Ep. 320: Friedrich Schlegel on Romanticism (Part Two)

We continue on Schlegel's "Dialogue on Poesy" (1799) and "Concerning the Essence of Critique" (1804).

How can Romantic art always aim at some common source of our humanity yet also require originality? How can having some sort of common mythology help artists be original in this way, and how can we embrace mythology as modern people?

discussion.

Sponsors: Get 15% off a newly cheaper annual membership at MasterClass.com/pel. Check out the Articles of Interest podcast.

Ep. 320: Friedrich Schlegel on Romanticism (Part One)

On selected fragments from 1797-1801, "Dialogue on Poesy" (1799), and "Concerning the Essence of Critique" (1804).

What makes art "Romantic"? Schlegel sees good art as uniquely, authentically reaching out to a divine source that underlies and connects each of us.

Ep. 319: Schiller on Experiencing Beauty (Part Two)

Starting with letter 20 in On the Aesthetic Education of Man (1795), we tell more of the story of how art is supposed to get us from sensation to thinking.

Aesthetic perception ends up being essential to any conceptualization (thinking) whatsoever!

Sponsor: Check out the Skeptoid podcast at skeptoid.com.

Ep. 319: Schiller on Experiencing Beauty (Part One)

On the second half of Friedrich Schiller's On the Aesthetic Education of Man (1795), getting into the mechanics of how aesthetic experience work in giving us a midpoint between animality and pure rationality where we can feel free. Also, does art reveal truth?

Sponsor: Visit GreenChef.com/pel60 and use code pel60 to get 60% off the #1 Meal Kit for Eating Well, plus free shipping.

Ep. 318: Friedrich Schiller on the Civilizing Potential of Art (Part Two)

We continue working through letters 1-15 of On the Aesthetic Education of Man (1795), helped by Markus Reuter.

We get clearer on what Schiller means by Beauty, and how two contrary drives toward matter and form somehow cancel each other out to combine in a "play drive" that is at the heart of appreciating and creating art.

Sponsors: Get 15% off a newly-cheaper ($10/month) annual membership at MasterClass.com/pel. Check out the Jordan Harbinger Show at jordanharbinger.com/subscribe.

Ep. 318: Friedrich Schiller on the Civilizing Potential of Art (Part One)

Can art make us better people? Musician Markus Reuter joins Mark, Wes, and Seth to discussion the first half of On the Aesthetic Education of Man (1795).

Given the failure of the French Revolution, this famous German poet wondered what could make the masses capable of governing themselves? His answer: Beauty! Aesthetic appreciation puts us at a distance from our savage desires, enables the abstract thought necessary for Kantian rationalist morality, and yet keeps us in touch with our feelings so that we don't just become cogs in the industrial machine.

Sponsors: Secure your Internet and get three extra months free at ExpressVPN.com/PEL. Try The Psychology Podcast with Scott Barry Kaufman.

Ep. 317: Character Philosophies in Dostoevsky’s “Brothers Karamazov” (Part One)

Following up on our live episode, we further ponder the 1869 novel, revisiting the "problem of evil" arguments and how the various brothers cope with an imperfect world.

Plus, we relate Dostoevsky's views of freedom and ethics to those of other existentialists.

Ep. 316: Dostoevsky’s “Brothers Karamazov”: PEL Live in NYC (Part Two)

Continuing on Dostoevsky's 1880 novel, we respond to some objections to the Christian arguments that the characters Alyosha and Zosima put forward to respond to Ivan's "Rebellion" and "Grand Inquisitor" arguments. Most of these objections come from the audience Q&A.

Sponsors: Secure your Internet and get three extra months free at ExpressVPN.com/PEL. Try The Psychology Podcast with Scott Barry Kaufman.

Ep. 315: Mengzi (Mencius) on Virtuous Leaders (Part One)

Continuing from ep. 314, we go further into the collected teachings of this early Confucian (aka Ruhist) from the late 4th century BCE. What's the best way to be a virtuous person and hence an effective leader?

Sponsor: Check out Continuing the Conversation by St. John's College at sjc.edu

Ep. 314: Mengzi (Mencius) on Moral Psychology (Part Two)

Continuing on the teachings of Mengzi from ca. 350 BCE, without our guest.

We go into textual quotes, covering the "sprouts" of virtue, whether human nature is good or simply malleable, whether tastes are universal, and more.

Get your streaming or in-person ticket to our April 15 live show at partiallyexaminedlife.com/live.

Sponsor: Secure your Internet and get three extra months free at ExpressVPN.com/PEL.

Ep. 312: The Dao De Jing on Virtue (Part Two)

Concluding our discussion of the Daodejing with guest Theo Brooks. We cover some more ambiguous cosmological passages and return to political philosophy. 

Sponsors: Get 3 months VPN free at ExpressVPN.com/pel. Check out the Hermitix podcast at hermitix.net.

Ep. 312: The Dao De Jing on Virtue (Part One)

For our second full discussion on the Daodejing by Laozi, we talk about the actions and attitudes that characterize the Daoist sage. With Theo Brooks.

Topics include being virtuous vs. just following rules, Daoist tranquility, achieving without trying too hard, and more.

Ep. 311: Understanding the Dao De Jing (Part One)

On the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Laozi (ca. 500 BCE), with guest Theodore Brooks.

We talk about the wildly different, interpretive translations of this foundational Daoist (Taoist) text, its political views, and what the Dao might actually be.

Ep. 310: Wittgenstein On World-Pictures (Part Two)

Concluding our discussion of On Certainty, with guest Chris Heath.

We try one last time to get a handle on Wittgenstein's philosophy of science. How do people actually change their minds about fundamental beliefs?

Ep. 310: Wittgenstein On World-Pictures (Part One)

We continue with Ludwig Wittgenstein's On Certainty (written 1951), with guest Christopher Heath.

What is Wittgenstein's philosophy of science as it's reflected in this book? We talk about Weltbilds (world pictures) and how these relate to language games, relativism, verification, paradigms, testimony, and more.

Ep. 309: Wittgenstein On Certainty (Part Two)

Continuing to discuss On Certainty, we get deeply into textual quotes.

How does he actually respond to Moore's argument about his hand? How does he extend his account to talk about mathematical and scientific statements? Is Wittgenstein a pragmatist?

Ep. 309: Wittgenstein On Certainty (Part One)

Discussing the notes Ludwig Wittgenstein made at the end of his life in 1951 that were published as On Certainty in 1969.

Can we coherently doubt propositions like "physical objects exist," "the world is more than 50 years old," and "this is my hand"? Wittgenstein looks at these questions via his framework of language games. Is doubting one of these a legitimate move in a game?

Check out the Overthink podcast and Conversations with Coleman. Attend our live show in NYC on April 15.