The Wes Cecil Podcast

The History of Philosophy in 16 Questions - Q6: What can we learn from nature?Hundred Schools of Thought (600-200 B.C.)Legalism: Humans are inherently corrupt and social order can only be maintained through strict hierarchy that imposes order through force.Mohism: Human society is best served through equality, frugality, and ethical education focused on helping people understand their own best interests. An early example of utilitarian and materialist thinking.Logicians: Focused on correct thinking, argumentation, naming and use of language as the method best suited to understanding the world and discovering right action. Placed heavy emphasis on reason.Confucianism: Emphasis on the founding of social order in hierarchy, family, conformity to social roles, the native goodness of human beings and the central role of education. The sense of compassion is the beginning of benevolence; the sense of shame the beginning of righteousness; the sense of modesty the beginning of decorum; the sense of right and wrong the beginning of wisdom. Man possesses these four beginnings just as he possesses four limbs. Anyone possessing these four and saying that he can not do what is required of him is abasing himself. Mencius Treat with reverence due to age the elders in your own family, so that those in the families of others shall be similarly treated; treat with the kindness due to youth the young in your own family, so that those in the families of others shall be similarly treated—do this and the kingdom may be made to go round in your palm. It is said in the 'Book of Poetry,''His example acted on his wife,Extended to his brethren,And was felt by all the clans and States;'Rén (仁, benevolence, humaneness);  Yì (義/义, righteousness or justice);Lǐ (禮/礼, proper rite);  Zhì (智, knowledge); Xìn (信, integrity). Zhōng (忠, loyalty); Xiào (孝, filial piety);Jié (節/节, contingency); Yì (義/义, righteousness).Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, peer discussions, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Likely more important than tool use and necessary for the development of more sophisticated tools, the development and creation of art marks the fundamental development of the modern mind. Here we see the imagination put to work in ways that fundamentally altered both the world and how we understood and understand the world today. At the very dawn of the Upper Paleolithic the arts become central to human society. Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a world that feels chaotic, there's a profound reevaluation of our political frameworks. Leaders are struggling to connect with disillusioned citizens as traditional narratives crumble. The discussion highlights the challenges of crafting compelling arguments that align ethical values with practical solutions. Despite the turmoil, there’s a glimmer of hope with emerging narratives that could pave the way for fresh ideas and positive change. Can new systems rise from the ashes of old beliefs? Tune in for a thought-provoking exploration of our shifting political landscape.

The History of Philosophy in 16 Questions - Q5: Why was the past so great?Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tool use has evolved more slowly and means something different than has generally been understood. Over three million years of practice with tools led, eventually, to a revolution not so much in tools as in the social structure and mental outlook of the primates we are. Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive into the philosophical realms of Henri Bergson as the discussion explores the clash between scientific and subjective conceptions of time. Discover how our obsession with rigid schedules often overshadows the richness of lived experiences. The talk encourages a shift towards a more qualitative approach to life, highlighting the significance of genuine human connections over mere task completion. This thought-provoking dialogue invites listeners to rethink their relationship with time and daily living.

Explore the evolution of governance from small communities to strongmen rule. Discover Rousseau's social contract and its implications for society. Hear how narratives create nations and sustain political identities. Dive into historical alternatives to rights-based states and ancient Greek political experiments. Unpack the delicate balance of citizenship and what citizens truly desire. Finally, learn about the alignment required for stable governance in a shifting narrative landscape.

An introduction to a new series exploring the profound influence our primate heritage has had over milennia in shaping practically every aspect of our world today. A different approach that I hope will open some of the deep structures that shape our understanding of the world. Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to peer conversation, course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The discussion delves into cultural strip mining under capitalism, highlighting how social values like honesty and hard work are exploited by employers. Wes critiques the mission-driven rhetoric of companies that mask poor working conditions and contrasts it with the harsh realities faced by workers. The podcast also examines the moralizing of debt and the predatory nature of lending practices. It warns of the erosion of social norms and the potential for systemic failure to catalyze meaningful change, urging a shift towards less exploitative systems.

The History of Philosophy in 16 Questions - Q3: How should people live?Sign-up for Wes’s PATREON to get your questions answered by Wes!Plus, gain access to course materials, reading lists, bonus lectures, and Wes’s weekly diaries from France. Only $2 / month.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.