The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

PEL Special: Phi Fic on James Baldwin's Fiction Apr 24, 2017

Show notes

On the short stories "This Morning, This Evening, So Soon" (1960) and "Sonny's Blues" (1957). Mark joins the Phi Fic crew to supplement PEL ep. 162 by delving into Baldwin's fiction, which is actually pretty similar to his biographical essays.

Episode 162: James Baldwin on Race in America (Part Two) Apr 17, 2017

Show notes

Continuing on I Am Not Your Negro, "Notes of a Native Son" (1955), and The Fire Next Time (1963). We (and Law Ware) discuss Baldwin's critique of the American dream, how to oppose the inhumanity of others without becoming inhuman yourself, and Baldwin's take on religion. Plus, was the the documentary actually good as a film?

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Episode 162: James Baldwin on Race in America (Part One) Apr 10, 2017

Show notes

On the film I Am Not Your Negro and the essays "Notes of a Native Son" (1955) and The Fire Next Time (1963). With guest Law Ware. Baldwin diagnoses our racism-related psycho-social maladies, but how can we best translate his observations into generally applicable philosophical theory?

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Episode 161: White Privilege (Peggy McIntosh, Charles Mills, et al) (Part Two) Apr 03, 2017

Show notes

Continuing with guest Law Ware on the philosophical underpinnings of the rhetoric of white privilege, with readings as listed in part 1.

End song: "Power" by Narada Michael Walden from Thunder 2013, as interviewed for Nakedly Examined Music ep. 16.

Episode 161: White Privilege (Peggy McIntosh, Charles Mills, et al) (Part One) Mar 27, 2017

Show notes

Is the rhetoric of "White Privilege" just the modern way of acknowledging historical and systemic truths of racism, or does it point to a novel way for acknowledging injustice, or does it on the contrary obscure these insights by involving confused claims about group responsibility and guilt? Readings include articles by Peggy McIntosh, Charles W. Mills, George Yancy, Tim Wise, Lewis R. Gordon, Lawrence Blum, and John McWhorter. With guest Law Ware.

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Episode 160: Orwell on Totalitarianism and Language (Part Two) Mar 20, 2017

Show notes

Continuing with 1984. How does the book relate to real-world politics? Is this something that we should actually be afraid our society will turn into? Was he predicting history, or was it satire, or what? We discuss the the realms of intimacy vs. surveillance, how a state might "contain" a mind that it controls, and "doublethink."

Listen to part 1 first, or get the ad-free Citizen Edition.

End song: "Civil Disobedience" by Camper Van Beethoven from New Roman Times (2004), written by Jonathan Segel as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music ep. 38.

Episode 160: Orwell on Totalitarianism and Language (Part One) Mar 13, 2017

Show notes

On the novel 1984 (1949) and the essays "Politics and the English Language" (1946) and "Notes on Nationalism" (1945). What's the relation between language and totalitarianism? Orwell shows us a society where the rulers have mastered the art of retaining power, and one element of this involves "Newspeak," where vocabulary is limited to prevent subversive speech, and ultimately thoughts. Do our linguistic habits and the Orwellian lies of our leaders point to a slippery slope toward the world of 1984?

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Episode 159: Confucius on Virtuous Conduct (Part Two) Mar 06, 2017

Show notes

Continuing on the Analects without our guest. We cover passages on glibness, using names properly, filial conduct, remonstrance, love of learning, places where he sounds like Socrates, and more!

Listen to part 1 first or just get the full, ad-free Citizen Edition.

End song: "Please Allow Me to Look at You Again," from The Edge of Heaven (2013) by Gary Lucas, as interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music ep. 7.

Episode 159: Confucius on Virtuous Conduct (Part One) Feb 27, 2017

Show notes

On the Analects, compiled after 479 BCE. How should we act? What's the relation between ethics and politics? Can a bunch of aphorisms written in the distant past for an unapologetically hierarchical culture emphasizing traditional rituals actually give us relevant, welcome advice on these matters? Are we even in a position to determine the meaning of these sayings? With guest Tzuchien Tho.

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Episode 158: Boethius: The Consolation of Philosophy (Part Two) Feb 20, 2017

Show notes

Continuing on the Consolation, chiefly books 3 and 4, on virtue ethics (we all naturally aim at the good but can be mistaken about it or too weak to follow it), theodicy (even the apparent bad is actually good from God's perspective), and the weird way in which those interact (fame, pleasure, wealth are really all the same thing, i.e., happiness, i.e., God).

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

End song: Carrie Akre's "Last the Evening" from the album of that name from 2007. Hear Carrie interviewed on Nakedly Examined Music Ep. 17.

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