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
Jul 27, 2015 • 1h 41min
Episode 120: A History of "Will" with Guest Eva Brann
We discuss Un-Willing: An Inquiry into the Rise of Will's Power and an Attempt to Undo It (2014) with the author, covering Socrates, Augustine, Aquinas, Heidegger, Nietzsche, Sartre, compatibilism, the neurologists' critque of free will, and more. End song: "I Insist" by Mark Lint from Songs from the Partially Examined Life. Read about it. Get this and every episode ad-free by becoming a PEL supporter at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.
Jul 24, 2015 • 18min
Ep. 118 Aftershow (PREMIUM) on Songwriting feat. ex-Camper Chris Molla
A highlight from our musician-packed breakdown of our songwriting episode. Featuring a third (ex-) member of Camper Van Beethoven, plus Chase Fiorenza, Mike Wilson, Maxx Bartko, Danny Lobell, Mark Linsenmayer, and (not heard on this preview) Adrian Cho and Fischerspooner's Warren Fischer. We discuss authenticity, the state of the music biz, humor in music, and more.
7 snips
Jul 6, 2015 • 2h 46min
Episode 119: Nietzsche on Tragedy and the Psychology of Art
On Friedrich Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy (1872). Nietzsche thought that you could tell how vital or decadent a civilization was by its art, and said that ancient Greek tragedy was so great because it was a perfect synthesis of something highly formal/orderly/beautiful with the intuitive/unconscious/chaotic. But then Socrates ruined everything! With guest John Castro. Includes a preview of the Aftershow feat. Greg Sadler. End song: "Some Act" by Mark Lint and the Fake from "So Whaddaya Think?" (2000).
Jul 5, 2015 • 18min
Ep. 117 Aftershow (PREMIUM) on Antigone with Danny Lobell
Listen to or watch the Aftershow for Episode 117 on Antigone, with Danny Lobell, Wes Alwan, and a bunch of PEL listeners like you. Also, learn about our new Citizen feed: get the full Aftershow delivered right to your smartphone!
Jun 29, 2015 • 1h 55min
Episode 118: The Musical Life with Guests from Camper van Beethoven
Victor Krummenacher and Jonathan Segel join Mark and Wes to discuss songwriting and authenticity in the age of Internet consumerism. This episode prefigured Mark's Nakedly Examined Music podcast. Includes a preview of the Aftershow featuring more musicians including ex-Camper Chris Molla. End songs: "The Bastards Never Show Themselves" by the Monks of Doom and Mike Wilson's "RG." Get this and every episode ad-free by becoming a PEL supporter at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.
Jun 15, 2015 • 1h 58min
Episode 117: Discussing Sophocles's "Antigone"
Philosophically considering the ancient Greek tragedy, which we also performed with Lucy Lawless and Paul Provenza. End song: "Woe Is Me" (live, 2002) by Madison Lint. Features a preview of the Aftershow, feat. Wes and host Danny Lobell. Get this and every episode ad-free by becoming a PEL supporter at partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.
Jun 8, 2015 • 1h 26min
"Antigone" Read by PEL with Lucy Lawless and Paul Provenza
An unrehearsed, fun read-through of the Greek Tragedy from 441 BCE, plus some discussion with the cast of Greek drama, our selected translation, and other stuff. Enjoy! PEL Citizens can get an ad-free, extended version. End song: "Antigone (Choragos Speaks)" by Mark Lint. Read about it.
May 25, 2015 • 2h 25min
Episode 116: Freud on Dreams
On Sigmund Freud's On Dreams (1902) and other stuff. Are dreams just random, or our best key to understanding the mind? For Wes Alwan's Freud summaries, go here: https://www.philosophysummaries.com. After you listen to this, check out the Aftershow. End song: "Sleep" by Mark Lint. Read about it.
May 11, 2015 • 2h 15min
Episode 115: Schopenhauer on Music with Guest Jonathan Segel
The Camper Van Beethoven violinist/composer/multi-instrumentalist joins us to discuss The World as Will and Representation, book 3 selections.
Apr 27, 2015 • 2h 11min
Episode 114: Schopenhauer: "The World Is Will"
On The World As Will and Representation (1818), book 2. The world is a blind, striving force!
