The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

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Ep. 234: Beauvoir on Romance in "The Second Sex" (Part Two) Jan 27, 2020

Show notes

Concluding Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex (1949): "The Woman in Love" and "Myths" with guest Jennifer Hansen.

We continue on the ailments of women under patriarchy as well as the existential problems that we're all subject to. Are we doomed to isolation, or does existentialism allow for intimacy? Is marriage in "bad faith"? We also talk narcissism, abjection, and the film Marriage Story.

Start with part 1 or get the Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: "Easier than Leaving" by Michaela Anne, interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #114.

Ep. 234: Beauvoir on Romance in "The Second Sex" (Part One) Jan 20, 2020

Show notes

On Simone De Beauvoir's The Second Sex (1949): "The Woman in Love" and "Myths" with guest Jennifer Hansen. What is love under patriarchy? We all want to achieve solidity in another's eyes, but the Othered woman wants to live through the man, and the man sees the woman as his rejected corporeal character. Party time!

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PEL Presents PMP#27: For the Love of Star Wars Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

Mark, Erica, and Brian talk about the unique place these films have in the brains of people of a certain age, how we grappled with the prequels, and why we feel the need to fill in and argue about the details. We focus primarily on The Mandalorian and The Rise of Skywalker.

For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content for this episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop.

This podcast is part of the Partially Examined Life network and is curated by openculture.com.

Ep. 233: Plato's "Protagoras" on Virtue (Part Two) Jan 13, 2020

Show notes

Continuing on the dialogue, where Socrates argues that Protagoras doesn't actually know what virtue is, because he thinks that the various virtues (especially courage) are distinct, a claim that Socrates refutes in several (logically suspect) ways.

Start with part one, or get the full, ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: "Make It Clear" by Feelies; hear Glenn Mercer on Nakedly Examined Music #41.

PEL Presents PMP#26: We Watch "Watchmen" w/ David Pizarro (Very Bad Wizards) Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

Covering Alan Moore's 1986 graphic novel, the new HBO series and the 2009 film.

Mark, Erica, and Brian are joined by David, psych prof at Cornell and host of Very Bad Wizards. How does Moore's style translate to the screen? How well did the show handle politics? Should there be a second season?

For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content for this episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop.

This podcast is part of the Partially Examined Life network and is curated by openculture.com.

Ep. 233: Plato's "Protagoras" on Virtue (Part One) Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

On the Platonic dialogue written around 380 BCE about an encounter between Socrates and one of the leading Sophists of his day.

What is virtue ("the political art" according to Protagoras), and can it be taught? What are the relations of the various virtues to each other? Do they really amount ultimately to one and the same thing, i.e. wisdom? In this entertaining dialogue, Socrates and Protagoras swap positions, and Socrates seems to parody the Sophists' style.

Don't wait for part two; get the full, ad-free Citizen Edition now. Please support PEL!

Sponsor: Visit thegreatcoursesplus.com/PEL for a free trial of The Great Courses Plus Video Learning Service.

Ep. 232: Simone De Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" (Part Two) Dec 29, 2019

Show notes

Continuing Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex (1949) with guest Jennifer Hansen.

How does one become a Subject and how do women traditionally get shut out of this process? We get into Vol. 2, "Lived Experience" where Beauvoir details how this drama unfolds in various stages of life. Also, religion, logic, the relation of biology to situation, and more. How do we modernize Beauvoir's critique given the evolution in women's positions since the book was written?

Start with part one or get the full, ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: "Wrong Side of Gone" by Beth Kille as discussed on Nakedly Examined Music #13.

Ep. 232: Simone De Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" (Part One) Dec 23, 2019

Show notes

On Simone De Beauvoir's The Second Sex (1949): the intro, conclusion, "Woman's Situation and Character" and parts of "Lived Experience," with guest Jennifer Hansen.

According to Beauvoir, Woman is historically conceived of by society (and herself) as "Other," as not a Subject who creates and makes decisions. Her life is pre-determined, revolving around marriage and child-bearing, and is so deformed by this situation.

Don't wait for part two; get the unbroken Citizen Edition now. Please support PEL!

Ep. 231: Descartes's "Discourse" on Wisdom and Certainty (Part Two) Dec 16, 2019

Show notes

Continuing on Descartes's Discourse on Method, looking closely at part 4 (his proto-Meditations) and his "provisional" Stoic ethics.

Listen to part one first or get the full, ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: "My Real Fantasy" By Joe Louis Walker, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #110.

Ep. 231: Descartes's "Discourse" on Wisdom and Certainty (Part One) Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

On René Descartes's Discourse on Method (1637), an overview of his work that distills his method, outlines his famous Meditations, presents a provisional (Stoic) ethics, and considers whether he wants to be a public intellectual. This is all meant as a preface to scientific publications on geometry, optics, and meteors.

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