The Wes Cecil Podcast

One of the most influential and controversial philosophers of the late 20th century, Derrida specialized in trying to unmoor our sense of certainty and truth. Working across 50 books, he was an intellectual gad-fly in the tradition of Socrates who always wanted us to be suspicious of clarity. He almost single-handedly brought continental philosophy back to the English speaking world. You can find the original Lecture Notes HereSign-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.

Q & A #9 - CONCLUSIONWes and Jeremy take questions from listeners on Lectures IX and X: Conclusion Parts 1 and 2Sign-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.

BEYOND RIGHT AND WRONGHere Jung moves beyond simply rejecting the Right and Wrong and tries to create an ethos of ambiguity. Focusing on a dream involving Elijah and Salome, he experiences the intertwined relationship of lust and purity, truth and lies, seduction and holiness. Here is a great entry in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on De Beauvoir’s Ethics of Ambiguity Simone de Beauvoir (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).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.

The podcast delves into how culture and personal habits limit our engagement with enriching experiences. It highlights the shift from communal to solitary media consumption, noting how this has diminished meaningful discussions. There's a critical look at mindless media habits that prioritize quantity over quality, leading to alienation. The discussion also revisits the Renaissance's individuality ideal, advocating for a balance between personal expression and community engagement. Ultimately, it champions active participation in art to foster deeper connections.

Bertrand Russell was a famous and influential thinker. He became a popular philosopher after his groundbreaking attempt to found mathematics on a prefect, logically complete footing failed. This is an improved audio version of my original lecture delivered at Peninsula College.Here is a link to is very readable and enlightening History of Western PhilosophySign-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.

LECTURE 10 - CONCLUSION 2 of 2 (HOW DOES THE WORLD SEE THE USA?)Given Americans' central position in global trade, politics and culture, I explore how the unique American outlook is shaping, for good or ill, the global environment. From notions of extreme individualism to championing the idea of heroic consumerism, the economic power and example of America presents a serious challenge and even threat to many widely practiced social norms.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.

INTO THE DESERTThe power of Jung’s approach becomes a little more clear as we move into these later chapters. Jung is quite explicitly at war with his inherited cultural values. While it is one thing to recognize this, it is very much more difficult to try and reimagine one’s values - and hence one’s understanding of the self. Jung tries to murder the image of the hero - casting himself as an honorless assassin. He also articulates the powerful insight that the message Jesus teaches us is that we can torture and kill the gods. Siegfried from the Niebelungenlied:Now Siegfried was of noble birth, a prince without peer,His fame had spread so widely, all held him dear.His strength was like no other; his deeds could not be missed,For he had conquered dragons and the Nibelung's treasure list.In Burgundy’s bright court, his presence was a light,With golden hair and armor, he dazzled every knight.The ladies gazed in wonder, the men sang of his skill,For none could match bold Siegfried’s grace and will.As an exercise, make a list of all of the key values you sense in our culture - the importance of wealth for instance - and then try and embrace not just rejecting those values but actually overthrowing them. While it is generally fairly straightforward to make such a list, to actually internally transform ourselves, as Jung is striving to do, is extremely difficult.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.

Delve into the decline of traditional intellectual institutions and their cultural consequences, using the jazz age as a backdrop. Explore the evolution of jazz from lively dance music to a serious genre, and critique how modern consumption affects personal connections. Discover how social media algorithms alienate individuals from their cultural roots, all while rising housing costs hinder creative freedom. Finally, learn how engaging in cultural activities and community initiatives fosters personal fulfillment and a renewed sense of belonging.

LECTURE 9 - CONCLUSION 1 of 2 (THE INDIVIDUAL IN AMERICA)Do you feel alone? In the 1st of 2 concluding lectures I explore how all the forces I have been discussing throughout this series shape the lived experiences of Americans today. The combination of materialism and libertarianism with our deep calvinist roots creates a peculiar and often toxic environment that leads to a sense of isolation and nihilism.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.

An Improved Audio version of a lecture on Martin Heidegger. Heidegger was one of the most influential and controversial philosophers of the 20th century. This lecture explores his life and work and attempts to frame his philosophical ideas within the context of his many ethical failings. A link to the lecture notesSign-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.