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
Oct 12, 2020 • 1h 6min
Ep. 254: Michael Sandel Interview: Against Meritocracy (Part One)
On The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good? (2020). Do people get the wealth and status they deserve? And if they did, would that be good? Michael critiques the meritocracy: It's not actually fair, leaves most people feeling humiliated, and makes those on the top arrogant and disconnected. The commitment to meritocracy is shared by both political parties and helps explain our current dysfunction. Part two of this episode is only going to be available to you if you sign up at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support. Get it now or listen to a preview.
Oct 5, 2020 • 7min
PREMIUM-Ep. 253: Leibniz on the Problem of Evil (Part Two)
If you'd like to hear more of the discussion on Gottfried Leibniz’s Theodicy that we started in part one, you'll need to go sign up at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support. This is just a few tantalizing snippets from part two, wherein we talk about the metaphysical status of evil and about the multi-layered character of will.
Sep 28, 2020 • 47min
Ep. 253: Leibniz on the Problem of Evil (Part One)
On Gottfried Leibniz’s Theodicy (1710). Why does God allow so many bad things to happen? Leibniz thought that by the definition of God, whatever He created must be the best of all possible worlds, and his theodicy presents numerous arguments to try to make that less counter-intuitive given how less-than-perfect the world seems to us. Part two of this episode is only going to be available to you if you sign up at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support. Get it now or listen to a preview.
Sep 21, 2020 • 23min
PEL Special: Nightcap Late September 2020
We're releasing JUST THIS ONE Nightcap to the wider public so induce you all to go support us and so gain the ability to hear these free-wheeling, feeling-sharing, email-reading fiestas between every regular episode. This time we gripe about Habermas and reflect on what secondary sources we use. We consider whether to have an episode on anarchism and if we should ever have guests on who are hard-core adherents of the philosophy we're discussing. We reveal which reading we've covered has pleasantly surprised each of us the most. Finally, we talk about how to front-load our episodes so that folks who do not sign up to hear the part 2's still get a satisfying, self-contained experience.
Sep 21, 2020 • 5min
PREMIUM-Ep. 252: Habermas on Communication as Sociality (Part Two)
If you'd like to hear more of the discussion on Jürgen Habermas' "Actions, Speech Acts, Linguistically Mediated Interactions, and the Lifeworld" (1998) that we started in part one, you'll need to go sign up at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support. We're just sharing a few minutes of part two here to get you all hot and bothered. You're welcome!
Sep 14, 2020 • 51min
Ep. 252: Habermas on Communication as Sociality (Part One)
On Jürgen Habermas' "Actions, Speech Acts, Linguistically Mediated Interactions, and the Lifeworld" (1998), with guest John Foster. What's the relation between individuals and society? Habermas says that language has ethics built right into it: I'm trying to get you to agree with me, to engage in a cooperative enterprise of mutual understanding. Part two of this episode is only going to be available to you if you sign up at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support. Get it now or listen to a preview.
Sep 7, 2020 • 1h 11min
Ep. 251: Simone Weil's Ideal Society
On "Theoretical Picture of a Free Society" (1934). What's the ideal living situation for us all, given the peculiarities of human nature? Weil describes fulfillment as coming from being able to picture goals and plans and knowingly put them into effect, so social groups need to maximize that power by being small and cooperative. End song: "Libreville" by Bill Bruford, as interviewed for Nakedly Examined Music #25. Get this episode ad-free with a PEL Citizenship, which also gets you access to our PEL Nightcaps and future Part Two episodes.
8 snips
Aug 31, 2020 • 54min
Ep. 250: Simone Weil on Human Needs (Part Three)
Delve into Simone Weil's thought-provoking insights on punishment and its moral implications. The discussion emphasizes the balance between individual responsibilities and societal laws, challenging traditional views of property and ownership. Explore the importance of public spaces in fostering community identity and the complexities of truth in today's discourse. The hosts also highlight the evolution of rights theory and tease upcoming formats that promise engaging discussions on individual rights and ethical dilemmas.
11 snips
Aug 24, 2020 • 52min
Ep. 250: Simone Weil on Human Needs (Part Two)
Dive into Simone Weil's profound thoughts on liberty and the delicate balance between personal freedom and societal rules. Discover the paradox of obedience rooted in consent rather than fear and how true initiative fosters community belonging. Explore the joy of craftsmanship versus the constraints of modern industrial work. Engage with discussions on leadership dynamics, the value of different professions, and the importance of honoring diverse contributions in society, all while advocating for a more compassionate and equitable world.
11 snips
Aug 17, 2020 • 48min
Ep. 250: Simone Weil on Human Needs (Part One)
Delve into the intriguing ideas of Simone Weil, who explores humanity's non-physical needs and the delicate balance between liberty and obligation. Discover why many obey the few, and how societal structures can impact individual freedoms. The discussion bridges personal responsibility with collective action, questioning the relationship between rights and obligations. Explore the moral dilemmas of societal order and beauty, and the conflict between individual needs and industrial systems. It's a thought-provoking journey into the intricacies of the human experience.
