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The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast — Education
The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast

An ‘informal and informative’ philosophy podcast inspiring and supporting students, teachers, academics and free-thinkers worldwide. All episodes are available at www.thepanpsycast.com.

Copyright: Copyright (©, ®) 2022 - Jack Symes. All Rights Reserved.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 120, The Mystery of Existence (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jul 30, 2023

Show notes

Introduction

This episode features Jack Symes in conversation with four of the biggest names in philosophy: Richard Dawkins (representing science and atheism), Jessica Frazier (on Hinduism), Silvia Jonas (speaking on Jewish philosophy), and Richard Swinburne (defending Christianity).

With over six-hundred people registering for tickets, we were absolutely overwhelmed by your support; thank you to everybody who came along! A very special thank you to our Patrons and the Global Philosophy of Religion Project at the University of Birmingham for making the event possible. We hope you enjoy the show!

'The origin of our universe is the greatest mystery of all. Why is there something rather than nothing? Further still, how did we come to exist in a world with such precise laws of nature and complex creatures? As we shall see, how we answer these questions determines everything: from the meaning of our lives to the secrets of our futures.'

Contents

Part I. The Debate

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

General

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project, University of Birmingham.

Philosophers on God: Talking about Existence (Bloomsbury, 2024).

Richard Dawkins

The Selfish Gene (book).

The Blind Watchmaker (book).

The God Delusion (book).

Outgrowing God (book).

Flights of Fancy (book).

www.richarddawkins.com

www.richarddawkins.net

Jessica Frazier

About (webpage).

Reality, Religion, and Passion (book).

The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies (book).

Hindu Worldviews: Theories of Self, Ritual and Reality (book).

Categorisation in Indian Philosophy: Thinking Inside the Box (book).

BBC In Our Times: Hindu Creation (podcast).

History of Philosophy without Any Gaps (podcast).

Silvia Jonas

Silvia Jonas (website).

Silvia Jonas: Research (website).

Ineffability and its Metaphysics (book).

Richard Swinburne

The Existence of God (book).

Is There a God? (book).

More books by Richard Swinburne.

Episode 120, The Mystery of Existence (Part I - The Debate) Jul 16, 2023

Show notes

Introduction

This episode features Jack Symes in conversation with four of the biggest names in philosophy: Richard Dawkins (representing science and atheism), Jessica Frazier (on Hinduism), Silvia Jonas (speaking on Jewish philosophy), and Richard Swinburne (defending Christianity).

With over six-hundred people registering for tickets, we were absolutely overwhelmed by your support; thank you to everybody who came along! A very special thank you to our Patrons and the Global Philosophy of Religion Project at the University of Birmingham for making the event possible. We hope you enjoy the show!

'The origin of our universe is the greatest mystery of all. Why is there something rather than nothing? Further still, how did we come to exist in a world with such precise laws of nature and complex creatures? As we shall see, how we answer these questions determines everything: from the meaning of our lives to the secrets of our futures.'

Contents

Part I. The Debate

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

General

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project, University of Birmingham.

Philosophers on God: Talking about Existence (Bloomsbury, 2024).

Richard Dawkins

The Selfish Gene (book).

The Blind Watchmaker (book).

The God Delusion (book).

Outgrowing God (book).

Flights of Fancy (book).

www.richarddawkins.com

www.richarddawkins.net

Jessica Frazier

About (webpage).

Reality, Religion, and Passion (book).

The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies (book).

Hindu Worldviews: Theories of Self, Ritual and Reality (book).

Categorisation in Indian Philosophy: Thinking Inside the Box (book).

BBC In Our Times: Hindu Creation (podcast).

History of Philosophy without Any Gaps (podcast).

Silvia Jonas

Silvia Jonas (website).

Silvia Jonas: Research (website).

Ineffability and its Metaphysics (book).

Richard Swinburne

The Existence of God (book).

Is There a God? (book).

More books by Richard Swinburne.

Episode 119, 'Perfect Me' with Heather Widdows (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jul 02, 2023

Show notes

Beauty is nothing trivial. We get up in the morning, look in the mirror, and ask ourselves: 'How do I look?' The thinner, firmer, smoother, and younger we seem, the better our self-image and prospects. If you are not improving the way that you look, then you're doing something wrong. Do not let yourself go, focus on self-care, and put the work in. The alternative? Be prepared to pay the social and economic price.

In this episode, we'll be exploring the nature and ethics of beauty ideals with Heather Widdows, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick. Professor Widdows has become a global thought leader due to the success of her 'ground-breaking' book, Perfect Me: Beauty as an Ethical Ideal. According to Widdows, the more committed to the beauty ideal we are, the higher the demands – the more is required to be normal – and the further our sense of self is determined by appearance. It's time we faced the ugly truth: we have come to see beauty as a direct reflection of worth and character.

Contents

Part I. The Beauty Ideal

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Heather Widdows, Perfect Me: Beauty as an Ethical Ideal (book)

Everyday Lookism, Website

Heather Widdows, Website

Heather Widdows, Twitter

Episode 119, 'Perfect Me' with Heather Widdows (Part I - The Beauty Ideal) Jun 18, 2023

Show notes

Beauty is nothing trivial. We get up in the morning, look in the mirror, and ask ourselves: 'How do I look?' The thinner, firmer, smoother, and younger we seem, the better our self-image and prospects. If you are not improving the way that you look, then you're doing something wrong. Do not let yourself go, focus on self-care, and put the work in. The alternative? Be prepared to pay the social and economic price.

In this episode, we'll be exploring the nature and ethics of beauty ideals with Heather Widdows, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick. Professor Widdows has become a global thought leader due to the success of her 'ground-breaking' book, Perfect Me: Beauty as an Ethical Ideal. According to Widdows, the more committed to the beauty ideal we are, the higher the demands – the more is required to be normal – and the further our sense of self is determined by appearance. It's time we faced the ugly truth: we have come to see beauty as a direct reflection of worth and character.

Contents

Part I. The Beauty Ideal

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Heather Widdows, Perfect Me: Beauty as an Ethical Ideal (book)

Everyday Lookism, Website

Heather Widdows, Website

Heather Widdows, Twitter

Episode 118, Romantic Love (Part IV - Further Analysis and Discussion) Jun 04, 2023

Show notes

Introduction

I was told not to think too much about love. Obsess over it, let it dye the very fabric of my being: but do not think about it. Why, after all, would I want to overanalyse the magic and mystery? Would this not reduce a storybook to words and pages?

I was told that I was incomplete and was to search for another who would make me whole. This search, I was promised, would lead me to a partner I would love and be happy with forever. And are love and happiness not required for a good life?

Yet, these demands, these stories, and these questions feel restrictive and misleading. Why must I not think about what you say is so important? Why must I believe a story I have seen end in tears countless time?

It is time we started taking control of love rather than letting love control us. There is no one size fits all approach given to us by nature: not everyone finds 'the one', not everyone wants to find the one, and not all relationships need to last.

Imagine the lives we could craft if we loved proactively, with honesty and freedom. If we all did this together, we could choose what we wanted and not be pressured into what we've been told is good. And given the importance of love, is this not worth a try, even if the magic fades?

Contents

Part I. Happily Ever After

Part II. What Love Is

Part III. Sad Love

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Alain de Botton, Essays in Love.

Skye Cleary, Existentialism and Romantic Love.

Skye Cleary, How to Be

Helen Fisher, Anatomy of Love.

Helen Fisher, Why We Love.

A. C. Grayling, Friendship.

Bell Hooks, All About Love.

Carrie Jenkins, Sad Love.

Carrie Jenkins, What Love Is (And What It Could Be).

Troy Jollimore, Love's Vision.

Bertrand Russell, Marriage and Morals.

Robert Nozick, Love's Bond.

Episode 118, Romantic Love (Part III - Sad Love) May 21, 2023

Show notes

Introduction

I was told not to think too much about love. Obsess over it, let it dye the very fabric of my being: but do not think about it. Why, after all, would I want to overanalyse the magic and mystery? Would this not reduce a storybook to words and pages?

I was told that I was incomplete and was to search for another who would make me whole. This search, I was promised, would lead me to a partner I would love and be happy with forever. And are love and happiness not required for a good life?

Yet, these demands, these stories, and these questions feel restrictive and misleading. Why must I not think about what you say is so important? Why must I believe a story I have seen end in tears countless time?

It is time we started taking control of love rather than letting love control us. There is no one size fits all approach given to us by nature: not everyone finds 'the one', not everyone wants to find the one, and not all relationships need to last.

Imagine the lives we could craft if we loved proactively, with honesty and freedom. If we all did this together, we could choose what we wanted and not be pressured into what we've been told is good. And given the importance of love, is this not worth a try, even if the magic fades?

Contents

Part I. Happily Ever After

Part II. What Love Is

Part III. Sad Love

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Alain de Botton, Essays in Love.

Skye Cleary, Existentialism and Romantic Love.

Skye Cleary, How to Be

Helen Fisher, Anatomy of Love.

Helen Fisher, Why We Love.

A. C. Grayling, Friendship.

Bell Hooks, All About Love.

Carrie Jenkins, Sad Love.

Carrie Jenkins, What Love Is (And What It Could Be).

Troy Jollimore, Love's Vision.

Bertrand Russell, Marriage and Morals.

Robert Nozick, Love's Bond.

Episode 118, Romantic Love (Part II - What Love Is) May 07, 2023

Show notes

Introduction

I was told not to think too much about love. Obsess over it, let it dye the very fabric of my being: but do not think about it. Why, after all, would I want to overanalyse the magic and mystery? Would this not reduce a storybook to words and pages?

I was told that I was incomplete and was to search for another who would make me whole. This search, I was promised, would lead me to a partner I would love and be happy with forever. And are love and happiness not required for a good life?

Yet, these demands, these stories, and these questions feel restrictive and misleading. Why must I not think about what you say is so important? Why must I believe a story I have seen end in tears countless time?

It is time we started taking control of love rather than letting love control us. There is no one size fits all approach given to us by nature: not everyone finds 'the one', not everyone wants to find the one, and not all relationships need to last.

Imagine the lives we could craft if we loved proactively, with honesty and freedom. If we all did this together, we could choose what we wanted and not be pressured into what we've been told is good. And given the importance of love, is this not worth a try, even if the magic fades?

Contents

Part I. Happily Ever After

Part II. What Love Is

Part III. Sad Love

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Alain de Botton, Essays in Love.

Skye Cleary, Existentialism and Romantic Love.

Skye Cleary, How to Be

Helen Fisher, Anatomy of Love.

Helen Fisher, Why We Love.

A. C. Grayling, Friendship.

Bell Hooks, All About Love.

Carrie Jenkins, Sad Love.

Carrie Jenkins, What Love Is (And What It Could Be).

Troy Jollimore, Love's Vision.

Bertrand Russell, Marriage and Morals.

Robert Nozick, Love's Bond.

Episode 118, Romantic Love (Part I - Happily Ever After) Apr 23, 2023

Show notes

Introduction

I was told not to think too much about love. Obsess over it, let it dye the very fabric of my being: but do not think about it. Why, after all, would I want to overanalyse the magic and mystery? Would this not reduce a storybook to words and pages?

I was told that I was incomplete and was to search for another who would make me whole. This search, I was promised, would lead me to a partner I would love and be happy with forever. And are love and happiness not required for a good life?

Yet, these demands, these stories, and these questions feel restrictive and misleading. Why must I not think about what you say is so important? Why must I believe a story I have seen end in tears countless time?

It is time we started taking control of love rather than letting love control us. There is no one size fits all approach given to us by nature: not everyone finds 'the one', not everyone wants to find the one, and not all relationships need to last.

Imagine the lives we could craft if we loved proactively, with honesty and freedom. If we all did this together, we could choose what we wanted and not be pressured into what we've been told is good. And given the importance of love, is this not worth a try, even if the magic fades?

Contents

Part I. Happily Ever After

Part II. What Love Is

Part III. Sad Love

Part IV. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Alain de Botton, Essays in Love.

Skye Cleary, Existentialism and Romantic Love.

Skye Cleary, How to Be

Helen Fisher, Anatomy of Love.

Helen Fisher, Why We Love.

A. C. Grayling, Friendship.

Bell Hooks, All About Love.

Carrie Jenkins, Sad Love.

Carrie Jenkins, What Love Is (And What It Could Be).

Troy Jollimore, Love's Vision.

Bertrand Russell, Marriage and Morals.

Robert Nozick, Love's Bond.

Episode 117, 'The Rationality of Theism' with Silvia Jonas (Part II - Further Analysis and Discussion) Apr 09, 2023

Show notes

For Judaism, it is practice over theology. The most important aspect of one's faith is not philosophical reflection on God, but the rules and actions of the faithful. After all, according to Maimonides – arguably the most significant philosopher in the history of Jewish thought – we can never know God's nature, and, therefore, there is more to be gained from what we do than trying to know what God is like. For Maimonides, 'We are only able to apprehend that He is.' This raises a problem, however, for if we cannot learn about, come to build a relationship, or increase our knowledge of God, then what is the point of religious observance?

In this episode, we'll be discussing Judaism, knowledge, understanding and the rationality of theism with Professor Silvia Jonas of the University of Bamberg and the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy. According to Jonas, Maimonides's insights are valuable; yet he misses a crucial piece of the puzzle – a distinction between knowledge and understanding.

Beyond understanding the ineffable, Jonas argues that theism shouldn't try to compete with modern science. That doesn't mean, however, that questions of God aren't important. For Jonas, God is a worthy object of philosophical investigation, not because God completes our grand 'theory of everything', but because God shapes people's everyday lives.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Judaism: Knowledge and Understanding

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Silvia Jonas (website).

Silvia Jonas: Research (website).

Silvia Jonas, Ineffability and its Metaphysics (book).

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project (website).

Philosophers on God: Talking about Existence (book).

Episode 117, 'The Rationality of Theism' with Silvia Jonas (Part I - Judaism, Knowledge and Understanding) Mar 26, 2023

Show notes

For Judaism, it is practice over theology. The most important aspect of one's faith is not philosophical reflection on God, but the rules and actions of the faithful. After all, according to Maimonides – arguably the most significant philosopher in the history of Jewish thought – we can never know God's nature, and, therefore, there is more to be gained from what we do than trying to know what God is like. For Maimonides, 'We are only able to apprehend that He is.' This raises a problem, however, for if we cannot learn about, come to build a relationship, or increase our knowledge of God, then what is the point of religious observance?

In this episode, we'll be discussing Judaism, knowledge, understanding and the rationality of theism with Professor Silvia Jonas of the University of Bamberg and the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy. According to Jonas, Maimonides's insights are valuable; yet he misses a crucial piece of the puzzle – a distinction between knowledge and understanding.

Beyond understanding the ineffable, Jonas argues that theism shouldn't try to compete with modern science. That doesn't mean, however, that questions of God aren't important. For Jonas, God is a worthy object of philosophical investigation, not because God completes our grand 'theory of everything', but because God shapes people's everyday lives.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Global Philosophy of Religion Project at University of Birmingham, led by Yujin Nagasawa and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Contents

Part I. Judaism: Knowledge and Understanding

Part II. Further Analysis and Discussion

Links

Silvia Jonas (website).

Silvia Jonas: Research (website).

Silvia Jonas, Ineffability and its Metaphysics (book).

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project (website).

Philosophers on God: Talking about Existence (book).

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