Very Bad Wizards

Delve into Plato's cave allegory and forms, reflection on professional wisdom, personal contentment, social connections, and podcast evolution. Explore justice and ruling in 'The Republic,' and Plato's allegory of the cave. Discover education as transformative, philosophical text appreciation.

The podcast delves into Ernest Becker's philosophy of science and explanations for strongman leaders, neuroses, mental illness, and sexual fetishes. They explore the existential paradox of being human and discuss political topics like Biden, debate, and Kamala Harris. The hosts express gratitude to supporters and discuss human desire for transcendence, fear of mortality, and the role of artists in confronting mortality and creating meaning in life.

The podcast delves into Ernest Becker's 'The Denial of Death,' exploring how our fear of mortality drives human behavior. They humorously discuss the correlation between penis size dissatisfaction and gun ownership, linking it to psychosexual theories. The conversation contrasts Freudian theories with existential dilemmas and explores facing the fear of death authentically.

In this podcast, the hosts explore the mysteries of the film 'Oldboy' by Park Chan-wook, focusing on a man seeking revenge after being imprisoned for 15 years. They discuss the gender differences in vocabulary and the insights from a linguistics paper. The conversation touches on dark and twisted scenes in narratives, emotional complexities in movies, and themes of redemption and revenge in Asian cinema. The hosts provide an in-depth analysis of the intense movie scenes, exploring themes of memory, psychological manipulation, and transformative character journeys.

Discussing the cultural differences between rice and wheat farming communities in China, highlighting the impact on collectivism and holistic thinking. Exploring a study on censorship and self-censorship among social psychologists. Delving into evolutionary implications of sexually coercive behavior and controversial views on biological sex in academia. Analyzing cultural influences on self-perception and research measures in cultural studies. Playful banter on dinner choices and individualism rounds out the engaging discussion.

Hosts discuss top 3 existentialist movies, lack of research on metaphysics of puns, and surprisingly positive opinions on recent paper. Delve into ontology of art and puns, challenge traditional views on language ontology, and explore flexibility of words. Light-hearted banter on puns and humor theories. Dive into existential movies shaping identity through choices, analyze Blade Runner themes, compare Double Indemnity vs Locke decisions, and explore genetic dreams in Gattaca.

Writer Caitrin Keiper joins the hosts to discuss the philosophical questions surrounding elephants - their mental states, language, and morality. They explore the taboo of anthropomorphizing elephants and the ethical duties towards them. Plus, a fun segment inventing German words for common experiences.

Detective Erik Lönnrot investigates a mysterious murder involving Kabbalistic texts; study reveals why men misinterpret women's flirting signals; unraveling the intricate narrative of betrayal and deception in 'Death and the Compass' by Borges

Analytic vs. continental philosophy rivalry discussed. The University of Austin's forbidden courses raise questions. Skepticism towards reported events and controversial figures. Choosing between controversial courses like 'Science and Christianity'. Contrasting analytic and continental philosophy approaches and biases. Analytic philosophy's paradigmatic nature and progress. Exploring psychological frameworks and artistic influences in philosophy.

Exploring Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Masque of the Red Death' with guests from Weird Studies podcast, they discuss weird fiction's allure and mood creation. The hosts also delve into a data-driven birthday orgy and explore the concept of modern sex symbols. From decadence in fiction to societal collapse, the podcast covers a wide range of intriguing topics.