The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

To celebrate year #2, previous guests return: Bradley  (see #32) talks "Duet" from Take Out the Poison, Jeff (see #5) presents "Still Life with Broken Heart" from Emotional Terrorism, and Steve (see #6) discusses "Wind of Change" from A Tribute...

Continuing on Psychology, the Briefer Course (1892), completing "The Stream of Thought" and covering the chapter on "Habit." James thinks that psychologists focus too much on those parts of consciousness that get picked out by substantive words. He...

Anthony was the original guitarist and a key songwriter in Genesis from '67–'70, released some prog rock albums in the '70s, then shifted largely to a mix of acoustic guitar pieces and synth soundscapes, often for soundtracks. We discuss "Nocturne"...

On The Principles of Psychology (1890) chapters 1 & 7, and Psychology, the Briefer Course (1892), the chapters on "The Stream of Thought," "Habit," and some of "The Self." Can we talk about the mind in a way that is both scientific and also does...

Richard garnered early fame as drummer for -60s New Jersey garage band The Doughboys and has put out 11 albums, largely as a one-man band, since 1988. We discuss the title tracks from Incognito (2017) and Cornerstone (1998) and “Agnostic’s...

Continuing on Nietzsche's 1888 book. (For Wes Alwan's summary of this book, go ). Is there any ground from which we could judge life as a whole to be good or bad? Is N. more about saying "yes" to life or saying "no" to all the numerous things...

On Friedrich Nieztsche's 1888 book summarizing his thought and critiquing the founding myths of his society. (For Wes Alwan's summary of this book, go ). He defends "spiritualized" instinct and frenzied creativity, but also Napoleon and war. We try to...

Continuing with the  host on the moral aspects of economics, focused by Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations and Theory of Moral Sentiments. Should we sacrifice ourselves to the machine of the economy? How does Smith's idea of virtue and talk of...

Alejandro started as a punk guitarist for the The Nuns, moved to Austin in the '80s and became a songwriter with True Believers. He has since put out 14+ solo albums of story-driven, lyrically intense, stylistically varied Texas rock. We discuss...

The host of provides his take on our on The Wealth of Nations, and explores with us the idea of emergent economic order. Is the economy more like a machine or a garden or what?