The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

A Philosophy Podcast and Philosophy Blog

Subscribe on Android Spotify

You can also see them organized by topic. For episodes marked "Preview," you can access the full episode at our store, or you could become a PEL Citizen and get them from our Free Stuff for Citizens page.

View Ascending View Descending

Episode 178: Nietzsche as Social Critic: “Twilight of the Idols” (Part Two)

by Leave a Comment

Continuing on Nietzsche’s 1888 book. Is there any ground from which we could judge life as a whole to be good or bad? Is N. more about saying “yes” to life or saying “no” to all the numerous things that piss him off? We also talk Becoming, whether producing great art is more important than being nice to everyone, and whether Nietzsche is ultimately someone we’d want to hang around.

End song: “Oblivion” by Tyler Hislop, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #24.

isten to part 1 first, or get the unbroken, ad-free Citizen Edition

Make sure to pick up a 2018 PEL Wall Calendar!

Visit MUBI.com/PEL for 30 days of free curated movies, BarkBox.com/PEL for a free month with a plan.

Episode 178: Nietzsche as Social Critic: “Twilight of the Idols” (Part One)

by 14 Comments

On Friedrich Nieztsche’s 1888 book summarizing his thought and critiquing the founding myths of his society. He defends “spiritualized” instinct and frenzied creativity, but also Napoleon and war. We try to figure out what kind of social critic he’d be today. Would we actually like him?

Sponsors: Get up to $50 off a DNA kit at 23andme.com/pel. Visit MUBI.com/PEL for 30 days of free curated movies, BarkBox.com/PEL for a free month with a plan, and Squarespace.com for a free trial and 10% off with offer code EXAMINED.

Episode 178: Nietzsche as Social Critic: “Twilight of the Idols” (Citizen Edition)

by 10 Comments

On Friedrich Nieztsche’s 1888 book summarizing his thought and critiquing the founding myths of his society. He defends “spiritualized” instinct and frenzied creativity, but also Napoleon and war. We try to figure out what kind of social critic he’d be today. Would we actually like him?

End song: “Oblivion” by Tyler Hislop, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #24.

Episode 177: Guest Russ Roberts on Adam Smith and Libertarian Economics (Part Two)

by 10 Comments

Continuing with the Econtalk host on the moral aspects of economics, focused by Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations and Theory of Moral Sentiments.

Should we sacrifice ourselves to the machine of the economy? How does Smith’s idea of virtue and talk of the “impartial spectator” line up with economic growth?

Listen to part 1 first or get the unbroken, ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL! Learn how to install the Citizen feed on your mobile device. The 2018 Wall Calendar is now available to order!

End song: “Needle Exchange” by Fritz Beer, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #2.

Visit MUBI.com/PEL for 30 days of free curated movies. Check out The Panpsycast podcast at thepanpsycast.com.

Episode 177: Guest Russ Roberts on Adam Smith and Libertarian Economics (Part One)

by 36 Comments

The host of Econtalk provides his take on our ep. 174 on The Wealth of Nations, and explores with us the idea of emergent economic order. Is the economy more like a machine or a garden or what?

Continue with part 2 or get the full, ad-free, unbroken Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

Listener discounts: Visit lovepop.com/pel for 3D pop-up cards; simplecontacts.com/pel, promo code PEL; MUBI.com/PEL for curated movies; and Squarespace.com, offer code EXAMINED.

Episode 176: Situationism in Psych: Milgram & Stanford Prison Experiments (Part Two)

by 2 Comments

Continuing with Dave Pizarro on articles by Stanley Milgram, Philip Zimbardo, and John Doris about situationism, which entails that people’s level of morality will vary by situation, as opposed to virtue ethics, which posits that how people will act in a novel situation will be determined by the quality of their character.

Listen to part 1 first or get the ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

Visit MUBI.com/PEL for 30 days of free curated movies, and check out Dan Cummins’s awesome podcast at timesuckpodcast.com.

Episode 176: Situationism in Psych: Milgram & Stanford Prison Experiments (Part One)

by 5 Comments

On Stanley Milgram’s “Behavioral Study of Obedience” (1963), Philip Zimbardo’s “Interpersonal Dynamics in a Simulated Prison” (1973), and John Doris’s “Persons, Situations, and Virtue Ethics” (1998).

Do difficult situations make good people act badly? Are there really “good” and “bad” people, or are we all about the same, but put in different situations? With guest Dave Pizarro from Very Bad Wizards.

Don’t wait for part 2! Get the ad-free Citizen Edition now.

Visit MUBI.com/PEL for 30 days of free curated movies, BarkBox.com/PEL for a free month with a plan, hellofresh.com promo code PEL30 for $30 off your first week, TheTrackR.com/PEL for 20% off, and Squarespace.com for a free trial and 10% off with offer code EXAMINED.

Episode 176: Situationism in Psych: Milgram & Stanford Prison Experiments (Citizen Edition)

by 5 Comments

On Stanley Milgram’s “Behavioral Study of Obedience” (1963), Philip Zimbardo’s “Interpersonal Dynamics in a Simulated Prison” (1973), and John Doris’s “Persons, Situations, and Virtue Ethics” (1998).

Do difficult situations make good people act badly? Are there really “good” and “bad” people, or are we all about the same, but put in different situations?

End song: “Doing the Wrong Thing – Live” by Kaki King; listen to her on Nakedly Examined Music #54.

TEASER-Episode 175: Blade Runner (Part Two)

by 1 Comment

Do you want the WHOLE discussion on the new Blade Runner 2049, the original 1982 film, and the idea-packed Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1967) by Philip K. Dick?

If you do, show your love to the podcast by signing up to be a supporter at the $1-or-higher level at patreon.com/partiallyexaminedlife, or better yet become a PEL Citizen and get every podcast we’ve ever recorded plus bonus discussions, ad-free!

Episode 175: Blade Runner: Androids and Humanity (Part One)

by 3 Comments

On Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1967) and the films Blade Runner 2049 (2017) and Blade Runner (1982).

What makes us human? Dick’s story about androids emphasized their lack of empathy, while the movie adaptations portrayed the “replicants” as plenty capable of emotion, but unjustly treated as servants or targets.

Attention: The second half of this special bonus episode is available only to supporters. You should go ahead and get the full, ad-free Citizen Edition. You can also hear it with a $1 or more pledge at patreon.com/partiallyexaminedlife.

Sponsors: Get $50 off a new mattress by visiting casper.com/pel. And visit MUBI.com/pel for 30 days of free, curated films from around the globe.

Episode 175: Blade Runner: Androids and Humanity (Citizen Edition)

by 8 Comments

On Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1967) and the films Blade Runner 2049 (2007) and Blade Runner (1982).

What makes us human? Dick’s story about androids emphasized their lack of empathy, while the movie adaptations portrayed the “replicants” as plenty capable of emotion, but unjustly treated as servants or targets.

End song: “Wounds and Nihilism (Quantum Androids),” written for this episode by Tyler Hislop (feat. Mark Lint). Listen to Tyler on Nakedly Examined Music #24.

Episode 174: Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations” (Part Two)

by 14 Comments

Continuing on the foundational text of economics. We talk “invisible hand,” “greed is good,” tariffs, unproductive labor, city vs. country, and the education racket.

Listen to part 1 first or get the ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: “With My Looks and Your Brains” by The Mr. T Experience. Hear about the singer/songwriter on Nakedly Examined Music #56.

Sponsors: Try blinkist.com/pel for audio condensations of nonfiction books. And visit mubi.com/pel for 30 days of free, curated films.

Episode 174: Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations” (Part One)

by 13 Comments

On the foundational, 1776 text of modern economics. How does the division of labor and our instinct to exchange lead to the growth of wealth? Is the economy sufficiently machine-like to enable us to manipulate its output, or at least to tell us how not to screw it up?

Continues on part 2, or get your unbroken, ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

Visit mubi.com/pel for 30 days of free, curated films. Also, visit thetrackr.com/PEL, and use promo code PEL for 20% off a Bluetooth tracking tag.

Episode 174: Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations” (Citizen Edition)

by 1 Comment

On the foundational, 1776 text of modern economics. How does the division of labor and our instinct to exchange lead to the growth of wealth? Is the economy sufficiently machine-like to enable us to manipulate its output, or at least to tell us how not to screw it up?

End song: “With My Looks and Your Brains” by The Mr. T Experience. Hear about the singer/songwriter on Nakedly Examined Music #56.

Episode 173: Relating to American Indian Philosophy (Part Two)

by 6 Comments

We go further into “Philosophy of Native Science” by Gregory Cajete and “What Coyote and Thales Can Teach Us: An Outline of American Indian Epistemology” by Brian Yazzie Burkhart, plus process philosophy, propositional vs. procedural knowledge, and what we owe to nature. With guest Jim Marunich.

Listen to part 1 first or get the ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: “Circle’s Gotta Go” by Kim Rancourt, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #52.

Visit meundies.com/pel for 20% off + free shipping and mubi.com/pel for 30 days of free, curated movies.

Episode 173: Relating to American Indian Philosophy (Part One)

by 10 Comments

What is wisdom? We discuss articles by Brian Burkhart, Gregory Cajete, and Anne Waters, plus Black Elk Speaks by John Neihardt (1932) and some traditional stories. With guest Jim Marunich; we read his master’s thesis, “Process Metaphysics in the Far West: American Indian Ontologies.”

Don’t wait for part 2! Get your unbroken, ad-free Citizen Edition now. Please support PEL!

Visit barkbox.com/PEL for a free month of BarkBox with a subscription for pet supplies. Try blinkist.com/pel for audio condensations of nonfiction books.

Episode 173: Relating to American Indian Philosophy (Citizen Edition)

by 10 Comments

What is wisdom? We discuss articles by Brian Burkhart, Gregory Cajete, and Anne Waters, plus Black Elk Speaks by John Neihardt (1932) and some traditional stories. With guest Jim Marunich; we read his master’s thesis, “Process Metaphysics in the Far West: American Indian Ontologies.”

End song: “Circle’s Gotta Go” by Kim Rancourt, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #52.

Episode 172: Mind, Self, and Affect with Guest Dr. Drew (Part Two)

by 20 Comments

Continuing with Drew Pinsky on “Attachment and Reflective Function: Their Role in Self-organization” by Peter Fonagy and two articles by Allan Schore.

Fonagy claims we gain the ability to emotionally self-regulate as a result of achieving secure attachment with a caregiver as infants. Schore claims that if this fails, we can end up fundamentally disengaged. So what are the philosophical implications?

Listen to part 1 first, or get the ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: “Anything but Love” by Steve Hackett, as featured on Nakedly Examined Music #45.

Visit thetrackr.com/PEL, and use promo code PEL for 20% off little bluetooth tags that help you find lost items.

Episode 172: Mind, Self, and Affect with Guest Dr. Drew (Part One)

by 8 Comments

Radio legend Dr. Drew Pinsky talks with us about “Attachment and Reflective Function: Their Role in Self-organization” by Peter Fonagy and two articles by Allan Schore.

The focus is “theory of mind”; how do we develop the ability to impute thoughts and intentions to others? What in our upbringing can interfere with this development? We relate this back to previous episodes (Hegel, Buber, etc.) on recognition by others of the self.

Visit DrDrew.com. He interviews Wes!

Don’t wait for part 2, get the unbroken, ad-free Citizen Edition now. Please support PEL!

Visit hellofresh.com, promo code PEL30 for $30 off, and meundies.com/pel for 20% off + free shipping.

About The Partially Examined Life

The Partially Examined Life is a philosophy podcast by some guys who were at one point set on doing philosophy for a living but then thought better of it. Each episode, we pick a text and chat about it with some balance between insight and flippancy. You don’t have to know any philosophy, or even to have read the text we’re talking about to (mostly) follow and (hopefully) enjoy the discussion

Become a PEL Citizen!

As a PEL Citizen, you’ll have access to a private social community of philosophers, thinkers, and other partial examiners where you can join or initiate discussion groups dedicated to particular readings, participate in lively forums, arrange online meet-ups for impromptu seminars, and more. PEL Citizens also have free access to podcast transcripts, guided readings, episode guides, PEL music, and other citizen-exclusive material. Click here to join.

Blog Post Categories

Follow:

Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | iTunes