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My Wish for the New Year

January 3, 2011 by Seth Paskin 16 Comments

I hope that this celebration of the rotation of the calendar finds all PEL listeners/readers in good cheer, looking with unbridled optimism and hope at a vast array of positive opportunities in front of them.  As it is customary to reflect upon the past and project into the future on this occasion, I propose to do just that and ask you to indulge me.

When Mark first contacted Wes and I almost two years ago with the idea for PEL, I said 'yeah, sure', thinking nothing would come of it, or at best, we'd struggle to do an episode in a couple of months and maybe it would work out, maybe it wouldn't.  Instead, three weeks later we were recording the first of what would be 30 episodes (and counting).  30 doesn't sound like a lot in almost two years, but when you consider that we actually read the texts and prepare for each podcast, coordinate the schedules of three otherwise employed and occupied people, record around 3 hours of stuff per episode, edit out at least an hour and a half (usually), maintain a blog and try to respond to feedback - it's fucking amazing.

What's more amazing to me is that we've found an audience - you.  If we were a business and someone had pitched this as a product, I guarantee you no one would have bought it.

Schmuck:  OK, picture this.  Three grad school dropouts from the most academic of academic fields (Philosophy), get together and talk about subjects that should be but aren't of interest to most people (identity, ontology, epistemology, ethics, mind, language, Being), trying to recreate an atmosphere almost no one ever experiences (post grad school seminar bullshitting) and -wait for it - each episode is easily longer than the attention span of most English speaking mortals.

Executive:  STOP!  You had me at "dropout".

There are a 1000 reasons why this shouldn't have worked, why someone else should have done it, how it could be better, how it could be more accessible, etc.  But it does and we've done it - only because there are people out there - you - who enjoy it, are stimulated by it, share it with others, get engaged and maybe even inspired.  If our listenership hadn't grown, if we hadn't thought anyone cared, I don't think we'd have had the energy to carry on.  But here is our reality:  the PEL site gets over 300 hits a day, we've had around 75,000 since we put it up.  Our episodes have been downloaded over 100,000 times!

Surely some of those stats are bloated, but if even a small % of folks that download actually listen to and get something out of the podcasts, it's significant to me.  But I'm curious and I want to know more.  So in this new year I want to ask for something from you - tell us why PEL matters.  The reality is that we don't know how many people listen, why they listen, what kind of backgrounds they have, what they like from us and what they want to see changed, etc.  We've talked about doing a survey, and maybe we will, but for now I'd love to get some feedback in the comments to this post from folks.  Share a bit about you and why PEL makes a difference (or not) in your life.  It's my New Year's wish and I would be extremely thankful.

--Seth Paskin

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Filed Under: Misc. Philosophical Musings, PEL's Notes

Comments

  1. Thomas says

    January 3, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    Happy New Year, Seth!

    I’m an attorney with an MBA and a BS in Electrical Engineering, but I’ve always secretly wished I’d pursued philosophy instead (or at least music or film or English).

    I’m working a legal job that doesn’t require much higher-order thinking, and I needed something to keep my higher-order brain engaged so it wouldn’t stage a mutiny against my lower-order brain’s current vocational choice. I searched Google for philosophy podcasts and came across this blog. That was about a month ago and I just finished the latest podcast on old Schopie.

    Honestly, I think there are very practical ways in which philosophy and philosophical insight effect society. I’ve only read a marginal amount of philosophical texts, yet when your podcast hits the innovative highlights of these different works, I find myself repeatedly recognizing this or that bulwark idea which I gleaned from a movie or a piece of music somewhere along the line. “The Matrix” spurred me to consider the possibility that I am a brain in the vat. Pink Floyd forced me to question whether the pursuit of money or suburban security would really lead to happiness or a good life by some other definition. What I get from listening to your podcasts is a much clearer window into those ideas than I ever did from art which by its nature obscures them with aesthetic components.

    I think our society needs more engagement with these ideas on such a bold and clear level as only philosophy provides. One can see this in the way that people respond so passionately to works of art which approach the philosophical; like “The Matrix” or “Fight Club” or Radiohead. Philosophy is no longer connected to the public, even to the educated public, and they’re starving for it. I know I am.

    So, I come here so I don’t have to read the works themselves!

    Keep up the good work, my friend…

    -Thomas

    Reply
  2. Daniel Horne says

    January 3, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    Hi Seth,

    I’d be happy to complete a more detailed survey, but here’s my flip response: PEL’s podcasts help explain the often undecipherable canon of great thinkers to those of us who don’t know if these people had any intelligible or interesting answers to “big” (i.e., vexing) questions.

    That’s no mean feat; most of the philosophy podcasts out there do very little to explain _in detail_ the arguments of these writers. PEL fills that niche quite nicely. The fact that there’s good chemistry and the occasional amusing anecdote is icing on the cake. But I’d listen even if you guys got drier and more focused, because of the value of the information. Does it make a “difference” in my life? Well, learning about great books always _enriches_ the life of the listener, so there you are!

    Reply
  3. Markus says

    January 3, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    Hi Seth,

    happy new year!

    I’m a physicist and had some access to philosophy during my university time. At that time I bought some books (Sein und Zeit, Kritik der reinen Vernunft, Tractatus) which mainly served to collect dust in my bookshelf. Main reason being that they seemed to complicated to deal with or even seemed to be outright incomprehensible (Sein und Zeit).
    I discovered Podcasts in 2007 and quickly became a fan of ‘Philosophy bites’ and ‘Entitled opinions’. I also listened to the Dreyfus fall 2007 Heidegger lecture. Sadly I discovered PEL very late – in august 2010. I listened to episodes 1-25 from 10th of august to 19th of september, i.e. at a rate of more than 0,6 episodes/day 🙂
    Podcasting contributed much to activate my interest in philosophy again. Currently I am interested in phenomenology and I’m reading ‘The Phenomenological Mind’ (Gallagher/Zahavi) and the summer 1925 Heidegger lecture ‘Prolegomena zur Geschichte des Zeitbegriffs’.
    Perhaps sometime you will do the Husserl episode nevertheless;-)

    What I most like about PEL is the mood – as though discussing in a pub what you just heard in the philosophy lecture. I also fancy that you do quite a bit of continental philosophy.

    What would I like to hear in the future?
    I’m always interested in philosophy of mind, free will and philosophy of time. I think Augustinus is a must-read? Definitely I will read the Leibniz-Clarke correspondence soon. I also noted Agamben, Arendt, Levinas and Merleau-Ponty. Any thoughts on them?

    So thanks Seth, Mark and Wes for many interesting and inspiring hours!
    Markus – from Munich

    Reply
  4. Douglas says

    January 3, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    All I’ve got to say is it’s awesome to know there are people out there that I would love to spend time with actually talking about things! But frankly, I’m pissed that I don’t actually know anyone like you to go have a beer with.

    So, like all podcasts I enjoy I get upset that I can never interject my thoughts and questions into the discussion.

    And as a late-comer (really a newbie as I’m only half-way through the first Wittgenstein) I want to talk about what you’re doing but feel way behind the curve sometimes.

    In any event–as a 42 year-old former English teacher and electronic journal sales & marketing manager (ugh) it’s wonderful to breath this in and it makes my urge and desire to be “man thinking” exhilaratingly possible!

    thanks!

    Reply
  5. Douglas says

    January 3, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    “breathe”!

    Reply
  6. CM says

    January 3, 2011 at 10:54 pm

    I’m an undergraduate philosophy student. I don’t remember how I came across your podcast, probably just a google search for philosophy podcasts… I love philosophy and I love podcasts, so there you go.

    Anyway, I suppose I’m drawn to the podcast because it captures what I find most exciting about philosophy, discussing it in a relaxed and non-academic but serious way. Its also reassuring to me that one doesn’t need to get a PhD in the subject to continue to enjoy it in a more-than-superficial way.

    Reply
  7. Del Lowery says

    January 4, 2011 at 1:20 am

    Hi Seth,

    Thanks for the invitation to comment. It just took a little push. I have wanted to comment since I first found your site. I love it. Especially all of the irreverent comments.

    I used to teach an introductory philosophy class to high school juniors and seniors in Anchorage. The class was intended to just provide an introduction. That was all I was capable of doing. My education in philosophy came from just a few formal classes and quiet a bit of personal readings. I tried to make all philosophy personal; not just some platitudes from people in books. We wanted to relate philosophical thoughts to our own lives.

    Your podcasts do that for me. You three certainly have knowledge of the subject and even more importantly an ability to explore, analyze and explain it in an understandable and entertaining fashion. Amazing!

    I can’t say I understand philosophy but I feel like I have pretty much figured out a philosophy that works for me – I am 68 years old – it’s about time.
    A few years ago I decided to set aside books with thoughts from old men and just run the rest of the way with whatever I have. It’s time to run free.

    Your podcasts are just right for bringing things back with an intellectual slant but yet keep the focus on continuing to “chop wood and carry water” at the same time.

    My own web site is an effort to get people to think a bit more about what they are doing with their lives in retirement.

    Thanks for all of your time and effort on this project. It sounds like you are having fun with it and I am certainly having fun listening. I usually listen with headphones and my wife is amazed at how often I laugh out loud.

    Appreciate it,

    Del Lowery

    Reply
    • Will Dawson says

      August 27, 2012 at 1:43 am

      I was one of the lucky students in Mr. Lowery’s Introductory Philosophy classes in high school. Another class I loved was Environmental Education. I took all the classes Mr. Lowery taught that I could fit into my schedule. I graduated in 1977. I still read my notebooks from those classes. Mr. Lowery was my favorite teacher of all. I think he made a real difference in my life. He sparked a lifelong interest in philosophy and learning in general.

      It’s great to discover his web site and read his comments here. I have often wondered what he is doing now. Thank you Mr. Lowery!

      Will Dawson
      Anchorage

      Reply
  8. Devon Vaccarino says

    January 4, 2011 at 3:12 am

    Hey guys,
    I’m currently a first-year philosophy major at UCLA and I have to say that I fell in love with the podcast as soon as I listened to it. I had doubts about the overly analytic and introspective life of a philosopher, but the first podcast reaffirmed my belief in the examined life. I have to deal with so many skeptics about philosophy so it’s nice to know that there’s a group, albeit esoteric, that wants to explore life’s problems and paradoxes, instead of ignore them.
    I think that the tone you three have is perfect for the venue; it serves as a great analytic and comprehensive introduction to the major philosophical texts with just enough sarcasm, snarkiness, and criticism to keep everything in perspective and slightly less dry than many texts. It’s also given a great insight into the life of successful philosophers who have made it past the adolescent period of getting high and ruminating about governmental conspiracies or achieving spiritual oneness with the cosmos. I mean I was seriously wondering ‘what the hell do philosophers do when they get old(er)’ (other than do a helluva lot of drugs or become a lawyer). I think the best part, however, is knowing that there’s some guys that have been through the rigors of academia, thought that it might have been cool, but then was like hell no… The best part of philosophy for me is having an awesome discussion and I think you guys really capture that elemental aspect- just enjoying some enlightening conversation with friends. I guess now when people ask me “so what are you going to do with a philosophy major?” I can confidently answer “I dunno maybe go drop out of grad school.”

    Reply
  9. Tariq says

    January 4, 2011 at 7:22 am

    Hi Seth,
    So… I’m a Computer Programmer, and I was one of the “It’s all relative man…” guys (I laughed so hard when Mark said that once in an episode), somewhat contended with my half baked distracted views of the world. Views like “We are all living in a big @$$ control system (Matrix)”, “The prophets were just delusional people (Fight Club)” and “It’s not fun if you are not a freak (This is the quote of some dude on a body building forum)”, anyway, growing older and allegedly wiser I had the urge to dig a bit deeper, trying to read Nietzsche and Kant but since English is not my first language, having the attention span of a gold fish when it comes to reading any non-science fiction literature, and actually not fully understanding what I was reading, I got discouraged but not entirely, I resorted to podcasts, I searched and I listened, until I stumbled upon your PEL, and when I listened to the first episode I sort of felt that this is what I’m looking for, I downloaded the whole thing and listened to all, some episodes two or three times.
    I hope that after I’m in the position of taking a side or at least getting a clearer understanding, if ever, to actually read the literature.
    By the way I am a Palestinian living in Jordan.
    I would like to thank you deeply guys for your fantastic job and honesty.

    Reply
  10. Jon says

    January 4, 2011 at 7:46 am

    There is an audience out there who wants to take a few moments from time to time to think about bigger things than which of the latest consumer gadgets to spend our hard-earned cash on. Plasma or LCD? Hmmm…

    The P.E.L. podcasts are fun and informative. And just like a good television series or sitcom, as time goes by we become more and more familiar and invested in the characters, which would be you guys.

    Philosophy is stagnant if it is left to the dusty recesses of university halls. P.E.L. brings the “big ideas” into a modern context so we can think about and relate to ideas that often seem archaic and obscured in linguistic forms lost in time. Trying to read Aristotle or Kant is a chore for someone who has a passion for philosophy, imagine what it is like for a young person who has never been exposed to any philosophy outside of his old man’s philosophy of beer and football. P.E.L. helps bridge that gap and may just spark the imagination and passion of the next great thinker. Is that a compliment? I am not sure.

    Anyway, it really is a lot of fun to listen to and has become part of my commute along with Philosophy Bites, Buddhist Geeks, and This American Life. Does that make me an American Buddhist Geek Philosopher? Probably.

    ~Jon

    Reply
  11. Kyle Walton says

    January 4, 2011 at 4:26 pm

    Hi Seth,

    I’m currently an undergraduate majoring in philosophy and legal studies at GVSU. I’d have to say that I’m not sure where exactly my interest in philosophy’s subject matter started but I realized that it WAS philosophy at some point in my early college years.

    I love PEL for a few reasons. It allows me to broaden my awareness of other philosophies. I love my university but the same names keep popping up (part of that whole canon deal). Your podcast expanded on names I had heard of but was not familiar with (Spinoza, Schopenhauer, Leibniz, etc.), introduced me to some I hadn’t (Nagarjuna, Danto, Goodman, etc.) and recast Freud as a philosopher when I would never have thought to consider him one.

    Your podcast also gives me an activity, a hobby. I try to read before a podcast when I can (most of the time I can’t). However, even the listening is sort of ritualistic. I’m excited whenever there’s a new episode released, especially if it’s on somebody I’ve never read about before.

    Finally, and probably most importantly, your podcast is a voice that is (seemingly) not deeply invested in this idea of posterity of academic philosophy. I enjoy that it’s supposed to be akin to some friends shootin’ the shit about some idea. You each seem to have a different approach to the texts as well which I find interesting. This approach is also useful as I try to get my mom interested in these ideas as well and your podcast (as well as Nigel Warburton’s Philosophy Bites) seem to be one of the more accessible methods for her.

    Discovering PEL has been a boon for my recreational interests. However, I would be lying if I said that I liked it from the beginning. I had to shed the notion of philosophy being “special” in some way before I could really enjoy it. In a sense, I grew up a little and that’s when I really started getting into it.

    So thank you Seth, Mark and Wes, for your wonderful podcast. I hope you keep up the excellent work well into the future and I wish you all a Happy New Year.

    Kyle

    Reply
  12. Seth Paskin says

    January 4, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    Hey everyone, thanks for sharing! I’m fighting a cold right now and will be back later with more thoughtful gratitude, but I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. It means a lot to all of us!
    –seth

    Reply
  13. Kyle Y says

    January 6, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    Hey Seth, I’m a recent phil major undergraduate from UW and I’m enjoying every little bit of your podcast. I’m particularly looking forward to your next podcast on Heidegger’s “Being and Time”. Your philosophical skills are very precise and cogent. You truly have a knack for philosophy.

    As for my background I mainly focused on cog sci, Spinoza, and Heidegger as an undergrad.

    The reason why I listen and follow along to your podcasts is because I’ve decided to take sometime off from academia in order to decide whether I should pursue a master’s program in phil. The podcasts enable me to continue to pursue philosophy by following along with the podcasts and the readings, and in a sense keep up with my interest in philosophy. As a result, it allows me to continue to become self-educated without having to pay shit loads of money for tuition.

    I’d like to see you go on more rants like you did on the Utilitarian episode on Peter Singer. I thought you made a good point in the episode in terms of distance. Singer thinks that we should treat everyone universally the same, but as you mentioned this cannot be the case. We tend to care for those closest to us more than others who we haven’t met or don’t know. I feel you are right in the sense that we tend to have more of an obligation to those closest to us compared with those who are foreign to us. Our class discussed this point in one of my third year ethics class in my second year.

    I’ll make sure and provide some feedback on the Heidegger episode, seeing as how I devoted so much time to “Being and Time”.

    I would like to thank you Seth, Wes and Mark for enlightening all of us who have subscribed to your podcast.

    Reply
  14. Brendan says

    January 7, 2011 at 1:51 pm

    Hey Seth,

    I’m a final year law student who came across your podcast when I was looking for ways to waste the intimidating amount of free time I had last summer. I subscribed to a couple of others too,but as I got busier with the advent of the academic term I had to cut back.PEL has the distinction of remaining on my must-listen list though.

    It’s pretty niche,but I’d find a jurisprudence episode immensely useful(if it arrived before my June exams of course!) Particular Ronald Dworkin or HLA Hart,but if you decide to do anything on such an esoteric subject I can’t really complain!

    Reply
    • Mark Linsenmayer says

      January 7, 2011 at 2:49 pm

      Hi, Brendan, I can safely say that philosophy and law is on our long term list of topics to cover but won’t get in there before in the next several months. However, if you’re volunteering to be a guest and help us through it, e-mail me and we can chat about it.

      Reply

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