The Wisdom Of
Kristian Urstad and Stephen Webb
In this podcast we explore great works of philosophy and literature and art, and try to pull out of them what’s most interesting and inspiring! Whether they come from the works of Plato, or Dostoevsky or Picasso, here we explore ideas that move mountains and rock the soul! So, come join us, won’t you? Come worship at the alter of ideas, and come celebrate the dancing of thought. Welcome to the Wisdom Of!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 12, 2025 • 14min
Kant vs. Aristotle - Duty vs. Character!
Aristotle and Kant argue for two very different ethical outlooks. I definitely prefer one to the other!
Oct 9, 2025 • 10min
The rise and the danger of binary thinking
We live in an age increasingly dominated by black and white thinking. When we leave no room for the complexity and ambiguity of reality, the outcome is going to be perilous.
Oct 6, 2025 • 12min
Montaigne's self-fashioning vs. the curated facade of today's self!
The French philosopher Montaigne made the exploration of selfhood the most important thing in his life. How does his project compare to today's version of self-fashioning?
Oct 3, 2025 • 10min
Optimize this! - The cost of constant improvement
Beneath today's trend of optimizing everything lies some deep philosophical and existential problems.
Sep 30, 2025 • 16min
Three famous philosophers who were practically unknown in their own time!
Ahead of their age, awaiting ours: Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, and Nietzsche!
Sep 26, 2025 • 13min
The death of expertise is the demise of civilization!
Our growing distrust of expertise and of universities is terminally stupid. We will all pay the price.
Sep 23, 2025 • 13min
David Abram's The Spell of the Sensuous - Living in attunement with the earth!
Abstract time and space sever our ties to place, rhythm, and responsibility! Or so argues the philosopher and ecologist, David Abram!
Sep 18, 2025 • 14min
When Religion becomes Shallow
When religion becomes shallow it's no longer truly religion. Many philosophers have warned us of this, of religion being reduced to self-serving functions.
Sep 15, 2025 • 14min
Julian Jaynes - The Origin of Consciousness and the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, and AI!
The American psychologist argued that before modern consciousness, we heard and obeyed the voices of the gods. With AI, is it any different today?
Sep 11, 2025 • 10min
A human history of intelligence without kindness - A cautionary analogy for the advent of AI
We've set a bleak precedent for what's to come.
