Philosophical Currents
Prairie Public
Jack Russell Weinstein, host of Why? Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life, joins Main Street to discuss the philosophical aspects of current events.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 30, 2025 • 25min
Happy or Content? Rethinking What a Good Life Really Means
A philosopher’s take on happiness vs. contentment. Why a good life may be less about feeling happy and more about meaning, perspective, and community.
Nov 25, 2025 • 25min
When the Music Becomes Us: A Philosophical Look at Identity, Memory & Jimmy Cliff
How the music of our youth becomes part of who we are. Dr. Jack Weinstein reflects on Jimmy Cliff’s legacy and why deeply listening still matters in the digital age.
Oct 29, 2025 • 23min
Morality vs. Legality: When Right and Law Collide
Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein of UND examines the tension between what’s moral and what’s legal - how shifting boundaries challenge justice and democracy today.
Sep 26, 2025 • 24min
Can Happiness Be Taught—or Shared—Across Cultures?
UND's Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein asks: Is happiness about less suffering, more joy, or wealth—and can Finland’s model of well-being be shared across cultures?
Aug 20, 2025 • 29min
Philosophy of NIH Cuts: Justice, Equity, and America’s Common Good
Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein examines NIH funding cuts, health equity, and what these choices reveal about justice, politics, and America’s common good.
Jul 31, 2025 • 21min
Philosophy Professor Unpacks the Purpose—and Price—of College
Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein explores college’s purpose, rising costs, and lasting value, arguing it remains a transformative force despite modern pressures.
Jun 26, 2025 • 26min
Ethics of War: Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein on Morality in Conflict
Philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein explores how to uphold dignity, responsibility, and empathy in the midst of war and violence.
May 29, 2025 • 25min
What Makes Life Meaningful?
Dr. Jack Weinstein joins Philosophical Currents to explore how philosophy helps us find purpose, fulfillment, and ethical guidance in the search for meaning.
Apr 30, 2025 • 24min
De-Extinction
UND's Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein, Professor of Philosophy, explores the ethics of de-extinction and whether reviving lost species is wise—or just scientific mimicry.
Mar 27, 2025 • 30min
Who Decides When We Die? Ethics of Assisted Death
Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein explores autonomy, identity, and the ethics of assisted death through the story of Alzheimer's advocate Sandra Demontigny.
