
Open Door Philosophy
Andrew has a degree in philosophy, Taylor is working on a degree in philosophy, and Mr. Parsons taught philosophy to them both. Together they explore philosophy and its application to life, so come along! The door is always open. Open Door Philosophy on Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.comContact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.com
Latest episodes

Feb 6, 2024 • 1h 8min
Ep. 76 Looking for Beauty: The Philosophy of Beauty, Part 2
Send us a textWhether concepts such as the Golden Ratio or more subjective standards of aesthetic judgments, beauty has been the subject of debate for every era of philosophical history. In the ancient world, it was the Greeks that formed much of what the ancient era would think about when considering beauty in concepts such as symmetry and ratios. The Enlightenment era philosophers of the modern period, influenced by the new emphasis on reason, grappled with the subjective nature of beauty and proposed a way that beauty could be both contextual yet universal. In the late modern and post-modern eras, women philosophers took up the question of beauty in application to themselves, attempting to find exactly how they should respond to the concept. Join us today as we look for beauty. Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Jan 23, 2024 • 60min
Ep. 75 Engaging with Beauty: The Philosophy of Beauty, Part 1
Send us a textBeauty and aesthetics seems to be one of the least discussed branches of philosophy, yet occupied the minds of some of the greatest philosophers such as: Plato, Aristotle, Kant, and Hume, just to name a few. Its appeal is immediately obvious, however, when someone asks the seemingly simple question of exactly what beauty is. The conversation that typically follows involves topics such as: what exactly are standards of beauty, if these standards are objective or entirely in the eye of the beholder, and under what circumstances do we or do we not encounter beauty. Some say beauty is rare; others that it is around us all the time if we would just look; that the outward self is just a grotesque veneer; that true beauty resides within. I mean, is the song that’s playing in the background right now beautiful? The last time your and your friends got together and played Mario Party? The weekend morning that just involves a cup of coffee, a book, and a cat purring in your lap ‘cause it loves you? Whatever the perspective, it seems beauty is something that matters to us, whether we find it in a sunset, a soaring aria, or in the eyes of our loved ones. Join us as we explore the practical side of beauty in this first of a two part series on the subject.Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Jan 16, 2024 • 35sec
Trailer - Welcome To Open Door Philosophy!
Send us a textWelcome to Open Door Philosophy! We're happy you stopped by!Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Jan 9, 2024 • 36min
Ep. 74 Preview of 2024
Send us a textJoin us as we discuss our goals and plans for Open Door Philosophy in 2024. We discuss upcoming guests, episode topics, and more!Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Jan 2, 2024 • 14min
ODP Nonsense 3: Latin, Booze, Neck Ties, Camera Angles
Send us a textIn this bit of nonsense, Andrew tries to convince Mr. Parsons to learn Latin, no one is sure what whiskey is, Mr. Parsons ditches the neck ties, and there's some dissatisfaction with camera angles. Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Dec 26, 2023 • 1h 8min
Ep. 73 Year-In-Review and Our Favorite Books of 2023
Send us a textIn this episode, we put a bow on the year that was 2023! We look back on the podcast and this year's meaningful events in our lives. We then discuss our favorite books of 2023; No Spoilers!Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our listeners. We'll see you in 2024!Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Dec 12, 2023 • 1h 11min
Ep. 72 The Concept of Property
Send us a textWhat do you own? Why do you own it? Are things owned individually or collectively? Do citizens own public parks and do they have an obligation to its maintenance? Can you own ideas or other intangible things like money and time? Join us for this exploratory episode on the concept of property. Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Dec 5, 2023 • 6min
ODP Nonsense 2: Cardigans, Fraud, Mysterious Travel, and Polish
Send us a textIn this bit of nonsense, we talk about Taylor's cardigans, how Mr. Parsons avoided fraud, Andrew's mysterious travel, and the difficulties of the Polish language. Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Nov 28, 2023 • 59min
Ep. 71 Education, Justice, and the Ideal Society: 20th Century Political Philosophy with Strauss, Rawls, Nozick
Send us a textIn this episode, we delve into the rich work of political philosophy by Leo Strauss, John Rawls, and Robert Nozick. We begin with Strauss's influential ideas on liberal education, examining how he views cultural cultivation as essential for intellectual development and a bulwark against the homogenization of mass culture. Strauss's Aristotelian perspective on nurturing the individual's nature through education sets the stage for a deeper exploration of societal structures.Transitioning to Rawls, we explore his innovative 'Veil of Ignorance' and the 'Original Position', concepts that have reshaped modern understandings of justice and fairness. Rawls' principles challenge us to consider a society where every individual's rights are safeguarded and inequalities are justified only if they benefit the least advantaged.Finally, we turn to Nozick's libertarian response, which emphasizes individual rights and the minimal state. Nozick's ideas on self-ownership and consensual contracts offer a stark contrast to Rawls, presenting a viewpoint where free exchange and personal liberty are paramount.Join us as we navigate these philosophical currents, understanding how each thinker builds upon or reacts against the others, shaping our views on education, justice, and the ideal society.Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com

Nov 20, 2023 • 7min
ODP Nonsense 1: Mullets, Football, Beckham, Astros
Send us a textNeed a bit of the ODP crew without the philosophy? Welcome to ODP Shorts!Andrew needs a haircut and thinks David Beckham is a fine American, Mr. Parsons' football team is struggling, and Taylor reviews former Houston Astros Jerseys. Contact us via email at opendoorphilosophy@gmail.comOpen Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophyOpen Door Philosophy website at opendoorphilosophy.com