 - Skepticism
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 pomegranate. We also discover how winning the lottery could be the worst thing that ever happens to you, and compare Skepticism's key philosophers to their Smurf counterparts.
Further Reading:
Outlines of Pyrrhonism by Sextus Empiricus (1990)
The Skeptic Way: Sextus Empiricus's Outlines of Pyrrhonism by Benson Mates (1996)
Hellenistic Philosophy: Selected Readings in Epicureanism, Stoicism, Skepticism, and Neoplatonism edited by Herman Shapiro and Edwin M. Curley (1965)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #012 - The Hellenistic Age Pt. 3 - Hallmarks of Stoic Ethics
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 they actually had in common. We discuss what angry sports fans and Stephen's English bulldog could learn from Stoic ethics, as well as why you should start each day expecting the worst. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
"Stoic Ethics: The Basics" by Christopher Gill and Brittany Polat (2023)
"Stoic Ethics: Epictetus and Happiness as Freedom" by William O. Stephens (2007)
"Learning to Live Naturally: Stoic Ethics and its Modern Significance" by Christopher Gill (2022)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #011 - The Hellenistic Age Pt. 2 - The Early Stoa and the Cynics
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 philosophy. We also learn about Diogenes, a man who lived in a tub, urinated in public, barked at passersby, and somehow managed to be envied by Alexander the Great. Finally, we find out what John Locke, Charlie Pace and a wild boar from LOST have to do with Stoic philosophy. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
Stoicism: A Very Short Introduction by Brad Inwood (2018)
The Hellenistic Philosophers by A.A. Long and D.N. Sedley (1987)
Stoicism by John Sellars (2006)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #010 - The Hellenistic Age Pt. 1 - Epicurus
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. We find out why Diogenes liked Epicurus’ ideas so much that he permanently graffitied them onto the walls of an ancient greek community center. We also learn why Epicurus thought that the most satisfying part of eating a half gallon of ice cream was the moment after the last spoonful, and why a jacket from Nordstrom really isn’t that much better than a jacket from Target. All this and more on the latest episode of Philosophize This!
Further Reading:
Epicureanism by Tim O'Keefe (2009)
The Epicurus Reader: Selected Writings and Testimonia by Epicurus, edited by Brad Inwood and Lloyd P. Gerson (1994)
How to Be an Epicurean: The Ancient Art of Living Well by Catherine Wilson (2019)
See the full transcript here.
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I could never do this without your support! :)