Philosophize This!

Episode #243 ... Hamlet - William Shakespeare

Today we talk about the play Hamlet written by William Shakespeare. We compare more traditional takes on the themes of the play to a more modern, philosophical analysis of the play done by Simon Critchley and Jamieson Webster. We talk about Hamlet and his inability to take action. Surveillance in 16th century England. Ophelia as the tragic hero of the play. How ultimately Hamlet may best be described as a play about "nothing". Hope you love it. :) Sponsors: Nord VPN: ⁠https://nordvpn.com/philothis ⁠ [https://nordvpn.com/philothis] Better Help: ⁠https://www.BetterHelp.com/PHILTHIS⁠ [https://www.betterhelp.com/PHILTHIS] Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help.  Website:⁠ https://www.philosophizethis.org/⁠ [https://www.philosophizethis.org/] Patreon:⁠ https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis]  Social: Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast] X:⁠ https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest⁠ [https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest] Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Episode #242 ... Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare

Today we talk about the philosophy behind the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. We talk about how ineffective violence and honor codes are as ways of maintaining the stability of a society. How catastrophe may be a deterrent to violence. The tension presented by Shakespeare between a Christian view of love, marriage and salvation and an alternative religion of love from his time. How in the kinds of love we most admire there is sometimes an element of irrationality that makes it possible. Hope you love it. :) Sponsors: ZocDoc: https://www.ZocDoc.com/PHILO [https://www.zocdoc.com/PHILO] Quince: https://www.QUINCE.com/pt [https://www.quince.com/pt] Nord VPN: https://nordvpn.com/philothis  [https://nordvpn.com/philothis] Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help.  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ [https://www.philosophizethis.org/] Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis [https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis]  Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast [https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast] X: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest [https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow [https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Episode #241 ... The Tragedy of Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare

Today we talk about the philosophical themes of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. We talk about the hypocrisy and false nostalgia of political violence. The ironies of living by a moral ideal like honor. Rhetoric as a site of where political power is won and lost in a republic. And Brutus as a unique kind of tragic hero somewhere between Stoicism and Christianity. Hope you love it. :) Sponsors: The Perfect Jean: https://theperfectjean.nyc [https://theperfectjean.nyc] Code: PT15  ZocDoc: https://www.ZocDoc.com/PHILO [https://www.zocdoc.com/PHILO] Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help.  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ [https://www.philosophizethis.org/] Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis [https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis]  Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast [https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast] X: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest [https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow [https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Episode #240 ... Varieties of Religion Today (Charles Taylor)

Today we talk more about the work of Charles Taylor and his book The Varieties of Religion Today. We look at different answers to a classic question around religious belief. The sociological and structural role that religion plays at any given point in history. Paleo, Neo and Post Durkheim versions of religious society. What religion becomes in the age of authenticity we live in. We paint a picture of the very unique spiritual predicament the modern person has to navigate. Hope you love it. :) Sponsors: Better Help: https://www.BetterHelp.com/PHILTHIS [https://www.betterhelp.com/PHILTHIS] Nord VPN: https://nordvpn.com/philothis  [https://nordvpn.com/philothis] Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help.  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ [https://www.philosophizethis.org/] Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis [https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis]  Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast [https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast] X: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest [https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow [https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Episode #239 ... Authenticity and the history of the self. (Charles Taylor)

Today we talk about the work of the philosopher Charles Taylor. First, we trace the historical origins of how he views the modern self. From the Greeks to the Reformation. From Descartes to Rousseau. The modern self to him is something "irreconcilably multileveled". Then we talk about our modern focus on authenticity as a moral ideal and why Taylor thinks many people misunderstand what it requires. Hope you love it! :) Sponsors: The Perfect Jean: https://theperfectjean.nyc [https://theperfectjean.nyc] Code: PT15  Better Help: https://www.BetterHelp.com/PHILTHIS [https://www.betterhelp.com/PHILTHIS] Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help.  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ [https://www.philosophizethis.org/] Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis [https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis]  Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast [https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast] X: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest [https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow [https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]