

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

Apr 17, 2022 • 27min
Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes is known as one of the wisdom books of the Old Testament, alongside the Book of Job, Song of Songs and Proverbs. It was written sometime between 450 and 200 BC and its author is unknown. In this episode, we discuss God's apparent lack of justice and His distance from us. Then we talk about some similarities between Ecclesiastes and Albert Camus' perspective.

Apr 12, 2022 • 11min
Socrates and Care of the Soul
In this brief episode, I discuss the connection Socrates makes between shared dialogue and the state of our soul.

Apr 10, 2022 • 26min
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The Unbearable Lightness of Being was written by the Czech Milan Kundera, and it was published in 1984. It tells the story of a young woman in love with a man torn between his love for her and his habitual womanizing. In this episode, we discuss living lightly versus living with weight, and Nietzsche's idea of the eternal return.

Apr 5, 2022 • 7min
Gratitude
In this brief episode, I discuss the ancient idea of negative visualization and the connection it has to gratitude.

Apr 4, 2022 • 9min
Buddhism and Stoicism on Anger
In this brief episode, I discuss how it is Buddhists and Stoics understand anger.

Apr 2, 2022 • 26min
Beckett's Molloy
Molloy is a novel written by the Irish writer Samuel Beckett, published in 1951. It’s the first of a trilogy of novels, the other two being Malone Dies and The Unnamable. In this episode, we discuss the idea of being stuck inside your own mind, and the idea of the mid-life crisis.

Mar 29, 2022 • 10min
Anthropocentrism
In this brief episode, I discuss the nature and the problem of our human-centered outlook.

Mar 26, 2022 • 25min
Zorba the Greek
Zorba the Greek is a novel written by the Cretan author Nikos Kazantzakis and it was first published in 1946. The story is about a young English writer who meets Alexis Zorba, an older Greek man with a passion for life. As their friendship develops, the young writer is gradually transformed. In this episode, we discuss the contemplative life versus the life of action, and the importance of laughter and dance.

Mar 20, 2022 • 11min
Narcissism
In this brief episode, I talk a little about the nature of narcissism through looking at the Greek myth of Narcissus and Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Mar 18, 2022 • 29min
Plato's Republic
Plato is considered to be one of the greatest philosophers in history. In this episode, we take a look at his great dialogue the Republic and discuss the important connection he makes between being a good person and happiness.