History of Philosophy Audio Archive

“There’s a real question as to what beauty is and why it’s important to us. Many pseudo-philosophers try to answer these questions and tell us they’re not really answerable. I draw on art and literature, and music in particular, because music is a wonderful example of something that’s in this world but not of this world. Great works of music speak to us from another realm even though they speak to us in ordinary physical sounds.” -Roger Scruton, The Soul of the World --- The original video can be found here, my thanks to the Oxford Union for providing and maintaining this recording. NB: I am not personally a conservative, but I can't pretend that they don't exist, and if I have to listen to one, let it be Roger Scruton. As always these talks are syndicated for educational and nonprofit purposes in accordance with Fair Use. They are produced ad-free, because I listen to my own stuff on here and like you, I hate ads. These recordings have been remastered for clarity, ease of listening, and concision and have been downmixed to mono so that they are lighter and easier to stream, wherever you are.  Furthermore my historical and philosophical writing, which is also entirely free is available at my blog, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hemlock⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Substack. The music of the intro and outro (Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major) is licensed under non-commercial attribution, and can be ⁠⁠⁠⁠found here⁠⁠⁠⁠ and has been remixed by me. Enjoy.

“When we think of racism we think of Governor Wallace of Alabama blocking the schoolhouse door; we think of water hoses, lynchings, racial epithets, and "whites only" signs. These images make it easy to forget that many wonderful, goodhearted white people who were generous to others, respectful of their neighbors, and even kind to their black maids, gardeners, or shoe shiners--and wished them well--nevertheless went to the polls and voted for racial segregation... Our understanding of racism is therefore shaped by the most extreme expressions of individual bigotry, not by the way in which it functions naturally, almost invisibly (and sometimes with genuinely benign intent), when it is embedded in the structure of a social system.” -Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow --- The link to the original video can be found here, my thanks to the University of Chicago (my alma mater, incidentally) for hosting this 2013 talk. These recordings have been remastered for clarity, ease of listening, and concision and have been downmixed to mono so that they are lighter and easier to stream, wherever you are. As always these talks are syndicated for educational and nonprofit purposes in accordance with Fair Use. They are produced ad-free, because I listen to my own stuff on here and like you, I hate ads. Furthermore my historical and philosophical writing, which is also entirely free is available at my blog, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hemlock⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Substack. The music of the intro and outro (Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major) is licensed under non-commercial attribution, and can be ⁠⁠⁠⁠found here⁠⁠⁠⁠ and has been remixed by me. Enjoy.

On May 4th, 2016 journalist and political activist Naomi Klein delivered the Edward Said Lecture at the London Review of Books. She addressed the hierarchies implicit in who survives and who dies in a warming world, the role that transnational capitalism has played in subverting democracy, and the potential vectors for resistance that are available for averting an ecocidal collapse. Her aim in this talk is to describe "the role that systems that rank the value of human beings...have played in deepening that crisis." The original video can be found here, my gratitude to the London Review of Books for their hosting of the Edward Said Lectures. --- As always these talks are syndicated for educational and nonprofit purposes in accordance with Fair Use. They are produced ad-free, because I listen to my own stuff on here and like you, I hate ads. Furthermore my historical and philosophical writing, which is also entirely free is available at my blog, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hemlock⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Substack. The music of the intro and outro (Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major) is licensed under non-commercial attribution, and can be ⁠⁠⁠⁠found here⁠⁠⁠⁠ and has been remixed by me. Enjoy.

"Bohr was the recipient of the Atoms for Peace Prize. None of us knew what the prize was for, but everyone knew that this was the right man to give it to." - J. Robert Oppenheimer, May 14th, 1964. In this talk, the father of the atom bomb explores the perils of the nuclear arms race, the weaponization of science, the tragedy of confrontational Cold War politics, and the loss of his friend and inspiration, Niels Bohr, who died just two years before. --- Original video found here, I've reduced the background noise, cut applause and distracting sounds, and minimized harmonic interference, although it was poorly mic'd and nonetheless has a few artifacts remaining. My gratitude to the UCLA Communication Archive for preserving this wonderful piece of history. As always these talks are syndicated for educational and nonprofit purposes in accordance with Fair Use. They are produced ad-free, because I listen to my own stuff on here and like you, I hate ads. Furthermore my historical and philosophical writing, which is also entirely free is available at my blog, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hemlock⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Substack. The music of the intro and outro (Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major) is licensed under non-commercial attribution, and can be ⁠⁠⁠⁠found here⁠⁠⁠⁠ and has been remixed by me. Enjoy.

Guest Professor Cornel R. West discusses the rich tradition of Black love and freedom in the face of catastrophic times. He explores the influences of influential figures like W.E.B. Du Bois and Toni Morrison, the transformative power of music in connecting with audiences, and the role of education in intellectual and moral development. The podcast delves into themes of resilience, authenticity, and challenging white supremacy through cultural appreciation.

Cornel West explores the cultural and spiritual dynamics of the American empire through the works of T.S. Eliot and Eugene O’Neill. They delve into the human tragedy of their times and the profound impact these artists had on American philosophy and culture.

Esteemed philosopher Cornel West discusses the groundbreaking works of Giambattista Vico, emphasizing the concept of 'ingenium' to transcend savagery. The podcast also explores topics such as historical consciousness, societal transformation, unconscious bias, despair vs. hope, and the concept of care and solidarity.

Professor Cornel West discusses early modern philosophy, focusing on Erasmus and Montaigne's reflections on human societies and European colonization. They were exemplars of blues, swing, and improvisation in philosophy, facing dark folly with a free-style soul-craft.

Renowned philosopher and activist Cornel West delves into metaphilosophy, exploring boundaries of inquiry. He reflects on the importance of courage, individuality, and resistance in jazz, literature, and philosophical traditions. The podcast touches on music's empowering nature, historical figures' symbolic significance, and Nietzsche's intellectual challenges.

Dr. Cornel West discusses deep philosophical connections, explores the life of Francis Otto Matheson, delves into acknowledgment, catastrophes, and the blues, examines the intersection of orality and philosophy, prepares for a Q&A session, explores the influence of John Coltrane and jazz music tradition, and discusses philosophical perspectives on death.