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
Nov 15, 2014 • 2h
Episode 105: Kant: What Is Beauty?
On Critique of Judgment (1790), Part I, Book I. What is beauty? Disinterested pleasure!
Oct 27, 2014 • 2h 3min
Episode 104: Robert Nozick’s Libertarianism
Stephen Metcalf, guest on the moral limits on government power, joins the hosts to analyze Robert Nozick's libertarianism. They discuss Nozick's arguments against utilitarianism, the historical context of libertarian arguments, the principle of rectification, and the concept of protection in relation to a minimalist state. They also explore distributing surplus value in a cooperative environment and delve into Nozick's criticisms of utilitarianism. Plus, they express gratitude, engage in banter, and provide information on upcoming topics.
Oct 26, 2014 • 12min
Precognition of Ep. 104: Robert Nozick
Seth Paskin introduces Anarchy, State, and Utopia about libertarianism and the limits of legitimate government power.
Oct 14, 2014 • 1h 47min
Episode 103: Thoreau on Living Deliberately
On Henry David Thoreau's Walden (1854). Should all true philosophers go live in the woods and seek Truth in nature? Probably YOU should.
Sep 20, 2014 • 2h 7min
Episode 102: Emerson on Wisdom and Individuality
On Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “The American Scholar” lecture (1837) and his essays “Self-Reliance” and “Circles” (1841). Be yourself! Don't conform! Realize your oneness with the universe!
Sep 1, 2014 • 1h 42min
Episode 101: Maimonides on God
On Guide for the Perplexed about God's lack of properties, featuring guest comedian Danny Lobell of the Modern Day Philosophers podcast.
Aug 15, 2014 • 2h 29min
Episode 100: Plato’s Symposium Live Celebration!
Our big live episode (also on video) about love, sex, self-improvement, and ancient Greek pederasty! Featuring a set by Mark Lint, plus Philosophy Bro on Plato's "Apology."
Aug 11, 2014 • 1h 50min
Episode 99: Looking Back on 100 Discussions and 5+ Years
What have we learned? How has our take on the PEL project changed? On the eve before our big ep. 100 live show, we sat down to reflect on what we've been doing here. With guest Daniel Horne.
Jul 26, 2014 • 1h 28min
Episode 98: Guest Michael Sandel Against Market Society
Interviewing him on his book "What Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets" and continuing the discussion of his first book, "Liberalism and the Limits of Justice."
Jul 19, 2014 • 1h 45min
Episode 97: Michael Sandel on Social Justice and the Self
On "Liberalism and the Limits of Justice" (1982) where Sandel critiques Rawls's version of liberalism as based on a bogus picture of us as purely choosing beings.
