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The Partially Examined Life Blog

PREVIEW-Ep. 267: Avicenna on God and Soul w/ Peter Adamson (Part Two)

April 12, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Continuing on Avicenna’s arguments for the existence of God and on the soul’s immateriality. What metaphysical and epistemological picture grounds these views?

To hear the full second part, you’ll need to go sign up at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

Ep. 267: Avicenna on God and Soul w/ Peter Adamson (Part One)

April 12, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Subscribe to get Part 2 of this episode. Listen to a preview. Hear this part ad-free.

On selections and commentary about Avicenna’s argument from around 1020 C.E. for the existence of God as a necessary being, plus arguments to prove that God has the person-like properties that Islam imputes to him, and his “flying man” argument for the soul’s essential independence from matter. Featuring Mark, Dylan, and our guest Peter Adamson from the History of Philosophy podcast.

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NEM#145: Jay Gonzalez: Concise but Colorful

April 9, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Jay is best known as sideman for Drive-By Truckers since 2008 but has written songs for Athens bands like The Possibilities and Nutria since the 90s and has three solo releases.

We discuss the title track (and listen at the end to “I Wanna Hold You”) from Back to the Hive (2021), “&#%&#!” and “Shenorock Lane” from The Bitter Suite (2015), and “Turning Me On” from Mess of Happiness (2012). Intro: “Tough to Let Go” by Drive-By Truckers from The New OK (2020). For more see jaygonzalez.com.

Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon.

Sponsors: Get 15% off an annual membership at MasterClass.com/examined. Visit nebia.com/nem and use code NEM for 15% off your shower upgrade.

PMP#88: Indie Animation w/ Benjamin Goldman

April 8, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Animation is so labor-intensive that it seems designed for corporate domination a la Disney. Mark, Erica, and Brian are joined by animator Benjamin Goldman to discuss doing animation on your own.

What qualifies as “indie?” What are we as adult viewers looking from this medium? How do images relate to narration? How realistic should the animation look? You may want to watch Benjamin’s short film (currently featured by The New Yorker) “Eight Nights.”

For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content for this episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop.

Sponsor: Get premium wireless service starting at $15/month from MintMobile.com/PRETTY.

PREVIEW-Ep. 266: Jonathan Lear’s Plato: Psyche and Society (Part Two)

April 4, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Continuing on Lear’s Open Minded: Working Out the Logic of the Soul (1988). Our highlight is about the relation between the three parts of the soul: which (if any) is basic?

To hear the full second part, you’ll need to go sign up at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

Pretty Much Pop #87: Female Buddy Comedies w/ Erica’s Female Buddy Micah Greene

April 1, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

On Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar, and how inserting women into the buddy comedy format might lead to deeper exploration of friendships. Two sets of long-time friends–Erica and Micah, and Mark and Brian–look at tropes and character dynamics, touching on Booksmart, Bridesmaids, Sisters, et al. 

For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content for this episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop.

Phi Fic #39 Point Omega by Don DeLillo

March 30, 2021 by Laura Davis Leave a Comment

https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/phifipodcast/Point_Omega_Podcast_mix_master.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:22:53 — 114.1MB) PSYCO AND THE IRAQ WAR! “The less there was to see, the harder he looked, the more he saw.” -Point Omega In this episode, we work through and analyze Point Omega by Don Delillo, a short oblique and arresting novel wrestling with the meaning and effect of human perception, Continue Reading …

Ep. 266: Jonathan Lear’s Plato: Psyche and Society (Part One)

March 29, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer 4 Comments

Subscribe to get Part 2 of this episode. Listen to a preview. Hear this part ad-free.

On essays from Lear’s Open Minded: Working Out the Logic of the Soul (1988): “Inside and Outside the Republic,” “Eros and Unknowing: The Psychoanalytic Significance of Plato’s Symposium,” and “An Interpretation of Transference,” which compares Socrates’ questioning with psychotherapy.

Is Plato’s analogy between mind and state in The Republic a good one? What can we learn from it about what makes for a stable, healthy character? How does eros (desire) fit into this picture? Lear gives a creative, helpful reading of Plato informed by psychoanalysis.

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NEM#144: Dennis Davison (The Jigsaw Seen): How Much Is Enough?

March 26, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Dennis fronted the Baltimore punk band Ebenezer and The Bludgeons in the late 70s, and after some transitional projects moved to L.A. where his ’60s-ish guitar pop band The Jigsaw Seen released nine albums from 1989-2015.

We discuss “Museum Piece” (and listen to “Shadow on a Tall Tree” at the end) from his debut solo album, The Book Of Strongman (2020); “Idiots with Guitars” from Old Man Reverb (2014); and the title track from My Name Is Tom (1991). Intro: “Jim Is the Devil” (a 1989 single). For more, visit dennisdavisonmusic.com.

Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon.

Sponsor: Visit nebia.com/nem and use code NEM for 15% off your shower upgrade.

Pretty Much Pop #86: What Irish Means w/ Black 47’s Larry Kirwan

March 24, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

St. Patrick’s Day has passed: What sort of representation of Ireland has made it to the U.S. through such celebrations? Who gets to decide what’s authentically Irish?

Mark, Erica, and Brian are joined by writer and musician Larry to talk about his immigrant experience, covering history, music, humor, language, slurs, stereotypes, and his new book Rockaway Blue.

For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content for this episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop.

Sponsor: Get 15% off your personal safety alarm at ShesBirdie.com/PRETTY.

PREVIEW-Ep. 265: Plato’s “Phaedo”: Philosophy as Training for Death (Part Two)

March 22, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer 1 Comment

Continuing on the Phaedo, we start with a point from Plato’s physics that’s supposed to hep prove the immortality of the soul, then lay out his theory of Forms.

To hear the full second part, you’ll need to go sign up at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

Pretty Much Pop #85: What the WandaVision!? w/ Rolando Nieves (and Bonus Aftertalk)

March 21, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

The debut Disney+ Marvel series is… a tribute to classic sit-coms? Mark, Erica, Brian, and guest Rolando try to figure out whether this experiment was successful, whether you have to be a die-hard to get it, and the potential for future oddball superhero outings..

For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content for this episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop.

Sponsors: Get 15% off wireless earbuds at BuyRaycon.com/PRETTY. Get AudiblePlus for 30 days free at Audible.com/pretty or text pretty to 500-500.

Pretty Much Pop #84: Musician Memoirs w/ Laura Davis-Chanin

March 15, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer 1 Comment

Mark, Erica, Brian, and guest memoir author Laura talk about the appeal of this type of book whose production has exploded in recent years. We each read a book, covering Elvis Costello, Carrie Brownstein, Ozzy Osbourne, and Debby Harry respectively. How are these better than a film depiction or documentary biography?

For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content for this episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop.

Sponsors: Get 15% off your personal safety alarm at ShesBirdie.com/PRETTY. Get premium wireless for $15/month at MintMobile.com/PRETTY.

Ep. 265: Plato’s “Phaedo”: Philosophy as Training for Death (Part One)

March 15, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Subscribe to get Part 2 of this episode. Listen to a preview. Hear this part ad-free.

On Plato’s middle dialogue depicting the death of Socrates (390 BCE) depicting the death of Socrates. Should philosophers fear death?

In the course of giving arguments for the immortality of the soul, we get an elaboration of the recollection theory of knowledge (from the Meno) into Plato’s first full account of Forms. But how literally are we supposed to take the words of Socrates as he comforts himself facing mortality?

Sponsors: Visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/PEL for a free 14-day trial of unlimited access to The Great Courses Plus Video Learning Service. Try the Audible Plus audiobook library free for 30 days at audible.com/examined or text examined to 500-500. Get $35 off meal delivery at SunBasket.com/PEL, code PEL. Use Uber.com/pel to get $50 credit to buy rides or meal deliveries. Learn about St. John’s College at SJC.edu.

NEM#143: In Search of Eric Dover (Imperial Drag, Slash’s Snakepit, etc.)

March 12, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

After joining Jellyfish in 1993 just before its demise, Eric’s big break came when he was asked to sing for Slash’s Snakepit. He then returned to Roger Manning from Jellyfish for an album as Imperial Drag, worked as sideman (e.g. for Alice Cooper) and studio guy and had two releases as Sextus. He’s now back with Roger in The Lickerish Quartet, which released two EPs.

We discuss “The Dream That Took Me Over” by The Lickerish Quartet from Threesome, Vol. 2 (2021), “Wishing You Well” by Sextus from Stranger Than Fiction (2008), and “Boy or a Girl” from Imperial Drag (1996). End song: “What Do You Want from Me?” from The Eyes of Alice Cooper (2003). Intro: “Beggars & Hangers-On” by Slash’s Snakepit from It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere (1995). More at thelickerishquartet.com.

Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon.

Sponsors: Get 15% off an annual membership at MasterClass.com/examined. Visit nebia.com/nem and use code NEM for 15% off your shower revolution.

PREVIEW-Ep. 264: Plato’s “Timaeus” on Cosmology (Part Two)

March 8, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Plato

Continuing on the Timaeus, we consider some quotes and details starting at the beginning of the dialogue where Plato argues for differences between the perceived, created, impermanent world and its perfect model. 

To hear this second part, you’ll need to go sign up at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.

Pretty Much Pop #83: Disabled and Other-Abled Representation w/ Kayla Dryesse

March 5, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Media representation of disability needs improvement, as does inclusion of disabled actors and writers. Playwright Kayla joins Mark, Erica, and Brian to talk about hurdles, disability culture, negative stereotypes, and how disability relates to comedy and horror.

For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content for this episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop.

Sponsor: Get 50% off your customized vitamin plan at TakeCareOf.com, code pmp50.

(sub)Text: Business Gets Personal in “The Godfather”

March 4, 2021 by Wes Alwan Leave a Comment

Within and without the world of the film, can one consider Don Corleone a great man? Or does his moral code, like his favor, always hide a transaction? Wes & Erin give their analysis of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 film, “The Godfather.” 

Ep. 264: Plato’s “Timaeus” on Cosmology (Part One)

March 1, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer 2 Comments

Plato
Subscribe to get Part 2 of this episode. Listen to a preview. Hear this part ad-free.

On the later Platonic dialogue from around 360 BCE.

How is nature put together? Plato speaks through the fictional Timaeus (not Socrates) to give a “likely story” about the universe, physics, and biology involving a Craftsman (Demi-Urge) who created everything based on a pre-existing perfect model (the Forms!).

Timaeus derives his whole story from the principle that the world is good, and so the Craftsman must necessarily optimize creation, with any imperfections being introduced only by the necessity involved when a perfect blueprint gets embodied to create ever-shifting, impermanent matter.

Sponsors: Get $200 off a mattress and two free pillows at HelixSleep.com/PEL. Get 50% off The New Yorker and a free tote bag at NewYorker.com/PEL. Get $35 off meal delivery at SunBasket.com/PEL, code PEL. Visit TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/PEL for a free 14-day trial of unlimited access to The Great Courses Plus Video Learning Service. Learn about St. John’s College at SJC.edu.

NEM#142: Rebecca Rego: This Is Your Life!

February 26, 2021 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Folky, soul-singing Rebecca has had six releases since 2007. We discuss “Mama” from her solo EP, Songs for Cleaning Women, Pt. 1 (2020), “No One Knows Me” by Rebecca Rego and the Trainmen from Speaking of Witches (2019), “Gave Me” by rego off of From the Royal Arcade (2009), and “Cruel” from Lay These Weapons Down (2016). Intro: “Call My Mother” from Tolono (2014). See rebeccaregoandthetrainmen.com.

Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Like our Facebook page. Support us on Patreon.

Sponsor: Visit nebia.com/nem and use code NEM for 15% off your shower revolution.

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