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Episode 10: Kantian Ethics: What Should We Do?

October 19, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Discussing Fundamental Principles (aka Groundwork) of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785). We try very hard to make sense of Kant's major ethical principle, the Categorical Imperative, wherein you should only do what you'd will that EVERYONE do, so, for instance, you should not will to eat pie, because then everyone would eat it and there would be none left for you, so too  Continue Reading …

Episode 10: Kantian Ethics: What Should We Do?

October 19, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer 53 Comments

Discussing Fundamental Principles (aka Groundwork) of the Metaphysic of Morals (1785). We try very hard to make sense of Kant's major ethical principle, the Categorical Imperative, wherein you should only do what you'd will that EVERYONE do, so, for instance, you should not will to eat pie, because then everyone would eat it and there would be none left for you, so too  Continue Reading …

Episode 6: Leibniz’s Monadology: What Is There?

July 31, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer Leave a Comment

Discussing Leibniz's Monodology Have some tasty metaphysics, in mono! Leibniz thinks that the world is ultimately made up of monads, which are like atoms except nothing at all like atoms, because they're alive, and mindful, and eternal, and windowless, placed in the best kind of harmony at the beginning of time by God. Is there a concept album in all of this? Plus, does  Continue Reading …

Episode 6: Leibniz’s Monadology: What Is There?

July 31, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer 29 Comments

Have some tasty metaphysics, in mono! Leibniz thinks that the world is ultimately made up of monads, which are like atoms except nothing at all like atoms, because they're alive, and mindful, and eternal, and windowless, placed in the best kind of harmony at the beginning of time by God. Is there a concept album in all of this? Plus, does reading philosophy make you a  Continue Reading …

Episode 5: Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics

July 16, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer 1 Comment

Discussing Books 1 and 2 of the Nicomachean Ethics. What is virtue, and how can I eat it? Do not enjoy this episode too much, or too little, but just the right amount. Apparently, if you haven't already have been brought up with the right habits, you may as well give up. Plus, is Michael Jackson the Aristotelian ideal? Buy the book or read it online. End song: A newly  Continue Reading …

Episode 5: Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics

July 16, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer 27 Comments

Discussing Books 1 and 2. What is virtue, and how can I eat it? Do not enjoy this episode too much, or too little, but just the right amount. Apparently, if you haven't already have been brought up with the right habits, you may as well give up. Plus, is Michael Jackson the Aristotelian ideal? Buy the book or read it online. End song: A newly recorded cover of  Continue Reading …

Episode 4: Camus and the Absurd

June 22, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer 1 Comment

Discussing Camus's "An Absurd Reasoning" and "The Myth of Sisyphus" (1942). Does our eventual death mean that life has no meaning and we might as well end it all?  Camus starts to address this question, then gets distracted and talks about a bunch of phenomenologists until he dies unreconciled.  Also, let's all push a rock up a hill and like it, okay?  Plus, the fellas dwell  Continue Reading …

Episode 4: Camus and the Absurd

June 22, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer 48 Comments

Discussing Camus's "An Absurd Reasoning" and "The Myth of Sisyphus" (1942). Does our eventual death mean that life has no meaning and we might as well end it all?  Camus starts to address this question, then gets distracted and talks about a bunch of phenomenologists until he dies unreconciled.  Also, let's all push a rock up a hill and like it, okay?  Plus, the fellas dwell  Continue Reading …

Episode 2: Descartes’s Meditations: What Can We Know?

May 13, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer 72 Comments

On Descartes's Meditations 1 and 2. Descartes engages in the most influential navel gazing ever, and you are there! In this second and superior-to-the-first installment of our lil' philosophy discussion, we discuss what Descartes thinks he knows with certainty (hint: it is not you), the Matrix, and burning-at-the-stake.com. Mark and Wes agree to disagree about agreeing that  Continue Reading …

Episode 1: “The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living.”

May 12, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer 34 Comments

Socrates

Discussing Plato's "Apology." This reading is all about how Socrates is on trial for acting like an ass and proceeds to act like an ass and so is convicted. Big surprise. On this our inaugural discussion, Mark, Seth, and Wes talk about how philosophers are arrogant bastards who neglect their children, how people of all political stripes don't usually examine their  Continue Reading …

Episode 0: Introduction to the Podcast

May 11, 2009 by Mark Linsenmayer 20 Comments

Listen to this here episode first. A priori, that is. Before experiencing the world yourself. Why should you bother to go through the trouble of downloading and listening to one of the full length episodes? Who are we anyway? Why shouldn't you just go listen to some philosophy lectures posted by university professors instead of this thing? Do you need to listen to the  Continue Reading …

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