Ep. 307: G.E. Moore Defends Common Sense (Part One)
On "A Defense of Common Sense" (1925), featuring Mark, Wes, Seth, and Dylan. Moore defends our pre-philosophical certainty in beliefs about the existence of physical objects and other minds against skeptics and idealists. Is his apparently simple argument effective or just glib? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.co...
42m Dec 26, 2022
42m
Pretty Much Pop #141: Christmas Songs
The PMP A-Team (Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al) talk about the canon of Christmas songs, from centuries-old carols to current attempts by pop stars to get added to this cycle of cash-flow. Happy holidays, everybody! We also do a bit of year-end reflection, getting into various things we've watched with some recommendations and ambivalent reflections. For more, visit prettymuchpop.com (http:...
1hr 14m Dec 26, 2022
1hr 14m
PEL Presents (sub)Text: Pagan Poetics in “Sunday Morning” by Wallace Stevens
Wallace Stevens was an ungainly insurance executive, but his poetry is serene and secularly reverential. In particular, his poem “Sunday Morning” seems to suggest that the rhythm of the natural world—if we give it enough rapt attention—is as good as any chant or prayer. But can a return to nature worship solve the problem of nihilism, once monotheism has been eclipsed by modernity? Are memory a...
1hr 14m Dec 25, 2022
1hr 14m
PREMIUM-Ep. 306: Dworkin and the Dobbs Decision (Part Three)
Concluding on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2021) Supreme Court decision. We talk more about the rationale for the decision and in particular the dissent by Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2022/12/18/ep306-3-dworkin-dobbs-citizen/) , sign up via one of the options describe...
12m Dec 24, 2022
12m
Ep. 306: Dworkin and the Dobbs Decision (Part Two)
Continuing on Ronald Dworkin's "Unenumerated Rights: Whether and How Roe Should be Overruled" (1992) and the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2021) decision featuring guest Robin Linsenmayer. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion including the...
53m Dec 19, 2022
53m
PEL Presents NEM#186: Simon Ratcliffe (Basement Jaxx, Village of the Sun): From House Music to Jazz Fusion
Simon has produced programmed dance music since the early '90s, winning Grammys and topping charts with his partner Felix Buxton as Basement Jaxx through their seven albums and several EPs. We discuss "Village of the Sun" by his new project of that name from First Light (2022), "Flying by the Sun" by Ratcliffe from Dorus Rijkers EP (2011), to "Alkazaar" by Basement Jaxx from Zephyr (2009), and...
1hr 17m Dec 16, 2022
1hr 17m
Ep. 306: Dworkin and the Dobbs Decision (Part One)
Does the U.S. Constitution guarantee the right to an abortion? We discuss Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2021) and Ronald Dworkin's "Unenumerated Rights: Whether and How Roe Should be Overruled" (1992). With guest Robin Linsenmayer. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes...
43m Dec 12, 2022
43m
PREMIUM-Ep. 305: Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian" (Part Three)
To conclude our discussion of Blood Meridian, we talk about the roles of maturation and regression in the novel, plus more on Judge Holden's philosophy, and more. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2022/12/04/ep305-3-cormac-mccarthy-blood-meridian-citizen/) , sign up via one of the options described at https://partiallyexami...
11m Dec 10, 2022
11m
Ep. 305: Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian" (Part Two)
Continuing on McCarthy's 1985 novel, we discuss the philosophy of war held by the character Judge Holden, plus whether the book's violence is gratuitous and why it might be unfilmable. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion including the supporter-exclusive...
51m Dec 05, 2022
51m
PEL Presents PMP#139: The Sandman Cometh
We cover the first chunk of Neil Gaiman's 1989 comic and its new Netflix adaptation. Mark is joined by Anthony LeBlanc (https://www.secondcity.com/people/anthony-leblanc/) , Sarahlyn Bruck (https://sarahlynbruck.com/) , and Al Baker. What are the narrative challenges of depicting a god? What is the show's metaphysics the role of storytelling in it? Were the updates and story choices for the TV...
48m Dec 04, 2022
48m
PEL Presents NEM#185: Bruce Thomas' Bass Lines Before, After, and During the Attractions
Bruce is best known as Elvis Costello's bassist for his first on about a dozen albums as The Attractions, but he's been in bands since 1970 and has done numerous session gigs. We discuss his work on "Blood Makes Noise" by Susanne Vega from 99.9 Degrees (1992), play clips from several of the most famous Attractions tunes plus "La La La La Loved You" by The Attractions from Mad About the Wrong B...
1hr 1m Dec 03, 2022
1hr 1m
Ep. 305: Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian" (Part One)
On McCarthy's 1985 anti-Western novel, featuring Wes, Seth, and Dylan. How does violence play a role in the way the world works? This novel about a rogue band of scalp hunters presents a pessimistic, nihilistic philosophy where violence is central to the human condition and is the way to self-knowledge. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https:/...
41m Nov 28, 2022
41m
PEL Presents (sub)Text: Production for Use in “His Girl Friday”
Before she settles down to life of homemaking, security, and insurance policies with Bruce Baldwin in Albany, star reporter Hildy Johnson has one more story to write for her ex-husband and ex-boss Walter Burns, editor of the Morning Post. Hildy must write up an interview with convicted killer Earl Williams that will grant him a last-minute reprieve on the basis of insanity. The ingenious angle ...
54m Nov 27, 2022
54m
PREMIUM-PEL Nightcap November 2022: Listener Testimonials
We recently put out a call among our supporters for some short audio clips of folks telling us about their relationship to PEL, and here they are. Mark, Seth, and Dylan play and respond to some of these. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2022/11/19/nightcap-nov-2022/) , sign up via one of the options described at https://pa...
9m Nov 27, 2022
9m
Ep. 304: Dworkin v. Hart on Legal Judgment (Part Two)
Continuing on Roland Dworkin's "The Model of Rules" (1967) and Scott J. Shapiro's "The 'Hart-Dworkin' Debate: A Short Guide for the Perplexed" (2007), plus some of Dworkin's "Hard Cases" (1977). How do Hartians respond to Dworkin's initial attack? Can Hart's theory incorporate the fact that judges consult their culture's moral standards without making the law dependent on morality? Get more a...
47m Nov 21, 2022
47m
PEL Presents PMP#138: What Are "Creatives"?
Is there really a division in today's culture between those who create and the merely receptive masses? Mark gathers three artists in different media about the place of the artist in society: sci-fi author Brian Hirt (https://gerberbrothers.net/) , art photographer and academic Amir Zaki (https://amirzaki.net/) , and musician/novelist/ex-English prof John Andrew Fredrick (https://en.wikipedia.o...
49m Nov 20, 2022
49m
PEL Presents NEM#184: Mike Baggetta Feels Out the Guitar
Mike has put out 18 releases of largely instrumental guitar music since 2004 and is now playing with legendary bassist Mike Watt (https://nakedlyexaminedmusic.com/nem108-mike-watt/) and with drummer by either Jim Keltner (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Keltner) . We discuss the title track to Everywhen We Go (2022), "Hospital Song" from Wall of Flowers (2019), and "The Mystery Of" from Main...
1hr 25m Nov 19, 2022
1hr 25m
Ep. 304: Dworkin v. Hart on Legal Judgment (Part One)
On Ronald Dworkin's "The Model of Rules" (1967) and Scott J. Shapiro's "The 'Hart-Dworkin' Debate: A Short Guide for the Perplexed" (2007). How do judges make decisions in hard cases? When the law "runs out" and doesn't definitively decide an issue, do judges then just draw on their personal moral judgments? Dworkin says no, that moral principles are (contra Hart) built into the legal principl...
41m Nov 14, 2022
41m
PEL Presents Philosophy vs. Improv #42: The Worth of a Human Life w/ Carneades the YouTube Star
The anonymous policy wonk who runs the Carneades.org YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@CarneadesOfCyrene) joins Mark and Bill to discuss the core concept of his new book, Are All Lives Equal?: Why Cost-Benefit Analysis Values Rich Lives More and How Philosophy Can Fix It. Should economics really be measuring the value of life at all? Can it do this in any principled way? Can economists...
53m Nov 13, 2022
53m
PREMIUM-Ep. 303: H.L.A. Hart on the Foundations of Law (Part Three)
On The Concept of Law (1961), ch. 6, "Foundations of a Legal System," on Hart's concept of a rule of recognition that ultimately determines what will count as a law in a given society. This ends up being more complicated than merely "The Constitution," but the action itself of officials respecting, obeying, and enforcing that Constitution. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of...
10m Nov 11, 2022
10m
Ep. 303: H.L.A. Hart on the Foundations of Law (Part Two)
Continuing on "Positivism and the Separation of Law and Morals" (1958) and The Concept of Law (1961), ch. 5 and 6. If law is not based on morality, then why obey the law? What makes a legal system exist at all, as opposed to a lawless state? Is saying something is legally required just a way of predicting that people will generally obey it? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://parti...
52m Nov 07, 2022
52m
PEL Presents PMP#137: Slashing the "Halloween" Film Franchise
What's the appeal of this 13-film franchise that started with John Carpenter's 1978 film Halloween and has purportedly wrapped up with David Gordon Green's Halloween Ends? Mark Linsenmayer, Al Baker, Lawrence Ware, and Nathan Shelton debate the ideology and effectiveness of the various films. For more, visit prettymuchpop.com (http://prettymuchpop.com/) . Hear bonus content at https://www.pat...
1hr 3m Nov 06, 2022
1hr 3m
Pretty Much Pop #136: Nathan Fielder's "The Rehearsal"
Mark, Lawrence, Sarah, and Al convene an emergency podcast recording to react to this brilliant, mind-blowing, possibly immoral HBO comedy docuseries, wherein Fielder supposedly helps ordinary people rehearse difficult personal confrontations. For more, visit prettymuchpop.com (http://prettymuchpop.com/) . Hear bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/prettymuchpop or by subscribing via Apple ...
48m Nov 01, 2022
48m
Ep. 303: H.L.A. Hart on the Foundations of Law (Part One)
On "Positivism and the Separation of Law and Morals" (1958) and The Concept of Law (1961), ch. 5 and 6. What's the relationship between law and morality? If law isn't founded on morality, what is it founded on? Hart's legal positivism makes a sharp distinction between law as a human invention and morality. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit http...
44m Oct 31, 2022
44m
PEL Presents Philosophy vs. Improv #41: Situatedness in Three Persons w/ Sarah Shockey
What is personhood? How can a group best collaboratively invent a scene? Sarah is a host of Marty and Sarah Love Wrestling (https://www.martyandsarahlovewrestling.com/) and a repeat guest on Hello From the Magic Tavern (https://hellofromthemagictavern.com/) . We fit in THREE scenes, some discussion of the various layers of what it is for something to be (or not be) person, and some musings abou...
58m Oct 30, 2022
58m
PEL Presents NEM#183: Neil Gust (No. 2, Heatmiser) Walks Around
Neil is known as the long-time collaborator of the late Elliot Smith in the Portland band Heatmiser, which released three albums and an EP starting in 1993. Then Neil fronted the band No. 2 for two albums before taking a break until recently from music. We discuss "You Might Be Right" (and listen at the end to "I'm on a Mission") from the new No. 2 album First Love, "Critical Mass" from No Mem...
1hr 4m Oct 30, 2022
1hr 4m
PREMIUM-Ep. 302: Erasmus Praises Foolishness (Part Three)
Mark, Wes, and eventually Dylan recap The Praise of Folly, getting into Erasmus' ambivalent take on asceticism. In the full episode, we get seriously personal and cover his sexism and comments on love, the folly of fandom, and the role of humor in philosophy. If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2022/10/21/ep302-3-erasmus-cit...
10m Oct 29, 2022
10m
Ep. 302: Erasmus Praises Foolishness (Part Two)
Continuing on The Praise of Folly with guest Nathan Gilmour. Can foolishness actually make us more prudent? Is it necessary for us to all get along in the world and accomplish things? Erasmus critiques pretentious, performative theologians among many others. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-f...
47m Oct 24, 2022
47m
PEL Presents NEM#182: Allan and Barb Vest Together as doubleVee
Through the 00's and four studio albums, Allan led the "baroque pop" Oklahoma band Starlight Mints. Then he met his wife Barb; as doubleVee, they've released two albums and an EP since 2017. The three of us talk about "The Middle Side of Me" from Treat Her Strangely (2022), then the title track from Jack the Rider (2017), then "Submarine #3" by Starlight Mints from The Dream That Stuff Was Mad...
1hr 4m Oct 21, 2022
1hr 4m
Ep. 302: Erasmus Praises Foolishness (Part One)
On Desiderius Erasmus' The Praise of Folly (1509), featuring Mark, Wes, Dylan, and Nathan Gilmour from the Christian Humanist podcast. Does some amount of foolishness enhance life? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Visit Shopify.com/pel (htt...
46m Oct 17, 2022
46m
PEL Presents PMP#135: The Breaking Bad-O-Verse
Given the end of Better Call Saul, Mark, Lawrence Ware (https://lawrence-ware.com/) , Sarahlyn Bruck (https://sarahlynbruck.com/) , and Al Baker (https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-baker/?originalSubdomain=uk) discuss this strange TV "franchise" that amazingly produced a prequel that was arguably better than the original. We cover the characterization and pacing, novelistic TV vs. not having a plot...
46m Oct 16, 2022
46m
PREMIUM-PEL Representation Nightcap October 2022
Mark, Wes, and Dylan explore the question, "Is it necessary for us to have representatives of an affected group with us as guests when we talk about an issue in philosophy that affects that group?" What do you think? If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2022/10/08/pel-representation-nightcap-october-2022/) , sign up via one of...
17m Oct 14, 2022
17m
PEL Presents PvI#40: Rules and Voices with Stephen West (Philosophize This!)
Stephen West from the juggernaut Philosophize This! (https://www.philosophizethis.org/) podcast joins Mark and Bill to learn to say no and talk about reason vs. emotion in grounding ethics. What do the voices in your head (or at your lunch table) say to you? Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstu...
50m Oct 13, 2022
50m
Ep. 301: Is Abortion Morally Permissible? (Part Three)
Jenny Hansen joins us to cover "On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion" by Mary Anne Warren (1973), with more thoughts on "A Defense of Abortion" (1971) by Judith Jarvis Thomson. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion including a supporter-exclusive Nigh...
49m Oct 10, 2022
49m
PEL Presents PMP#134: Unpopular Music Genre Fandom
With the dissolution of popular music culture by the Internet, what is it now to be into music genres that aren't currently popular? Is it still an act of rebellion, or is even that passé? Mark is joined by composer/multi-instrumentalist (https://music.jsegel.com/) Jonathan Segel from Camper van Beethoven, philosopher Matt Teichman of the Elucidations podcast (https://elucidations.vercel.app/)...
53m Oct 07, 2022
53m
Ep. 301: Is Abortion Morally Permissible? (Part Two)
Continuing on Judith Jarvis Thomson's "A Defense of Abortion" (1971), plus Don Marquis' "Why Abortion is Immoral" (1989) and a summary of Mary Anne Warren's "On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion" (1973), which we'll continue next week in part three with Jenny Hansen. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/suppor...
43m Oct 03, 2022
43m
PEL Presents PvI#39: Cutting Edge Post-Patternation
Mark and Bill break former patterns by each bringing in not a lesson but a question, which we knew about beforehand, and those questions are about pattern-breaking and about what current philosophers worry about. With special surprising scenes conveying cutting-edge podcasting/instructional techniques. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Bill...
49m Oct 02, 2022
49m
PEL Presents NEM#181: Robyn Hitchcock Forgets Himself, Sharply
Robyn has been producing a distinctive flavor of very British rock with surrealist lyrics for 35+ albums since 1979. We discuss "The Raging Muse" (and close by listening to "The Shuffle Man") from Shufflemania (2022), "Mad Shelly's Letterbox" from Robyn Hitchcock (2017), "Television" from Spooked (2004), and "Glass" from Fegmainia! (1985). Intro: "I Wanna Destroy You" by The Soft Boys from Und...
1hr 16m Sep 30, 2022
1hr 16m
Ep. 301: Is Abortion Morally Permissible? (Part One)
We discuss widely read papers about abortion, including an excerpt from Roe v. Wade (1973) and Judith Jarvis Thomson's "A Defense of Abortion" (1971). Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.
49m Sep 26, 2022
49m
PEL Presents NEM#180: Rebecca Pidgeon's Inner Speech
Rebecca has balanced her musical career with her acting career since the mid '80s, starting in Scotland with Ruby Blue and then moving to New York in 1989 and releasing 10+ solo albums. We discuss "Silent Sound" from Parts of Speech Pieces of Sound (2022), the title track to the Stark Naked EP (2020), and "24 Hours of Love" from New York Girls' Club (1996). End song: "You Have Got My Number" f...
58m Sep 25, 2022
58m
PEL Presents PMP#133: Predator (Films) and Prey
Thanks to the new film Prey, we now have six films (starting with 1987's Predator) featuring the dreadlocked, camouflaged, infrared-seeing race of alien hunters who have apparently been flying around collecting our skulls for 300 years. Mark is joined by Lawrence Ware, Sarahlyn Bruck, and Al Baker to talk about the appeal of this franchise and what makes a good Predator film. For more, visit ...
48m Sep 25, 2022
48m
PREMIUM-Ep. 300: Nietzsche on Relating to History (Part Three)
Mark, Wes, and Dylan conclude our discussion of “On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life” (1874). What is the practical upshot of Nietzsche's recommendations for using history well and not letting it overwhelm you? If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2022/09/17/ep-300-nietzsche-on-relating-to-history-part-three-for-...
11m Sep 23, 2022
11m
Ep. 300: Nietzsche on Relating to History (Part Two)
Continuing on "On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life" (1874), we get into the antiquarian use of history and the critical approach to history and Nietzsche's humanistic goals in his essay. How can we use history to help refine human nature? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free epi...
44m Sep 19, 2022
44m
PEL Presents Philosophy vs. Improv #38: The Bones of Tragedy with Jay O. Sanders
Jay Sanders, famed not only for his appearances on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (https://youtu.be/lgWZ263V_GU) and The Day After Tomorrow and many many other screens and stages, joins us to talk tragedy, how he's applied the lessons of improv to his scripted acting, and more. Jump into the improv maelstrom with us! In the post-game, which just this once, we're sharing with the general public, ...
1hr 4m Sep 18, 2022
1hr 4m
Ep. 300: Nietzsche on Relating to History (Part One)
In this live-streamed show (https://youtu.be/i5owZnjblT4) , we discuss “On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life” (1874), aka Untimely Meditation #2. What is the healthiest way to relate to our history? Nietzsche describes some approaches to history which meet human needs but which can also become oppressive. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) ...
46m Sep 12, 2022
46m
PEL Presents PMP#132: "Too Soon" in Comedy?
To honor the death of Gilbert Gottfried, we discuss jokes like the 9-11 one he was pilloried for (https://www.vulture.com/2016/02/gilbert-gottfried-on-his-911-joke-too-soon.html) . Can comedy really be "too soon" in relation to its tragic subject matter? Is comedy really tragedy plus time, or are jokes in fact most needed immediately when pain and discomfort are most acute? Mark is joined by t...
57m Sep 08, 2022
57m
REISSUE/RE-EDIT-Ep. 1: "The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living"
To celebrate (and postpone) our big ep. 300, here's a brand new mix and edit by Tyler Hislop (https://pixelboxmediagroup.com/) (and Mark) from the original voice files of our very first discussion, covering Plato's "Apology." Recorded by Mark, Seth, and Wes on April 19, 2009. Contact us (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/contact-pel/) to let us know what you think of it. Get more at partially...
1hr 18m Sep 05, 2022
1hr 18m
PEL Presents NEM#179: Mike Lindup's Atlantean Visions and Level 42
Mike played keyboards and shared lead vocals for synth jazz-pop Level 42's initial run for nine albums from 1982-1994 (and rejoined in 2006) and is working on his fourth solo release. We talk about his new single, "Atlantia," plus "Madness" from On the One (2011) and Level 42's "Weave Your Spell" from The Pursuit Of Accidents (1982). End song: "Heart of the Matter" from Conversations with Sile...
1hr 18m Sep 04, 2022
1hr 18m
PREMIUM-Ep. 299: Philosophy in Shakespeare's "Timon of Athens" (Part Three)
Mark, Wes, and Dylan conclude our discussion of Shakespeare's play. Chiefly, we talk about the exchanges about art in the play: How does art relate to life and to commerce? If you're not hearing the full version of this part of the discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2022/08/28/ep299-3-shakespeare-timon-citizen/) , sign up via one of the options described at https://partiallyexamined...
12m Sep 03, 2022
12m
PEL Presents Philosophy vs. Improv #37: Season One Final Round
It's all down to this. Which discipline, which host will prevail? All stakes are on the table, and if this thinking isn't critical enough, if these scenes aren't congruent enough, if we fail the big scan-tron test that is life, then it's all been for nothing. Tune in for this, the most exciting single podcast episode you've ever heard in your whole goddamned life. Mark philosophizes at partia...
55m Sep 01, 2022
55m