
Philosophy for the People
Philosophy for the People’s mission is an educational program aimed at overcoming the paucity of serious, fair-minded, and accessible philosophical discourse available to a popular audience. Though we are ourselves dedicated to the Catholic intellectual tradition, we are likewise committed to exploring ideas from all rigorous traditions of philosophizing (scholastic, classical, analytic, and phenomenological). We pursue this mission by providing long-form guided readings of great texts, discussions with expert guests, our own open-ended philosophical discussions of issues and thinkers, live question and answer opportunities, in depth lecture courses, and our own articles and book-length writings. Philosophy for the People’s pedagogical materials will be provided either without charge or for minimal cost to assure provision of broad access to first-rate philosophical education.
Latest episodes

Apr 25, 2024 • 56min
Fr. Thomas Joseph White on the Existence of God and the Rationality of Religious Belief
Pat is joined by Fr. Thomas Joseph White to discuss some of the contents of his recent book Principles of Catholic Theology, Book 2: On the Rational Credibility of Christianity https://amzn.to/4dgsn78

Mar 28, 2024 • 25min
Mathematical Objects Are Non-Physical (and You Are Too) w/ Dr. Selmer Bringsjord - Part 1
This converation was originally hosted for the Mind Matters podcast, but is now being shared here.

Mar 4, 2024 • 1h 13min
Classical Theism, Divine Simplicity, and Ultimate Explanation (replay from Classical Theism Podcast)
This episode -- focusing on classical theism, divine simplicity, and ultimate explanation -- is a special replay of a conversation with Dr. Christopher Tomaszewski as featured on The Classical Theism Podcast. Pat appears toward the end to engage Chris on what resources (if any) classical theism might afford to meta-epistemology. Check out John's Classical Theism Podcast (it's one of the best) and consider supporting him on Patreon: https://www.classicaltheism.com/support

Jan 24, 2024 • 58min
The Problem of Divine Hiddenness | Is There Non-Resistant Non-Belief Belief? w/ Dr. Stephen Napier
Dr. Stephen Napier returns to Philosophy for the People to discuss his recent publication in response to the problem of divine hiddenness: Is There Non-Resistant Non-Belief? https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/religious-studies/article/is-there-nonresistant-nonbelief/21F4527C7306B350D49B46E2CB8BDDD0 PS - Sorry for the "beeping" noise throughout. Is what it is.

Jan 22, 2024 • 1h 10min
Philosophy QnA w/ Dr. Gaven Kerr
Gaven takes listener questions on philosophy, theology, and how to get published.

Jan 8, 2024 • 1h 7min
Substance Dualism w/ Dr. Stewart Goetz and Dr. Charles Taliaferro
Please enjoy this conversation exploring substance dualism. Subscribe if you want. Or not!

Dec 29, 2023 • 1h 22min
Scripture and Metaphysics (plus QnA) w/ Dr. Gaven Kerr
Come hang with Dr. Gaven Kerr as we chat Scripture and Metaphysics. PS - Check out Pat's new book The Best Argument for God: https://amzn.to/48fhsYb

Dec 12, 2023 • 57min
Catholicism and the Problem of God w/ Dr. Mark Spencer
Dr. Mark Spencer has a new Element out called Catholicism and the Problem of God. In this episode, we explore some of the contents of that book, including the apparent tensions that arise between Catholic claims concerning God and philosophy of God, or features of God and features of the world (i.e., problem of evil). For more, check out Pat's philosophy Substack: https://chroniclesofstrength.substack.com Also, Pat's book The Best Argument for God: https://amzn.to/3RFm8Ra

Dec 5, 2023 • 1h 9min
Is God the World's Soul? A Thomistic Critique of Panentheism w/ Fr. James Dominic Rooney
Fr. James Dominic Rooney returns to Philosophy for the People to discuss his recent critique of panentheism. If you like the video, hit like and subscribe to Philosophy for the People for more! More Resources: Pat's philosophy Substack: https://chroniclesofstrength.substack.com/ Pat's book The Best Argument for God: https://amzn.to/3QHzf2N

Nov 29, 2023 • 5min
The Logical Problem of Evil - Is It Dead or Alive?
Dive into the intriguing debate surrounding the logical problem of evil and its implications for the existence of God. The discussion traces historical perspectives while examining contemporary significance in theology. The argument that evil contradicts God's traditional attributes brings forth a lively exploration of philosophy. Is this argument still relevant today? Join the conversation that challenges long-held beliefs and sparks thought-provoking insights.