Conversations with Tyler Elijah Millgram on the Philosophical Life
Jun 16, 2021
Elijah Millgram, a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utah, dives into the intricate relationship between philosophy and daily life. He discusses the relevance of John Stuart Mill and Nietzsche, the nature of true philosophical dialogue, and how philosophical frameworks can help organize our choices. Millgram also tackles the complex ideas of simulation theory and the societal implications of philosophical thought experiments like the trolley problem, offering insights into how we navigate meaning and agency amidst modern challenges.
01:08:10
Value Experience
- Pay attention to your own experience when making decisions.
- You learn what truly matters from experience, not preconceived notions.
Overrated vs. Underrated
- People often undervalue their experiences, overweighting social expectations and inertia.
- They prioritize what they think they know over actual lived experiences.
Nozick's Paradox
- Elijah Milgram recounts a story from Robert Nozick about Newcomb's paradox.
- It illustrates how people often hold opposing views without fully understanding the other side's argument.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Navigating Choice and Conformity
01:52 • 4min
Examining the Quinean Turn in Analytic Philosophy
05:55 • 3min
The Aesthetics of Simulation: Understanding Our Reality
08:44 • 4min
Philosophical Dialogues and Nietzsche's Legacy
12:49 • 20min
Philosophical Projects and Personal Meaning
32:36 • 9min
The Dialogue of Philosophy
41:52 • 6min
Philosophy Meets Pandemic: A Trolley Problem Analysis
47:54 • 20min
Maxims
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales
François de La Rochefoucauld
La Rochefoucauld's 'Maxims' is a seminal work of French literature, published in 1665.
It consists of hundreds of short, insightful maxims that critique human behavior, revealing the often hidden motives behind actions such as honor, friendship, love, and virtue.
The book is characterized by its cynical tone, suggesting that self-interest is a primary driver of human actions.
Despite its dark and pessimistic outlook, the work aims to promote self-awareness and understanding of the complexities of human nature.
La Rochefoucauld's writing style is notable for its precision and beauty, making his maxims memorable and impactful.
The unity of philosophical experience
Etienne Gilson
This book, resulting from the William James lectures at Harvard, critiques Western philosophy by examining medieval, Cartesian, and modern philosophical traditions.
Gilson argues that philosophy does not progress linearly but rather repeats similar themes, such as the problem of universals, due to either forgetting past lessons or making the same fundamental mistakes.
The book is structured around three historical 'experiments': medieval, Cartesian, and modern, concluding with an analysis of the nature and unity of philosophical experience.
Gilson's work emphasizes the significance of understanding philosophical knowledge through a historical lens and highlights the continuity of philosophical inquiry across different eras.
The Wealth of Nations
Adam Smith
Published in 1776, 'The Wealth of Nations' is Adam Smith's magnum opus that laid the groundwork for modern economics.
The book critiques mercantilist economic theories and introduces the concept of the 'invisible hand,' which describes how individual self-interest leads to societal benefit.
It emphasizes the division of labor, the accumulation of capital, and the importance of free markets.
Smith argues that a nation's wealth is not measured by its gold and silver reserves but by the stream of goods and services it produces.
The book also outlines the core functions of government, such as maintaining defense, enforcing civil law, and promoting education, while advocating for limited government intervention in market activities.
The Open Society and Its Enemies
The Spell of Plato
Karl Popper
Written during World War II and published in 1945, 'The Open Society and Its Enemies' is a seminal work in political philosophy.
Karl Popper critiques the theories of teleological historicism espoused by Plato, Hegel, and Marx, arguing that these theories undermine individual freedom and pave the way for authoritarian regimes.
The book defends the open society and liberal democracy, emphasizing the importance of critical rationalism, individual freedom, and the ethos of scientific inquiry in politics.
It also discusses the challenges facing open societies, including totalitarianism, dogmatism, and relativism, and advocates for a piecemeal approach to social reform.
None
Heide Luthers
Reasons and Persons
Derek Parfit
Derek Parfit's "Reasons and Persons" is a landmark work in contemporary philosophy, profoundly impacting discussions on personal identity, ethics, and rationality.
Parfit challenges traditional notions of the self, arguing that our sense of personal identity is less coherent than we assume.
He explores the implications of this for our moral obligations, particularly concerning future generations.
The book delves into the complexities of decision-making under uncertainty, examining how we should weigh our present interests against the potential consequences of our actions for the future.
Parfit's rigorous analysis and thought-provoking arguments have had a lasting influence on various fields, including ethics, political philosophy, and decision theory.
His work continues to stimulate debate and inspire new research.
A Theory of Human Motivation
Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow's "A Theory of Human Motivation" introduces his famous hierarchy of needs, a model that describes human motivation as a progression through a series of needs.
The hierarchy ranges from basic physiological needs (food, shelter) to higher-level needs such as self-actualization (realizing one's full potential).
Maslow's theory has had a significant impact on psychology and related fields, influencing our understanding of human behavior and motivation.
The theory has been both praised and criticized for its simplicity and its cultural biases.
It remains a widely discussed and influential concept in psychology.
Phaedrus
Plato
The civilizing process
Norbert Elias
The Civilizing Process is a comprehensive work that explores the social and cultural shifts in European society from the medieval period to the 19th century.
Elias argues that civilization is a dynamic process linked to changes in power relations, economic structures, and state institutions.
The book examines the transformation of manners, etiquette, and self-restraint, and how these changes led to the emergence of the modern state and the internalization of societal norms.
It is divided into two main volumes: 'The History of Manners' and 'State Formation and Civilization'
The world as will and representation
Arthur Schopenhauer
The book is divided into four parts.
The first part addresses the world as representation, the second details the world as will, the third discusses art and beauty as the only way to transcend the painful human condition, and the fourth discusses ethics and the ascetic ideal.
Schopenhauer argues that the will is the underlying reality of the world, beyond mere appearances, and that it is characterized by ceaseless striving and suffering.
Philosophy as a way of life
Pierre Hadot
In 'Philosophy as a Way of Life,' Pierre Hadot argues that ancient philosophy was not merely a theoretical discipline but an art of living aimed at relieving suffering and transforming the self.
The book delves into 'spiritual exercises' such as self-control, meditation, and the view from above, which were central to the practices of Socrates, Stoicism, and Epicureanism.
Hadot's work emphasizes the importance of these exercises in achieving wisdom and living a fulfilling life, and it highlights the distinction between ancient philosophical practices and the more abstract, theoretical approach of modern philosophy.
The Logic of Scientific Discovery
Karl Popper
Karl Popper's "The Logic of Scientific Discovery" is a highly influential work in the philosophy of science.
It critiques the traditional view of scientific method as inductive, arguing instead that scientific knowledge is developed through a process of conjecture and refutation.
Popper introduces the concept of falsifiability, suggesting that a scientific theory must be testable and potentially falsifiable to be considered scientific.
The book has had a profound impact on the philosophy of science, influencing the way scientists approach the development and testing of theories.
It remains a cornerstone of modern epistemology.
The antichrist
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche's "The Antichrist" is a highly critical assessment of Christianity and its influence on Western culture.
Nietzsche attacks Christian morality and its values, arguing that they are life-denying and have stifled human potential.
He advocates for a revaluation of all values and a rejection of traditional religious beliefs.
The book is known for its provocative and often inflammatory language.
It's a significant work in understanding Nietzsche's critique of religion and his vision for a new morality.
It remains a controversial but influential text.
Life of Jesus
Life of Jesus
Critically Examined
David Strauss
David Friedrich Strauss's "Life of Jesus Critically Examined" is a seminal work of 19th-century biblical criticism.
It challenged traditional Christian interpretations of the Gospels by applying historical and literary analysis.
Strauss argued that the miracles attributed to Jesus were not historical events but rather mythical narratives reflecting the beliefs and hopes of early Christians.
The book sparked intense debate and contributed to the rise of liberal theology.
Its impact on religious thought and the study of the Bible remains significant.
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Friedrich Nietzsche
Thomas Common
The book details Zarathustra's descent from his mountain solitude to share his transformative ideas about humanity and existence.
Nietzsche explores themes such as the rejection of traditional moral values, individualism, and the concept of the Overman.
Zarathustra's interactions with various characters reveal his struggle to articulate his vision and confront prevailing societal values.
The book also delves into the existential test of the eternal recurrence of the same and the importance of self-overcoming and personal transformation.
Bentham
Bentham
John Stuart Mill
An essay by John Stuart Mill that critically examines the life and work of Jeremy Bentham, offering both praise and critique of his utilitarian philosophy.
John Stuart Mill and the Meaning of Life
John Stuart Mill and the Meaning of Life
Elijah Millgram
Philosophical Explanations
Robert Nozick
In 'Philosophical Explanations', Robert Nozick presents a unified philosophical perspective on fundamental concerns such as the identity of the self, knowledge and skepticism, free will, and the foundations of ethics.
The book combines new concepts, rigorous reasoning, and playful exploration to offer a distinctive mode of philosophizing that seeks understanding rather than proof.
It covers a wide range of philosophical topics, including why there is something rather than nothing and the meaning of life.
Prolegomena to the history of Israel
Julius Wellhausen
In 'Prolegomena to the History of Israel', Julius Wellhausen presents a critical analysis of the Old Testament, arguing that the Mosaic law is a product of Judaism developed after the fall of ancient Israel.
The book explores the historical development of Israel's religion, proposing that the earliest Israelite religion was polytheistic and family-based, evolving into the monotheistic Judaism known today.
Wellhausen's work laid foundational critical groundwork for understanding the history of the Hebrew nation.
The fragility of goodness
Martha Nussbaum
In *The Fragility of Goodness*, Martha Nussbaum examines the ethical dilemma posed by the vulnerability of human goodness to external factors.
She discusses how Greek tragedy and philosophers like Plato and Aristotle address this issue, arguing that acknowledging vulnerability is crucial for realizing the human good.
The book explores the tension between reason and luck in achieving a well-lived life.
Why Didn't Nietzsche Get His Act Together?
Unknown Author
This book delves into Nietzsche's philosophy as a means of coping with his disintegrating self.
It explores how Nietzsche managed his fragmenting personality by inventing multiple meanings of life for himself, making his philosophy both fascinating and important.
The book serves as a guide for readers to navigate Nietzsche's complex and often disjointed writings.
What can studying the lives of philosophers tell us about how to organize and interpret our own lives? Elijah Millgram is a professor of philosophy at the University of Utah whose research focuses on the theory of rationality. His latest book, John Stuart Mill and The Meaning of Life, analyzes the relationship between the ideas of the famous theorist and their impacts on Mill’s life. His forthcoming book examines the life and work of Frederich Nietzsche through a similar lens, combining philosophical analysis and biography.
Elijah joined Tyler to discuss Newcomb’s paradox, the reason he doesn’t have an opinion about everything, the philosophy of Dave Barry, style and simulation theory, why philosophers aren’t often consulted about current events, his best stories from TA-ing for Robert Nozick, the sociological correlates of knowing formal logic, the question of whether people are more interested in truth or being interesting, philosophical cycles, what makes Nietzsche important today, the role that meaning can play in a person’s personality and life, Mill on Bentham, the idea of true philosophy as dialogue, the extent to which modern philosophers are truly philosophical, why he views aesthetics as critical to philosophy, and more.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.
Recorded May 11th, 2021 Other ways to connect
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