Exploring Hegelian Philosophy and Human Relationships

In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with John Russon about the major thinkers in phenomenology and how their ideas can be applied in everyday life. They begin the conversation with an overview of Hegel's philosophy and discuss sexual intimacy as an example of Hegel's ideas on recognition. They also discuss the impact of Hegel's philosophy on Marxism and some of the lessons from the French revolution. They question whether it is individuals or institutions that can be oppressive and malevolent. They discuss Heidegger's main concepts of Dasein and worldhood. They talk about the authenticity and inauthenticity of Dasein and the four different types of world. They also dialogue about the philosophy of Merleau-Ponty and his major concepts on perception and embodiment and the phenomenology of space. 

John Russon is a philosopher and professor of philosophy at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. He is the author of three books on G.W.F. Hegel and has written four books of his own that deal with personal identity and the structures of everyday life. He has many recorded talks on philosophy at his youtube page. He also can be found at his website.