Shows
The PhilosofilesEpisode 015 / Moral RelativismEverything's relative! Or is it? No, we're not talking about your crazy uncle who makes everyone cringe at Thanksgiving. We're talking about Moral Relativism, that delicious little thought experiment that takes us down the rabbit hole of unanswerable questions. Is there universal moral code by which we can all live? Where in the world do we find examples of such a code? Where might we find exceptions? In this episode, you might encounter the answers you seek. But then again, you might scream at us through your device, or you might just be left scratching your head! You'll have...2023-02-221h 09The PhilosofilesEpisode 014 / Seven Deadly SinsWelcome to (Seven Deadly) Sins City! We’ve spent so much time talking virtues these past few weeks, we flip the script today and talk vices. In this episode, we explore what these so-called sins are, and why even if you’re not Christian, they are worth knowing and (most likely) avoiding.
Little, Becky. “How the Seven Deadly Sins Began as ‘Eight Evil Thoughts’. history.com. 25 March 2021. Accessed 26 January 2023. https://www.history.com/news/seven-deadly-sins-origins#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThey're%20called%20'mortal,about%20the%20seven%20deadly%20sins.
“Mortal and Venial Sin.” St. Boniface Parish, stboniface-lunenburg.org/mortal-and-venial-sin#:~:text=Mortal%20...2023-02-1538 minThe PhilosofilesEpisode 013 / Stoicism, Pt. 5 - JusticeThey say power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In the world of ancient Rome, this saying often proved true, as many of its emperors literally plundered, raped, and pillaged in pursuit of greater thrill and material gain. Standing in sharp contrast to this was Emperor Marcus Aurelius, a man who found himself in the highest office of the land despite not wanting it. Marcus’ life and writings teach us about the final Stoic value, Justice. We dive into what could be called the textbook of Stoicism, Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. We explore the life of the philosopher-king - a man...2023-02-0850 minThe PhilosofilesEpisode 012 / Stoicism Pt. 4 - CouragePhilosophers across the ages have always warned that we should not become slaves to our possessions, our social status, or our lifestyles. Epictetus, however, feared this in a much more literal sense: he was born into actual slavery within the cruel ancient Roman empire. Living the first three decades of his life in bondage, he nonetheless found great freedom and peace within Stoic teachings long before he legally became a freeman in his thirties. He exemplified endurance, balance, and Courage. Join us in today’s episode as we learn about the remarkable life of Epictetus, a man who was bo...2023-02-011h 00The PhilosofilesEpisode 011 / AestheticsWhat is beautiful, and what is art? In today’s episode, we dive into the philosophy of Aesthetics. We explore how dissonant music and “dad bods” show us what - and why - we humans label things as the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Huynh, Calvin, and Calvin Huynh Nation T. “Dad Bods Are Hot? Fake News vs. Science.” T NATION, 22 July 2021, www.t-nation.com/alpha-life/dad-body-what-women-want/. Accessed 21 Jan. 2023
Kleinman, Paul. Philosophy 101 : From Plato and Socrates to Ethics and Metaphysics, an Essential Primer on the History of Thought. Avon, Massachusetts, Adams Media, 2013
“Why Are Symmetrical...2023-01-2546 minThe PhilosofilesEpisode 010 / HedonismOoh la la!! Good morning from your loving mythological figures, Eros and Psyche.
We change gears from our ongoing series on Stoicism to explore a seemingly opposing philosophy: Hedonism. Is everything that we do in pursuit of pleasure, or at least done to minimize pain? Are even people who willingly embrace pain or lead very self-disciplined lives actually Hedonists? We talk about how philosophers define Hedonism and how it differs from our day-to-day understanding of hedonism. Finally, we wrap up with some discussion on whether there even is such a thing as altruism, or whether we’re al...2023-01-1836 minThe PhilosofilesEpisode 009 / Stoicism, Pt. 3 - WisdomToday’s episode has us analyzing the Stoic value of Wisdom. We examine the life of Panaetius (pronounced Pan-EYE-tee-us), a Roman Stoic philosopher-turned-legal/political advisor. In an empire famous for its corruption and decadence, Panaetius advocated for a life of self-reflection and progressive reforms such as legal representation for criminals. We discuss the four roles he argued we must play well if we are to live an ethical and fulfilling life. Finally, we end this episode with a meditation on life, death, and impermanence … and how we might use these thoughts to connect more deeply with our friends and elder...2023-01-1159 minThe PhilosofilesEpisode 008 / Stoicism, Pt. 2 - TemperanceIn today’s episode, we explore the life and lessons of Cleanthes, a man who was in many ways a living testament to the first Stoic virtue we’ll examine: Temperance. Many doubtless considered him foolish for turning down wealth and honors from nobles and kings, as Cleanthes rejected a life of luxury in favor of being a humble manual laborer. Come with us as we explore the legacy of a man who taught us that everyone - no matter their standing in life - can lead the temperate, peaceful, and fulfilled life of a Stoic.
...2023-01-0451 minThe PhilosofilesEpisode 007 / Stoicism, Pt. 1 - Zeno's LentilsMore than 2000 years ago, a failed merchant and his pot of lentil soup would help create one of philosophy’s most influential schools of thought. In today’s episode, we are introduced to Stoicism. This sometimes-misunderstood philosophy is not about suffering and experiencing hardship for its own sake, but about using life’s challenges as opportunities for growth, joy, and connection. We introduce you to the Four Stoic Virtues and Zeno the Prophet (and his lentil soup), the unassuming founder of this practical school of philosophy. Come learn how Stoic principles have helped millions throughout the ages achieve greater peace...2022-12-2847 minThe PhilosofilesEpisode 006 / Introduction to EthicsWhat does it mean to live a “good” life, and how do we go about doing so? Philosophy invites us to think about what is possibly one of the most important, timeless, and all-encompassing questions in human history. In this episode, we dive into what this field in philosophy, ethics, is all about. What are the different ways of understanding morals, values, and codes of conduct, and how can understanding this topic’s different facets help us lead lives we consider healthy, rich, and fulfilling?
Arnarson, Atli. “7 Nutrients You Can’t Get from Plants.” Healthline, 31 Oct. 2019, w...2022-12-2158 minThe PhilosofilesEpisode 005 / P.R.O.P. Up Your ArgumentMost of what we know (or think we know) comes to us from others: friends, family, coworkers, news media, and dozens of other authority figures. In this day and age of mass media and competing narratives, it can feel like an impossible task to know what is real and what we should trust.
So without further ado … Gimme a P, gimme an R, gimme an O, gimme (another) P! Remember this cheer, and you’ll be well equipped to sift through what’s likely fact - and what’s likely crap.
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The PhilosofilesEpisode 004 / The Cow In The FieldA cow, a farmer, and a milkman all walk onto a field. Sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it’s actually the setting for a short story that pokes at one of philosophy’s greatest puzzles: How do we know what we know, and can we ever be certain we know anything?
References:
Kleinman, Paul. Philosophy 101 : From Plato and Socrates to Ethics and Metaphysics, an Essential Primer on the History of Thought. Avon, Massachusetts, Adams Media, 2013
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The PhilosofilesEpisode 003 / The Ship of TheseusWhat can a fictional story about a mythical king and a wooden ship teach us about who we are and our ever-changing nature? In this episode, we set sail on the Ship of Theseus and explore one of philosophy’s central questions: What makes us, us?
References:
Kleinman, Paul. Philosophy 101 : From Plato and Socrates to Ethics and Metaphysics, an Essential Primer on the History of Thought. Avon, Massachusetts, Adams Media, 2013
“Does Personality Change with Age? Science Says Yes.” Psych Central, 26 Jan. 2022, psychcentral.com/health/personality-changes-with-age#the-big-5. Accessed 19 Nov. 2022
“The Courage to Say “...2022-11-3035 min
The PhilosofilesEpisode 002 / Naive RealismIn this episode, we discuss what is perhaps the most common bias all people carry within themselves, but very few know they do. Shining a light on this tendency will make us more critical thinkers, stronger conversationalists, and more empathetic friends, coworkers and family members. Let’s explore the world of Naive Realism!
Naive Realism definition paraphrased from:
“Naive Realism.” The Decision Lab, thedecisionlab.com/biases/naive-realism
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...2022-11-2351 minThe PhilosofilesEpisode 001 / Socratic MethodIn this episode, we discuss the Socratic method, one of the greatest methods from one of the greatest minds in philosophy, to refine our understanding of the world and what we believe about it.
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REFERENCES:
Kleinman, Paul. Philosophy 101 : From Plato and Socrates to Ethics and Metaphysics, an Essential Primer on the History of Thought. Avon, Massachusetts, Adams Media, 2013.2022-11-2042 min
The PhilosofilesEpisode 000 / And so it begins...In episode 0, we talk about who we are and why we undertook this philosophical labor of love.
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REFERENCES:
Kleinman, Paul. Philosophy 101 : From Plato and Socrates to Ethics and Metaphysics, an Essential Primer on the History of Thought. Avon, Massachusetts, Adams Media, 2013.
Sahakian, William S, and Mabel Lewis Sahakian. Ideas of the Great Philosophers. New...2022-11-2039 min