Parker's Pensées Ep. 284 - The Philosophy of Philosophize This! w/Stephen West @philosophizethispodcast
Oct 22, 2025
Join Stephen West, the brilliant mind behind Philosophize This!, as he shares his journey of making philosophy accessible to all. He reflects on rebelling against elitist academia and his unique approach to teaching through storytelling. Discover his thoughts on metaphysics, the role of narrative in philosophy, and how Dune's themes resonate philosophically. Stephen also discusses the nuances of calling oneself a philosopher versus an educator, and his aspirations to write philosophical fiction, all while maintaining a work-life balance.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Philosophy As A Fan Project
- Stephen West framed his podcast as a fan-made, accessible bridge to philosophy rather than an academic authority.
- He aimed to humanize thinkers and make complex ideas relatable to well-intentioned listeners.
Use Episodes As A Jumping-Off Point
- Use concise, compelling highlights of a philosopher to spark further reading rather than exhaustively summarizing everything.
- Aim to inspire listeners to read original texts and pursue their own research after your overview.
Both Traditions Matter
- West values both analytic and continental traditions but leans toward continental for life-relevant transformations.
- He conceded analytic philosophy's long-term practical importance while favoring continental's conceptual shifts.
