The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Ep. 398: Donald Davidson on Mind vs. Body (Part One)

On "Mental Events" (1970) and "Actions, Reasons, and Causes" (1963), w/ guest Chris Heath. When we talk about mental events (e.g. desires) causing physical occurrences (an action to obtain what is desired), are we giving a causal picture in the scientific sense, which would rule out free will? Or are reason-giving and causality just different language games? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com [https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/]. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support [https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/support] to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Every self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at shopify.com/pel [https://shopify.com/pel]. Learn about Mark's fall philosophy of mind class at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class [https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/class.].

Ep. 397: Federalist Papers LIVE (Part Two)

We now have a free-form discussion in light of what was raised in part one about the Federalist Papers and Frederick Douglass' Fourth of July Speech: What should we do about the problems identified? Is the system broken beyond repair? Was it built with fatal flaws in it? Is it just working as normal, and the pendulum will inevitably swing away from madness as the system reasserts itself? We then open it up for a Q&A, which gets us talking about property vs. liberty, the power of corporations, the moral basis of our government, and our outlook on the future. Learn about Mark's fall philosophy of mind class at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class [https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/class.].

PEL Presents NEM#258: Dan Montgomery: Direct Communication

Dan was Ben Vaughn's sound-man and released his first solo album of Americana rock in 2004. We discuss "Busted" from his eighth album (produced by Vaughn), the just Dan-and-his guitar effort Dispatches from the Desert, then "Beaumont" from Cast-Iron Songs and Torch Ballads (2023), "Favorite Color" from Rosetta, Please (A Love Story) (2006). End song: "Lookin' for a Fight" also from the new album. Intro: "Always" from Man from Out of State (2004). More at danmontgomery.bandcamp.com [https://danmontgomery.bandcamp.com]. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music at nakedlyexaminedmusic.com [https://nakedlyexaminedmusic.com/]. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic [https://www.patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic].

PEL Presents PvI#122: Hello from Iran w/ AmirAli Maleki

AmirAli is a philosophy researcher in Iran who tries to make Islamic philosophy speak to and with the West. We hear about doing philosophy in the "Islamic Republic of Iran," life during wartime, the relationship between play and philosophy, Islamic philosophy in Arabic vs. Persian, Amanah ("sacred trust"), philosophy as empathy, plus the Dream Police and fun with imperialism. Hear more at philosophyimprov.com [http://philosophyimprov.com/]. Support the podcast and listen ad-free at patreon.com/philosophyimprov [https://patreon.com/philosophyimprov]. Sponsor: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code IMPROV at oneskin.co/IMPROV [https://www.oneskin.co/IMPROV].

Announcement: Mark's "Key Ideas in the Philosophy of Mind" Fall 2026 Class

Enrollment is now open for our new online class. It will be nine 75 min sessions, running from late Aug. to mid Dec., starting with Aristotle and Descartes but then spending the rest of the time on the most influential texts in this area since 1950: Alan Turing, Thomas Nagel, David Chalmers, John Searle, Hilary Putnam, etc. We're offering sections to fit the various time zones and work schedules: Saturday mornings, Monday mid-day, Wednesday evenings, or just purchase the recordings of these sessions to take them in at your own pace. Read more about it at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class, [https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/class,] or go ahead and sign up via partiallyexaminedlife.com/enrollment. [https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/enrollment.]