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
Aug 8, 2022 • 9min
Byung-Chul Han's Non-Things
In this episode, I briefly introduce some of the main themes in the philosopher Byung-Chul Han's book Non-Things.
Aug 6, 2022 • 25min
Orwell's Animal Farm
Animal Farm is an animal fable and novella written by George Orwell. The story is about a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to establish a free and equal society. In this episode, we discuss the idea of revolution and utopia!
Jul 29, 2022 • 9min
What is Philosophy?
In this brief episode, I reflect a bit on the goal of philosophy, especially from the point of view of Epicurus and Thoreau.
Jul 25, 2022 • 25min
The Top Philosophy Quotes of All Time! - Kierkegaard and Locke
In this episode, we discuss Kierkegaard's quote "Truth is subjectivity", and John Locke's "The mind is a blank slate"!
Jul 18, 2022 • 20min
Arendt's The Human Condition
Hannah Arendt was one of the most important political philosophers of the 20th century. In this episode, we discuss what she calls the active life, which includes her notions of labor, work and action.
Jul 13, 2022 • 10min
What is a Work of Art?
In this episode, I talk a bit about what it is that might make something a work of art!
Jul 11, 2022 • 27min
Thomas Nagel and Absurdity
Thomas Nagel is an American philosopher. In this episode, we discuss his notion of absurdity and how it is he thinks we should respond to it!
Jul 7, 2022 • 9min
Nietzsche and the Love of Life
In this brief episode, I talk about Nietzsche's view on love, and the Platonic-Christian tradition he's reacting to.
Jul 6, 2022 • 22min
Kierkegaard's Diary of the Seducer
The Diary of the Seducer appears in Kierkegaard’s first published work Either/Or. The Diary is about Johannes, an aesthete, who through careful manipulation, seduces a younger 17 year old girl called Cordelia. In this episode, we discuss what it means to live the aesthetic life and some of the problems associated with it.
Jun 29, 2022 • 10min
Suffering and Happiness
In this brief episode, I reflect on the connection between suffering and a deeper form of happiness.
