Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free, plus tons of bonus content. Continuing from part one on Mere Christianity (1952), starting with book 2, "What Christians Believe." Lewis argues that the problem of evil, far from showing that there is no good God, shows that we are endowed with that moral sense that judges the world to be evil, which was Lewis' proof for Continue Reading …
Ep. 395: C.S. Lewis Argues for Christianity (Part Two for Supporters)
Continuing from part one on Mere Christianity (1952), starting with book 2, "What Christians Believe." Lewis argues that the problem of evil, far from showing that there is no good God, shows that we are endowed with that moral sense that judges the world to be evil, which was Lewis' proof for God. Many of Lewis' arguments are still common among Christian apologists today. Continue Reading …
Ep. 390: Diderot Debates a Cynic (Part Two)
Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free, plus tons of bonus content. Continuing from part one on Rameau's Nephew, getting further into Rameau's philosophy and practices and trying to figure out what this anti-hero can tell us about ethics, given that he displays the virtue of being candid about his own vices. Sponsors: Don’t get caught running yesterday’s Continue Reading …
Ep. 390: Diderot Debates a Cynic (Part One)
Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free, plus tons of bonus content. On Denis Diderot's Rameau's Nephew, a dialogue written in the 1760s, published posthumously in 1805. Featuring Mark, Wes, and Dylan. Diderot was a key figure in the Enlightenment, and this dialogue was discovered right when philosophers like Hegel were criticizing the Enlightenment, Continue Reading …
Ep. 390: Diderot Debates a Cynic (Part Two for Supporters)
Continuing from part one on Rameau's Nephew, getting further into Rameau's philosophy and practices and trying to figure out what this anti-hero can tell us about ethics, given that he displays the virtue of being candid about his own vices. Rameau bemoans the fact that he's not a greater villain: he is fascinated and apparently admiring of the greatness of certain Continue Reading …
Ep. 390: Diderot Debates a Cynic (Part One for Supporters)
On Denis Diderot's Rameau's Nephew, a dialogue written in the 1760s, published posthumously in 1805. Featuring Mark, Wes, and Dylan. Diderot was a key figure in the Enlightenment, and this dialogue was discovered right when philosophers like Hegel were criticizing the Enlightenment, pointing out that even though dispelling superstitious religion and the piety that went with Continue Reading …
Ep. 381: Aquinas on Ethical Psychology (Part Three for Supporters)
We discuss the first six questions from the "Moral Action" section in the Summa Theologica (1268), which we read in Thomas Aquinas: Selected Philosophical Writings (1993). Aquinas is working with a "theodicy" position, which means that everything in existence must be good, since God is perfect and so would never make something bad. So how can some human actions be bad? Continue Reading …
Ep. 381: Aquinas on Ethical Psychology (Part Two)
Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free, plus tons of bonus content, including a supporter-exclusive part three. Continuing to discuss the virtue and moral action from the Summa Theologica (1268). Part One only covered the first two questions about virtue (Is it a disposition? Is it a disposition to act?), so we now move on to the actual definition of virtue Continue Reading …
Ep. 381: Aquinas on Ethical Psychology (Part Two for Supporters)
Continuing to discuss the virtue and moral action from the Summa Theologica (1268). Part One only covered the first two questions about virtue (Is it a disposition? Is it a disposition to act?), so we now move on to the actual definition of virtue and some subsequent questions about what parts of us the term virtue properly applies to. One important point that comes out Continue Reading …
Ep. 373: Michael Walzer on Just Wars (Part Two)
Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free, plus tons of bonus content. Continuing from part one on Just and Unjust Wars (1977), ch. 5-6. Sponsors: Visit functionhealth.com/PEL to get the data you need to take action for your health. Get a $1/month e-commerce trial at shopify.com/pel. Ch. 5, "Anticipations" discusses times when it might be morally Continue Reading …
Ep. 373: Michael Walzer on Just Wars (Part One)
Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free, plus tons of bonus content. On Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Illustrations (1977, updated in 2006), ch. 4-6 on "jus ad bellum," which refers to moral justifications for going to war, as opposed to "jus in bello," which refers to how war is conducted. Featuring Mark, Wes, Dylan, and Seth. Sponsors: Visit Continue Reading …
Ep. 373: Michael Walzer on Just Wars (Part Two for Supporters)
Continuing from part one on Just and Unjust Wars (1977), ch. 5-6. Ch. 5, "Anticipations" discusses times when it might be morally permissible to strike first, even when no immanent incoming attack is anticipated. These cases will be rare, and depending on what counts as a credible ongoing threat. If war is inevitable, and not attacking first would result in disaster, then Continue Reading …
Ep. 373: Michael Walzer on Just Wars (Part One for Supporters)
On Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Illustrations (1977, updated in 2006), ch. 4-6 on "jus ad bellum," which refers to moral justifications for going to war, as opposed to "jus in bello," which refers to how war is conducted. Featuring Mark, Wes, Dylan, and Seth. The short answer is that self-defense is OK, while aggression is not. But of course, this can be Continue Reading …
Ep. 372: Kant’s Ethics Lectures (Part Two)
Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free, plus a supporter-exclusive part 3. Listen to a preview. Continuing from part one on the 1785 course lecture notes by Georg Ludwig Collins, as collected in the Cambridge edition. Sponsors: Visit functionhealth.com/PEL to get the data you need to take action for your health. Visit IDOU.com/PEL for 15% off online courses Continue Reading …
Ep. 372: Kant’s Ethics Lectures (Part Three for Supporters)
Concluding our treatment of these 1785 lectures, focusing now on "Of Duties Towards Other People," including some discussion of friendship, lying, distributive justice, and liberal/moral education. Start with part one. Thanks for supporting PEL! Transcript 0:00 Seth: Good night. 0:01 Dylan: Good night. 0:01 Wes: Night. 0:15 Mark: You are listening to the Partially Continue Reading …
Ep. 372: Kant’s Ethics Lectures (Part One)
Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free, plus tons of bonus content. On the 1784-1785 course lectures given in Konigsberg, via notes from Georg Ludwig Collins. We used the Cambridge edition (2013) picked what sections to read via a syllabus we found online. Featuring Mark, Wes, Seth, and Dylan. Sponsor: Visit functionhealth.com/PEL to get the data you need Continue Reading …
Ep. 372: Kant’s Ethics Lectures (Part Two for Supporters)
Continuing from part one on the 1785 course lecture notes by Georg Ludwig Collins, as collected in the Cambridge edition. We cover "Of Duties to Oneself," which are actually the primary ethical duties. This is not a matter of pursuing your desires, but recognizing your inherent dignity, and respecting that. When you do this, you'll have integrity, and will be in a good Continue Reading …
Ep. 372: Kant’s Ethics Lectures (Part One for Supporters)
On the 1784-1785 course lectures given in Konigsberg, via notes from Georg Ludwig Collins. We used the Cambridge edition (2013) picked what sections to read via a syllabus we found online. Featuring Mark, Wes, Seth, and Dylan. We originally discussed Kant's ethics via his Groundwork (also 1785) back in our ep. 10 and wanted to revisit the ideas given our recent work on Continue Reading …
Ep. 371: Christine Korsgaard on Normativity (Part Two)
Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free, plus tons of bonus content including a supporter-exclusive Nightcap with more Korsgaard discussion. Concluding our treatment of The Sources of Normativity. Listen to part one first, or better yet, start with ep. 370. Sponsors: Visit functionhealth.com/PEL to get the data you need to take action for your health. Get a Continue Reading …
Ep. 371: Christine Korsgaard on Normativity (Part One)
Subscribe to get parts 1 and 2 of this now, ad-free, plus tons of bonus content. On lectures 3 and 4 of The Sources of Normativity (1996), continuing our discussion of the book from ep. 370. Sponsors: Don’t wait until the next bite—protect your home with Bzigo. Go to bzigo.com/discountBUZZ10 for 10% off. Visit functionhealth.com/PEL to get the data you need to take Continue Reading …