Philosopher's Zone

Political philosopher Noelle McAfee discusses civil disobedience, challenging authority, and the intersection of philosophy and activism. Topics include political unconscious, influence of philosophers like Kristeva and Arendt, Thoreau's non-conformity, and steps for good political discourse.

Heather Dyke, Associate Professor of Philosophy at University of Otago NZ, discusses the illusion of time passing. Topics include A theory vs. B theory, metaphysical significance of the present moment, language's influence on temporal understanding, subjective time experience, and memories shaping time perception.

Explore how philosophy guides individuals in facing life's challenges, embracing difficulties, and redefining success and failure. Delve into the inevitability of regret and the fear of missing out, with philosophical insights on overcoming obstacles from Diogenes and Iris Murdoch.

When we think of 19th century German philosophy, we perhaps think first of Nietzsche, or Hegel, and then some other men - but Germany in the 1800s was also home to a number of women philosophers.

Exploring the rise of neofeudalism in Western democracies with tech giants as techno-lords, questioning executive salaries and monopolies. Debating the state's role in empowering private individuals and firms. Examining political activism against capitalism and advocating for rebuilding institutions for collective action and solidarity.

The podcast explores the complexities of obedience in various contexts like childhood, education, and classical music performance. It questions the virtue of obedience and discusses the significance of balancing obedience with individual expression. The debate on adhering to musical scores versus prioritizing performance aesthetics is highlighted, with references to unconventional figures in classical music traditions like Glenn Gould.

What should we think when an academic Humanities journal unsuspectingly publishes a paper that's been written as a hoax, full of fashionable jargon and deliberately specious arguments? Does this demonstrate that the Humanities set a higher value on shallow intellectual trends than on rigorous scholarship - or is there something more nuanced and complicated going on?

Exploring the emergence of a new philosophical style post-World War II in France with thinkers like Batais, Derrida, and Foucault. Debates on the significance of lucidity in philosophy and the shift towards experimental stylistic approaches. Challenging philosophical styles for clarity and controversies surrounding Jacques Derrida's work. Delving into language's indeterminacy and its impact on expressing truths in analytic philosophy.

Pain is part of life, and none of us can escape it. And yet most of us feel that the deal is worth it, that the pleasure of life outweighs the suffering. Anti-natalist philosophy takes a different view.

British thinker Mary Midgley believed in philosophy as a public endeavor, not just confined to academia. The podcast explores the relationship between public and academic philosophy, discussing the importance of connecting with wider audiences. Topics covered include the evolution of public philosophy, Mary Midgley's holistic approach, and the parallels drawn between philosophy and plumbing in addressing societal issues.