The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 171: Buddhism vs. Evolution with Guest Robert Wright (Part Two) Sep 11, 2017

Show notes

Continuing on Why Buddhism Is True. We discuss the "no self" doctrine as articulated in Buddha's Second Discourse and the modularity-of-mind theory that Bob claims supports it.

What are the ethical implications, and do we really need meditation to achieve its alleged ethical benefits?

Continued from part 1, or get the ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: "Alphalpha Bhang" by Anton Barbeau, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music ep. 50.

Episode 171: Buddhism vs. Evolution with Guest Robert Wright (Part One) Sep 04, 2017

Show notes

Bob joins the PEL four to discuss his new book Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment.

Bob applies his expertise in evolutionary psychology to corroborate Buddhism's claims that we are deluded: about our desires, emotions, the unity of our selves, and the "essences" we project on things and people. And he thinks meditation can instill in the diligent the ability to see things more clearly. But does it really?

Continue with part 2, or get the full, ad-free Citizen Edition now. Please support PEL!

Episode 170 Second Opinions: Leftists on "Society of the Spectacle" Aug 28, 2017

Show notes

Mark and Seth ask Doug Lain (Zero Squared), Brett O'Shea (Revolutionary Left Radio), and C. Derick Varn (Symptomatic Redness) what they think of Debord and PEL's treatment of the book on Ep #170.

End song: "Open Your Eyes (Wake Up)" from Tyler Hislop, interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #24.

Episode 170: Guy Debord's "Society of the Spectacle" (Part Two) Aug 21, 2017

Show notes

More on the 1967 Situtationist book. Do we buy Debord's critique? Is any merely partial critique (i.e. no revolution) just more spectacle? Is technology inherently dehumanizing? Don't these passivity/anti-technology arguments even apply to books? Could Debord's model of authenticity catch on in society as a whole?

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

End song: "Millionaire" by The Mekons (1993); Jon Langford appears on Nakedly Examined Music #22.

Episode 170: Guy Debord's "Society of the Spectacle" (Part One) Aug 14, 2017

Show notes

What is culture? In modern capitalism, Debord's 1967 book describes it as all about the economy. It's not just our jobs that keep us trapped, but our life outside of working hours is also demanded by "the system" via our activity as consumers, and this commoditization infiltrates every corner of our lives. Debord wants us to WAKE UP, break our chains, and live lives of immediacy, vitality, and authenticity.

Continue with part 2 or get your unbroken, ad-free Citizen Edition now. Please support PEL!

PEL Special: Combat & Classics on Rousseau's "Discourse on the Arts and Sciences" Aug 07, 2017

Show notes

A new podcast for the PEL Podcast Network! Meet Jeff, Lise, and Brian, who are joined by Wes and Dylan to discuss Rousseau's claim that the arts and sciences lead to "moral corruption." Get more C&C on the PEL site or at combatandclassics.org.

Become a PEL Citizen to attend a C&C online seminar on Nietzsche's "Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense" on Aug. 14, 8pm EST. Your support for PEL helps the PEL network!

Visit bombfell.com/pel for $25 off your first clothing order. Get in on fall online courses starting Aug. 28 at the New School opencampus.newschool.edu. Get 20% off your first pair of underwear plus free shipping meundies.com/pel.

Episode 169: Analyzing Hitchcock's "Vertigo" Jul 31, 2017

Show notes

On the 1958 film and articles including Laura Mulvey's "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema" (1975) and Robin Wood's "Vertigo" (1965). What's the nature of love/lust? Are we really just loving an image we've built while remaining fundamentally isolated? And is it just an illusionary social construct that keeps us all from feeling fundamental vertigo? Lacan, existentialism, and more!

Part 2 is for supporters only! Get the full discussion now at patreon.com/partiallyexaminedlife or through a PEL Citizenship.

Episode 168: Darwin's "Origin of Species" (Part Two) Jul 24, 2017

Show notes

More on Darwin's famous book. Why does it matter for philosophy, beyond providing an alternative to intelligent design? Is it really anti-religious? How can well tell if it's really a scientific theory? Talking about a species evolving trait X to enable survival sounds teleological; is it really, and is that bad? Why would the mind develop through natural selection?

Continues from part 1, or just get the unbroken, ad-free Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: "I Live" by Jason Falkner, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music #47.

Episode 168: Darwin's "Origin of Species" (Part One) Jul 17, 2017

Show notes

On Charles Darwin's 1859 book, ch. 1-4, 6, and 14. What are the philosophical ramifications of Darwin's theory of evolution? We go through Darwin's arguments, compare his views to other theories of evolution like Lamarck's, and talk about how an evolutionary way of looking at things has influenced philosophers.

Please support PEL!

Episode 167: Hume on Intelligent Design (Part Two) Jul 10, 2017

Show notes

Continuing on David Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779), with guest Stephen West. We get further into what's wrong with the design argument and why Hume thinks that it's merely a verbal dispute whether we want to say that God designed the orderly universe or just say that the universe is orderly. Also, the problem of evil!

Listen to part 1 first, or get the ad-free, unbroken Citizen Edition. Please support PEL!

End song: "Here Comes the Flood" by The Security Project; one of its leaders Trey Gunn appeared on Nakedly Examined Music ep. 21.

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