human nature | The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Ep. 251: Simone Weil’s Ideal Society

September 7, 2020 by Mark Linsenmayer 4 Comments

On “Theoretical Picture of a Free Society” (1934). What’s the ideal living situation for us all, given the peculiarities of human nature? Weil describes fulfillment as coming from being able to picture goals and plans and knowingly put them into effect, so social groups need to maximize that power by being small and cooperative.

End song: “Libreville” by Bill Bruford, as interviewed for Nakedly Examined Music #25.

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Ep. 249: Dewey on Education and Thought (Citizen Edition)

August 3, 2020 by Mark Linsenmayer 1 Comment

On John Dewey’s How We Think (1910) ch. 1 and Democracy and Education (1916) ch. 1, 2, 4, and 24.

What model of human nature should serve as the basis for education policy? Dewey sees learning as growth, and the point of education as to enable indefinite growth. With guest Jonathan Haber.

End song: “Too Far to Turn Around” by The Ides of March, whose leader Jim Peterik appears on Nakedly Examined Music #126.

Ep. 209: Francis Fukuyama on Identity Politics (Part Two: Discussion)

February 18, 2019 by Mark Linsenmayer 7 Comments

Continuing on Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment (2018).

Fukuyama recommends a “creedal national identity” as a solution for tribalism; does this work? Is this “demand for recognition” that he describes foundational for the act of making an ethical claim? For self-consciousness itself? How does ideology prejudice the sort of theorizing that Fukuyama engages in?

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End song: “Cornerstone” by Richard X. Heyman, as discussed on Nakedly Examined Music #61.

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Ep. 209: Guest Francis Fukuyama on Identity Politics (Part One)

February 11, 2019 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Talking with the author about Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment (2018).

What motivates people? Frank points to thymos, the demand for recognition, as at the root of both the “end of history” (i.e., democracy as demand for equal recognition) and our current tribalist stalemates, involving desires to be seen—in virtue of group membership—as superior. Thymos may in fact be central to self-consciousness, ethics, and the origins of political association.

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Ep. 209: Guest Francis Fukuyama on Identity Politics (Citizen Edition)

February 10, 2019 by Mark Linsenmayer 27 Comments

An interview and discussion on Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment (2018).

End song: “Cornerstone” by Richard X. Heyman, as discussed on Nakedly Examined Music #61.

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Episode 184: Pascal on Human Nature (Part One)

February 19, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer 6 Comments

On Blaise Pascal’s Pensées (1670).

Is it rational to have religious faith? You’re likely familiar with “Pascal’s Wager,” but our wretchedness is such that we can’t simply choose to believe and won’t be argued into it. Pascal thinks Christianity is the only religion to accurately describe the human condition.

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Ep. 184: Pascal on Human Nature (Citizen Edition)

February 19, 2018 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

On Blaise Pascal’s Pensées (1670).

End song: “44 Days” by Dutch Henry, written and sung by Todd Long, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #34.

Topic for #102: Emerson on Wisdom and Individuality

September 4, 2014 by Mark Linsenmayer 3 Comments

We’ll be discussing “The American Scholar,” “Self-Reliance,” and “Circles” about trusting yourself, being a whole person, and embracing growth. Can you dig it?

Aristotle v. Nietzsche on Human Nature (And What This Means for New Work)

October 15, 2013 by Mark Linsenmayer 10 Comments

I want to briefly call attention to the transition between virtue ethics as conceived by Aristotle and the jump to Nietzsche in the context of our New Work discussion. I’m not looking up quotes for this post; I’m less interested in their particular views then in a divergence of ways of thinking about virtue. For Aristotle, man has a Telos, Continue Reading …

Episode 70: Marx on the Human Condition (Citizens Only)

January 30, 2013 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

On Karl Marx’s The German Ideology, Part I, an early, unpublished work from 1846. What is human nature? What drives history? How can we improve our situation? Marx thought that fundamentally, you are what you do: you are your job, your means of subsistence. All the rest, this culture, this religion, this philosophy, is just a thin layer over our basic situation. Ideas are not primarily what changes the world; it’s economics.

End song: “Job” by Mark Lint and the Fake from So Whaddaya Think? (2000).

PREVIEW-Episode 70: Marx on the Human Condition

January 30, 2013 by Mark Linsenmayer 90 Comments

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Episode 42: Feminists on Human Nature and Moral Psychology (Citizens Only)

September 5, 2011 by Mark Linsenmayer 1 Comment

Discussing Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s utopian novel Herland (1915) and psychologist Carol Gilligan’s In a Different Voice (1983). How does human nature, and specifically moral psychology, vary by sex? Charlotte Perkins Gilman claims that when philosophers have described human nature as violent and selfish, they have in mind solely male nature. Females, left to themselves in an isolated society, would be supremely peaceful, rational, and cooperative. With guest Azzurra Crispino. Learn more.

End song: “Mother’s Day” by Mark Linsenmayer (2007). Read about it.

PREVIEW-Episode 42: Feminists on Human Nature and Moral Psychology

September 5, 2011 by Mark Linsenmayer 39 Comments

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Topic for #42: Feminists on Human Nature and Moral Psychology

July 25, 2011 by Mark Linsenmayer 19 Comments

This episode will feature Azzurra Crispino, whom you might recall from our Kant on epistemology episode. We’re reading two works that were significant for the development of her interest in feminist philosophy: Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Herland(1915) is a utopian novel about a society of all women. Gilman thought that when classic philosophers describe human nature as essentially selfish or competitive, Continue Reading …

Episode 23: Rousseau: Human Nature vs. Culture (Citizens Only)

July 29, 2010 by Mark Linsenmayer 3 Comments

Discussing Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Discourse in Inequality (1754) and book 1 of The Social Contract (1762). What’s the relationship between culture and nature? Rousseau engages in some wild speculation about the development of humanity from the savage to the modern, miserable wretch.

End song: “Love Is the Problem” by New People from The Easy Thing (2009).