The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey
The Partially Examined Life is a podcast by some guys who were at one point set on doing philosophy for a living but then thought better of it. Each episode, we pick a short text and chat about it with some balance between insight and flippancy. You don't have to know any philosophy, or even to have read the text we're talking about to (mostly) follow and (hopefully) enjoy the discussion. For links to the texts we discuss and other info, check out www.partiallyexaminedlife.com.
We also feature episodes from other podcasts by our hosts to round out your partially examined life, including Pretty Much Pop (prettymuchpop.com, covering all media), Nakedly Examined Music (nakedlyexaminedmusic.com, deconstructing songs), Philosophy vs. Improv (philosophyimprov.com, fun with performance skills and philosophical ideas), and (sub)Text (subtextpodcast.com, looking deeply at lit and film). Learn about more network podcasts at partiallyexaminedlife.com.
We also feature episodes from other podcasts by our hosts to round out your partially examined life, including Pretty Much Pop (prettymuchpop.com, covering all media), Nakedly Examined Music (nakedlyexaminedmusic.com, deconstructing songs), Philosophy vs. Improv (philosophyimprov.com, fun with performance skills and philosophical ideas), and (sub)Text (subtextpodcast.com, looking deeply at lit and film). Learn about more network podcasts at partiallyexaminedlife.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 18, 2023 • 47min
Ep. 325: Paul Grice on Meaning and Conversation (Part One)
Steve Gimbell, an expert in the field of meaning and conversation, joins the hosts to discuss Paul Grice's theories of meaning. They explore the complexities of communication, the power of imperatives, and unconventional language use in successful communication.
Sep 13, 2023 • 11min
PREMIUM-Ep. 324: Plato's "Cratylus" on Language (Part Three)
Mark and Wes do a Closeread on the latter part of the dialogue, where Socrates argues to Cratylus that even if names (words) were devised to somehow depict the things they stand for, that wouldn't guarantee that they ACCURATELY describe the world. You can't look at the definitions of words to learn about the world; you have to actually investigate the world directly. Closereads supporters (see patreon.com/closereadsphilosophy) can watch video for this episode and get all the Closereads content: 13 episodes so far, including new episodes on Epictetus' Discourses. This Closeread and some others are also being made available to PEL supporters. If you're not hearing the full version of this discussion, you can sign up via one of the options described at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.
Sep 11, 2023 • 46min
Ep. 324: Plato's "Cratylus" on Language (Part Two)
Continuing on Plato's mid-period dialogue about language. Is attaching a word to a thing, i.e. naming it, like other activities such as carpentry or sewing that can go wrong? Can we put the "form" of a thing into letters and syllabus of its name? We go through many examples where Socrates claims to have done just that. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and a supporter-exclusive part three to this discussion.
Sep 4, 2023 • 45min
Ep. 324: Plato's "Cratylus" on Language (Part One)
Exploring Plato's Cratylus, the podcast discusses language and its connection to reality, the concept of imitation, universal grammar, and language development. They also delve into the nature of change and fixed essences, the stability of forms, and Cratylus' claims about names. The podcast touches on meal kit options and charitable giving opportunities before exploring Cratylus' influence on Plato and the concept of convention. Finally, they discuss the connection between supervision, language, and Plato's dialogues.
Aug 29, 2023 • 10min
PREMIUM-PEL End-of-Summer Nightcap 2023
Mark, Seth, Dylan, and eventually Wes talk about traveling, Barbie, gender, evolutionary psychology, cognitive science, and more. If you're not hearing the full version of this discussion, sign up via one of the options described at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.
Aug 28, 2023 • 48min
Ep. 323: Acquiring Language: Tomasello vs. Chomsky (Part Two)
The podcast discusses Michael Tomasello's theory of language acquisition and how it contrasts with Chomsky's universal grammar. They explore the controversy between the two theories and debunk the concept of universal grammar. They also delve into infants' understanding of speech units and associations, role reversal and imitation in cultural learning, and the development of language in children.
4 snips
Aug 21, 2023 • 46min
Ep. 323: Acquiring Language: Tomasello vs. Chomsky (Part One)
Guest Christopher Heath, language acquisition expert, discusses Michael Tomasello's usage-based theory of language acquisition and the contrasting views of Noam Chomsky. The speakers explore the role of joint attention, semantics, and communicative intent in language development. They also touch on the joint understanding between humans and dogs and the distinction between concepts and symbols.
Aug 14, 2023 • 55min
PEL Closereads: Emerson's Oversoul (New Podcast Premiere)
Are we underlyingly all really a single, unified organism? Or do we just have a lot in common? PEL's most verbose hosts Mark Linsenmayer and Wes Alwan begin unraveling this puzzling claim by reading Ralph Waldo Emerson's 1841 essay "The Over-Soul" and explaining it line-by-line. Watch this episode on video at YouTube. We encourage you to read along in the essay with us. This is the first of four parts. To hear the others as they are released this week, plus weekly episodes going forward and three episodes already posted, please support this new effort at patreon.com/closereadsphilosophy (or support PEL and Closereads together via support at the $10 level at patreon.com/partiallyexaminedlife). Sponsor: Check out Drilled, a true-crime podcast about climate change. Enrollment is now open for Mark's Core Philosophy Texts class at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class. Support PEL to get this discussion ad-free, plus tons of bonus content.
Aug 7, 2023 • 57min
Ep. 322: Schelling on Art vs. Nature (Part Three)
Mark and Wes conclude with some close reading of Part 6 of System of Transcendental Idealism (1800), section 3: "Relation of Art to Philosophy." Schelling thinks that art enables us to do intuitively what philosophy tries to do with concepts. We're providing this typically supporter-exclusive content for all of you in anticipation of the new Closereads: Philosophy with Mark and Wes project that we'll be unveiling next week. Sponsors: Get 50% off the #1 Meal Kit for Eating Clean (plus free shipping) at greenchef.com/pel50 (promocode pel50). Give more effectively via GiveWell.org (and let them know we sent you!). Check out the Articles of Interest podcast. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. There are still spots available in Mark's Core Philosophy Texts class this fall. See partiallyexaminedlife.com/class.
Jul 31, 2023 • 48min
Ep. 322: Schelling on Art vs. Nature (Part Two)
Continuing on "On the Relation Between the Plastic Arts and Nature" (1807) and Part 6 of System of Transcendental Idealism (1800). We talk sculpture vs. painting and why art is the direct, intuitive way to achieve the insight that philosophy can only approximate using concepts. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Learn about the online Core Philosophy Texts course Mark is running this fall at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class.
