Ep. 328: Guest Yascha Mounk Against Identity Politics (Part Two)
Continuing on The Identity Trap (2023). Which works better to achieve social progress; classical liberalism, or strategies involving emphasis of identity group membership? Do we even have to pick a side, or can we pragmatically choose strategies from whichever philosophy most effectively addresses the situation in question? We discuss cultural appropriation, free speech, standpoint epistemolog...
59m Nov 06, 2023
59m
PEL Presents PvI#64: TEAM PLAY GENERALS with Linda Orr and Andrew Lavin
Returning freedom fighters Andrew (https://philosophyimprov.com/pvi27-normality-andrew-lavin/) and Linda (https://philosophyimprov.com/pvi26-money-linda-orr/) and join Bill and Mark to talk about philosophical liberalism: Its rationales and varieties. Plus, preschool orientation, and Greek gods creating a new world. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife...
1hr 15m Nov 06, 2023
1hr 15m
PEL Presents (SUB)TEXT: Terminal Wooings in "The Odyssey" (Part 3 of 3)
Wes & Erin discuss the final 12 books of "The Odyssey," translated by Emily Wilson. Thanks to our sponsors for this episode St. John’s College, and Füm. Learn more about undergraduate–and graduate–Great Books programs at St. John’s in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Annapolis, Maryland at https://sjc.edu/subtext. Head to TryFum.com (https://tryfum.com/) and use code SUBTEXT to save 10 percent off whe...
1hr 4m Nov 05, 2023
1hr 4m
Ep. 328: Guest Yascha Mounk Against Identity Politics (Part One)
On The Identity Trap (2023), an intellectual history of wokeness (aka "the identity synthesis") and defense of philosophical liberalism against this set of ideas. Are our differences more important than that which unites us? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus disc...
51m Oct 30, 2023
51m
Pretty Much Pop #161: Revisiting "The Exorcist"
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the original 1973 film (and the 1971 novel), the new Exorcist: Believer, with some talk of the early sequels. What makes the original film so scary? Its adjacency to real-life parental fears? Does the new film really dialogue intelligently with that original? Is demonic possession an inherently problematic plot device? Subscribe directly at prettymuc...
48m Oct 29, 2023
48m
PREMIUM-PEL Fall Nightcap 2023
Mark, Wes, and Seth talk more about bullshit, Derrida and other difficult and arguably bullshitty philosophy, expressing truths through bodily movement, horror movies, and our coverage of author-guests and works that provide an introductory roadmap to some philosophical area. If you're not hearing the full version of this discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2023/10/21/fall-nightcap-2...
12m Oct 28, 2023
12m
Ep. 327: Harry Frankfurt on Bullsh*t and Authenticity (Part Two)
On Frankfurt's essay "The Importance of What We Care About" (1982), which distinguishes the question of what to value from ethical questions and explores the extent to which deciding what to care about is a free act. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and a supporter-exclusive Nigh...
53m Oct 23, 2023
53m
PEL Presents NEM#204: Tim and Sue Lee Learn Their Craft, from Windbreakers to Bark
Tim began with The Windbreakers in Mississippi in 1982 and has released around 30 albums including solo albums starting in the late '80s plus albums with his wife Susan Bauer Lee (first on bass, then on drums) as The Tim Lee 3 and now Bark. We discuss Bark's "Love Minus Action" from Loud (2023), "Magnolia Plates" by Tim Lee 3 from 33 ⅓ (2015), "Like Sand" from Tim's Crawdad (1998), and the tit...
1hr 29m Oct 20, 2023
1hr 29m
Ep. 327: Harry Frankfurt on Bullshit and Authenticity (Part One)
Mark, Wes, Dylan, and Seth discuss the celebrated 1986 essay "On Bullshit." Does bullshit necessarily involve lying? Frankfurt defines it as instead indifferent to truth, though still deceptive about what kind of speech act the audience is supposed to think that it is. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support ...
45m Oct 16, 2023
45m
PEL Presents PMP#160: Mvto to "Reservation Dogs"
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the groundbreaking Native-written/starring TV show about four teens trying to get away from their Oklahoma reservation, getting into its treatment of death, community, wokeness, and more. Subscribe directly at prettymuchpop.com (http://prettymuchpop.com/) or search Pretty Much Pop on your desired podcast app to hear our "aftertalk" to this episode (wher...
45m Oct 15, 2023
45m
PEL Presents PvI#63: Virtual Socrates w/ David Chalmers
The New York University Prof and author of many influential books including the new Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy joins Mark and Bill to simulate debates about AI, cybersex, actor vs. character, and keeping children safe from reality. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Take a class this fall from him at https://parti...
58m Oct 14, 2023
58m
Ep. 326: Michael Tomasello on the Evolution of Agency (Part Two)
Wes, Dylan, and guest Chris Heath continue to discuss The Evolution of Agency (2022) in light of our interview with the author. We relate examples from the book of animals of various levels of complexity making deliberative decisions, exhibiting rationality, experiencing causality, or otherwise engaging in agentive behaviors. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlif...
52m Oct 09, 2023
52m
PEL Presents PvI#62: Cutting Every Edge w/ Jeremy Richards
The author of The Accomplished Creative, a sort of anti-self-help book based around Jeremy's improv experience and what he learned as a philosophy major, joins Mark and Bill to talk impostor syndrome and benign violations, get real meta about Die Hard scenarios, and have a cheese intervention. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Take a class t...
56m Oct 03, 2023
56m
Ep. 326: Guest Michael Tomasello on the Evolution of Agency (Part One)
On The Evolution of Agency (2022), with the author, and guest panelist Chris Heath. What is human agency? How would we determine whether an animal is a legitimate agent, as opposed to just acting automatically? Tomasello investigates this by thinking about what capabilities and behaviors constitute agency and the degree to which near-human animals have these. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife...
46m Oct 02, 2023
46m
PEL Presents PMP#159: Watching "How To with John Wilson"
https://prettymuchpop.com/2023/10/04/pmp159-how-to-with-john-wilson/Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al all watched the three seasons of this groundbreaking, polarizing documentary show that serves as a visual diary and collection of essays by its creator. While episode titles sound like practical advice, the investigations invariably swerve into something weird or philosophical. But did we enjoy ...
51m Oct 01, 2023
51m
PEL Presents NEM#203: Andy White Tells the Truth
Andy has released 20 albums since 1986, touring with just him and his acoustic guitar. We discuss "The Happiness Index" from AT (2023), his second collaboration with Tim Finn; the title track from The Guilty and the Innocent (2017); and "Speechless" from Out There (1992). End song: "Italian Girls on Mopeds" from Boy 40 (2003). Intro: "Vision of You" from Rave On (1986). More at andywhite.com (h...
1hr 39m Sep 30, 2023
1hr 39m
Ep. 325: Paul Grice on Meaning and Conversation (Part Two)
Continuing on "Meaning" (1957), "Utterer’s Meaning and Intentions" (1969), and "Logic and Conversation" (1975) with guest Steve Gimbell. We tie the articles together, talk more about the rules implicit in conversation, and try to relate Grice's project to other parts of philosophy. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife...
56m Sep 25, 2023
56m
PEL Presents (SUB)TEXT: Foolish Adventures in "The Odyssey" (Part 2 of 3)
Wes & Erin continue their discussion of the Odyssey, translated by Emily Wilson. In this episode, part 2 of our 3-part series, they look closely at the heart of the poem, books 5-12, in which Odysseus arrives in Phaeacia and provides the tale-within-the-tale of his adventures after the Trojan War. They discuss the significance of Odysseus’s fantastical encounters and asking what they might reve...
1hr 8m Sep 24, 2023
1hr 8m
PEL Presents PMP#158: "Oppenheimer" and Other Christopher Nolan Films
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the writer-director's work, touching on not only his recent tour-de-force, but back to Memento, Dunkirk, Tenet, Inception, The Prestige, Interstellar, Insomnia, and The Following. Is Nolan overrated as a thinker and storyteller? Do his plots actually make sense? We talk heroes, noir, philosophy, twists, and his depiction of women. For more, visit pr...
56m Sep 21, 2023
56m
Ep. 325: Paul Grice on Meaning and Conversation (Part One)
On "Meaning" (1957), "Utterer’s Meaning and Intentions" (1969), and "Logic and Conversation" (1975), featuring Mark, Seth, Dylan, and guest Steve Gimbell (https://www.gettysburg.edu/academic-programs/philosophy/faculty/employee_detail.dot?empId=02000322920013381&pageTitle=Steve+Gimbel) . Grice tries to give a rigorous analysis of what it means for a speaker (as opposed to a sentence) to mean s...
49m Sep 18, 2023
49m
PEL Presents PvI#61: TEAM PLAY CIRCUS with Adal Rifai and Jenny Hansen
It's St. Lawrence University philosophy prof (https://www.stlawu.edu/people/dr-jennifer-l-hansen) Jenny in the ring with UIC instructor (https://theatreandmusic.uic.edu/people/adal-rifai/) /Podcaster with Hey Riddle Riddle (https://www.heyriddleriddle.com/) and Hello From the Magic Tavern (https://hellofromthemagictavern.com/) Adal, along with Mark and Bill, of course. And the Bullshot is flyin...
1hr 9m Sep 17, 2023
1hr 9m
PREMIUM-Ep. 324: Plato's "Cratylus" on Language (Part Three)
Mark and Wes do a Closeread on the latter part of the dialogue, where Socrates argues to Cratylus that even if names (words) were devised to somehow depict the things they stand for, that wouldn't guarantee that they ACCURATELY describe the world. You can't look at the definitions of words to learn about the world; you have to actually investigate the world directly. Closereads supporters (see...
11m Sep 13, 2023
11m
Ep. 324: Plato's "Cratylus" on Language (Part Two)
Continuing on Plato's mid-period dialogue about language. Is attaching a word to a thing, i.e. naming it, like other activities such as carpentry or sewing that can go wrong? Can we put the "form" of a thing into letters and syllabus of its name? We go through many examples where Socrates claims to have done just that. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) ...
46m Sep 11, 2023
46m
PEL Presents PMP#157: What Is a Pop Culture Podcast For? (Season Finale)
What is media criticism, and is that what we're doing? For our Season 3 finale (i.e. the end of PMP's 4th year of operation), your now officially official hosts Mark Linsenmayer, Lawrence Ware, Sarahlyn Bruck, and Al Baker turn their gazes fully toward their collective navel to think about what purposes are served by discussions about pop culture and how we can do it better. For more, visit pr...
55m Sep 10, 2023
55m
PEL Presents NEM#202: Richard Lloyd (Television): Guitar is Combustible
Richard joined Television in 1973 and has released three albums with them, plus seven solo albums starting in 1980. He has also played with Matthew Sweet, John Doe, Rocket from the Tomb, and others, and has a 2019 memoir Everything Is Combustible. We discuss "So Sad" from The Countdown (2018), "Glurp" from Radiant Monkey (2007), "Pleading" from Field of Fire (1985), and "Misty Eyes" from Alche...
1hr 8m Sep 06, 2023
1hr 8m
Ep. 324: Plato's "Cratylus" on Language (Part One)
On Plato's mid-period dialogue from around 388 BCE. How do words relate to the things they represent? Socrates first argues that words represent things, and so doing etymology is a way of learning philosophical truths, then seemingly reverses himself. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free epis...
50m Sep 04, 2023
50m
PREMIUM-PEL End-of-Summer Nightcap 2023
Mark, Seth, Dylan, and eventually Wes talk about traveling, Barbie, gender, evolutionary psychology, cognitive science, and more. If you're not hearing the full version of this discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2023/08/26/nightcap-august-2023/) , sign up via one of the options described at https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support.
10m Sep 04, 2023
10m
PEL Presents PvI#60: Elu-Sedations w/ Matt Teichman
Philosopher Matt, host of the Elucidations podcast (https://elucidations.vercel.app/) and frequent PEL guest, finally gets in on Philosophy vs. Improv in this, our Season Two Finale. And many is he a de dicto. Or is he a de re? Slowly learn the difference as we make things personal through scenes of shit-talking and crime reporting. Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://part...
55m Sep 01, 2023
55m
Ep. 323: Acquiring Language: Tomasello vs. Chomsky (Part Two)
Continuing on Michael Tomasello's "Language Is Not an Instinct" (1995) and Constructing a Language: A Usage-Based Theory of Language Acquisition (2003), as contrasted with Chomsky universal grammar (the flag that Steven Pinker continues to carry). With guest Christopher Heath. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/s...
48m Aug 28, 2023
48m
PEL Presents (sub)Text: Home as Identity in "The Odyssey"
He was famously a man of many ways, whether we interpret these as abilities or norms; designs or deceptions; reasons or identities. Yet despite such resources, he was also famously stuck, making a 10-year odyssey of his attempt to return home from a 10-year war. What keeps the man of master plans from homecoming and domestic bliss? In the first of a three part discussion of Homer’s classic, Wes...
1hr 14m Aug 27, 2023
1hr 14m
Ep. 323: Acquiring Language: Tomasello vs. Chomsky (Part One)
On Michael Tomasello's "Language Is Not an Instinct" (1995) and Constructing a Language: A Usage-Based Theory of Language Acquisition (2003). With guest Christopher Heath. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsors: Give more effectively via GiveWell...
49m Aug 21, 2023
49m
PEL Presents PMP#156: Black Mirror's Tech Horrors
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about Charlie Brooker's British anthology TV series that began in 2011 and recently released its 6th season. How has this show evolved from satirical science fiction to something more often just horror studies that study human nature? We talk about our favorite episodes and what does and doesn't work. Does the show have to be so dark to make its point? Doe...
1hr 1m Aug 20, 2023
1hr 1m
PEL Presents NEM#201: Ivan Neville Gets Personal (but Still Funky)
Ivan is the keyboardist/singer/multi-instrumentalist son of Aaron Neville and has played with the Neville Brothers, The Rolling Stones The Spin Doctors, etc. He has released eight albums since 1988, half of these under the band name Dumpstaphunk. We discuss "Pass It Around" and listen to "Hey All Together" from Touch My Soul (2023), "They Don’t Care" by Dumpstaphunk from Dirty Word (2013), "Wh...
1hr 16m Aug 20, 2023
1hr 16m
PEL Closereads: Emerson's Oversoul (New Podcast Premiere)
Are we underlyingly all really a single, unified organism? Or do we just have a lot in common? PEL's most verbose hosts Mark Linsenmayer and Wes Alwan begin unraveling this puzzling claim by reading Ralph Waldo Emerson's 1841 essay "The Over-Soul" and explaining it line-by-line. Watch this episode on video at YouTube (https://youtu.be/QwylkSdmMt0) . We encourage you to read along in the essay w...
55m Aug 14, 2023
55m
PEL Presents PvI#59: Yes, and Technological Dystopia w/ Anthony LeBlanc
How does new technology affect ethics? Anthony (who is on strike, but that doesn't apply to improv) is an improviser (https://www.secondcity.com/people/anthony-leblanc/) with a computer science degree who now coaches kid TV actors (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-leblanc-b9819123/) . We talk personal identity, transhumanism, genetic engineering, AI, organizational ethics, Black Mirror, Beas...
1hr 3m Aug 13, 2023
1hr 3m
PEL Presents PMP#155: Existentialist Barbie
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the most discussable movie of the summer made by the unlikely pairing of feminist indie director Greta Gerwig and Barbie's corporate overlords at Mattel. Does the film convey at least a legitimate teen version of feminist existentialism? It is actually enjoyable? What sort of irony is this, and can any film be both a blockbuster children's film yet al...
51m Aug 11, 2023
51m
Ep. 322: Schelling on Art vs. Nature (Part Three)
Mark and Wes conclude with some close reading of Part 6 of System of Transcendental Idealism (1800), section 3: "Relation of Art to Philosophy." Schelling thinks that art enables us to do intuitively what philosophy tries to do with concepts. We're providing this typically supporter-exclusive content for all of you in anticipation of the new Closereads: Philosophy with Mark and Wes project tha...
57m Aug 07, 2023
57m
PEL Presents NEM#200: Mikaela Davis: Singer-Songwriter-Harpist
Mikaela has a degree in harp performance and has been recording since 2011. We discuss "Cinderella" (and listen at the end to "Leave It Alone") from her second label-released album, And Southern Star (2023), "Left Hand Path" (2002, released on the compilation album Spelljams), and "In My Groove" from Delivery (2018). Intro: "When You're Away" (recorded 2015). Hear more at mikaeladavis.com (http...
1hr 20m Aug 05, 2023
1hr 20m
PEL Presents PvI#57: Happier Cancer w/ Monica McCarthy
Monica is an actor (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2286261/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) and writer who ran a live-on-stage philosophy podcast called The Happier Hour (https://www.thehappierhour.org/) , and so naturally we talk about happiness, or flourishing (eudaimonia). You can watch this episode in its unedited video form (https://youtu.be/_w50yMXwBfg) . Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com (...
1hr Aug 02, 2023
1hr
Ep. 322: Schelling on Art vs. Nature (Part Two)
Continuing on "On the Relation Between the Plastic Arts and Nature" (1807) and Part 6 of System of Transcendental Idealism (1800). We talk sculpture vs. painting and why art is the direct, intuitive way to achieve the insight that philosophy can only approximate using concepts. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com...
48m Jul 31, 2023
48m
(sub)Text: Competing Affections in "The Lion in Winter" (Peter O'Toole, Katherine Heburn)
Before Henry VIII changed history for lack of a son, Henry II had too many. His eldest, Richard, a fierce soldier who controls the wealthy Aquitaine, is the favorite of his mother, Eleanor. The youngest, John, is immature and dull, but his father’s favorite. And the middle son, scheming Geoffrey, is, quite dangerously, no one’s favorite. In the end, there are no winners; competing affections an...
56m Jul 31, 2023
56m
Ep. 322: Schelling on Art vs. Nature (Part One)
Discussing "On the Relation Between the Plastic Arts and Nature" (1807) and Part 6 of System of Transcendental Idealism (1800). Is the goal of art to imitate nature? Only if that means showing the divine, ideal, dynamic aspect of the subject matter (and the artist)! Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to ...
48m Jul 24, 2023
48m
PEL Presents NEM#199: Alan Jenkins' Cornucopia of Experiments
Alan has released 50+ albums, starting in the late '70s with The Deep Freeze Mice, then with several collaborative bands, experimental surf in the '00s with The Thurston Lava Tube, and now typically records as Alan Jenkins and the Kettering Vampires. We discuss "The Multibear" from Be My Enemy £1 (2023), "Hitler’s Knees" by The Deep Freeze Mice from Saw a Ranch House Burning Last Night (1983),...
1hr 6m Jul 24, 2023
1hr 6m
PEL Presents PMP#153: Kids' Films, Adult Messages
Mark, Lawrence, and returning parents/panelists Michelle Parrinello-Cason (https://courses.seahomeschoolers.com/dr-michelle-parrinello-cason/) and Chris Sunami (http://popculturephilosopher.com/) take on animated blockbuster films by Pixar, et al. Why do some adults prefer these? What's the ideology of this kind of media? We touch on Puss in Boots, Turning Red, Soul, Trolls, Enola Holmes, and ...
59m Jul 23, 2023
59m
Pretty Much Pop #154: Indiana Jones and the Various MacGuffins
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk about the blockbuster archaeological adventure films created in 1981 by George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg that we grew up with and which have now been revived and apparently concluded twice, currently via James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. For more, visit prettymuchpop.com (http://prettymuchpop.com/) . Hear bonus content at https://www...
1hr 5m Jul 23, 2023
1hr 5m
PREMIUM-PEL Nightcap 7-9-23
Mark, Wes, and Seth talk about how we might cover philosophy of technology, and other areas like medical ethics, business ethics, environmental ethics, etc. Do we remember things that we recorded a few years back? What summer films are we looking forward to? Finally, can we cover David Foster Wallace? If you're not hearing the full version of this discussion (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/...
12m Jul 21, 2023
12m
Ep. 321: August Schlegel on Beauty (Part Two)
We continue on Theory of Art, getting more into sections of the text about the relationship between beauty and purposiveness, genius, unconscious vs. conscious creation, style vs. manner, and art imitating nature. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and a supporter-exclusive Nightca...
45m Jul 17, 2023
45m
PEL Presents PvI #56: Interpreting the Monkey Man w/ Chris George
Chris has an act called "I Am the Show" where he improvises to a film that he hasn't seen that's playing silently, making up all the dialogue and sound effects. Mark and Bill talk to Chris about being a spectator or critic of art: To understand a work, is it good or necessary to try to divine the artist's intentions, or is meaning in art something that happens after a work becomes an objective...
56m Jul 13, 2023
56m
Ep. 321: August Schlegel on Beauty (Part One)
Covering the elder Schlegel  brother's Theory of Art (ca. 1800). How does our experience of Beauty relate to the infinite? Schlegel provides a Romantic response to Kant on knowing the divine, inner essences of things through art, how genius works, and the relationship between art and nature. Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com (https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/) . Visit https://partiallyexa...
49m Jul 10, 2023
49m
PEL Presents NEM#198: Chris Stamey Keeps on Developing
Chris started in the mid 70s in Sneakers, then backed Alex Chilton, started a record label, and then founded the dB's, which he left after two albums in 1983. He then became a producer and has released nine solo albums plus avant garde guitar collaborations with Kirk Ross and four reunion albums with Peter Holsapple and/or the dB's. We discuss "I Will Try" from The Great Escape (2023), the tit...
1hr 21m Jul 10, 2023
1hr 21m