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 15, 2025 • 10min
Byung-Chul Han and Fromm - Clean shiny machines and our Necrophilia!
Explore how modern society prefers clean, efficient machines to the messiness of human life. Delve into Fromm's idea of necrophilia, illustrating our tendency to prioritize order and precision over organic existence. Discover how technology sanitizes death, distancing us from its realities. Byung-Chul Han critiques our obsession with smooth surfaces, arguing it erases uniqueness and genuine connection. Together, these thinkers challenge us to confront our mortality and embrace the chaos of life.
Oct 12, 2025 • 14min
Kant vs. Aristotle - Duty vs. Character!
Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Humanhttps://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/
Oct 9, 2025 • 10min
The rise and the danger of binary thinking
Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Humanhttps://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/
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? ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Humanhttps://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/
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. ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Humanhttps://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/
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! ... Check out my new book! It's called The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Humanhttps://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/
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.... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Humanhttps://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/
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! .... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Humanhttps://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/
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.... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Humanhttps://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/
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? ... Check out my new book! It's called: The Last Human: How Technology is Changing What it Means to be Humanhttps://www.amazon.com/Last-Human-Technology-Changing-Means/dp/1069510831/
