Overthink

Meritocracy

We've all been sold the ideal of meritocracy. The American dream, our education system, and our politics are all based on it. But what if meritocracy is actually impossible--and based on a misunderstanding of how society works? In episode 151 of Overthink, Ellie and David put meritocracy in the spotlight. They think through the inherent inequality of meritocracy, its tendency to skew toward conservatism, and what Trump’s attacks on DEI reveal about how society favors merit. How does meritocracy create vertical social distance between those in power and the working class? And is meritocracy even a worthwhile ideal? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts get into the role that merit plays in Christian theology and the promise of heaven.   Works Discussed: Christopher Hayes, Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy Judith Lichtenberg and David Luban, “The Merits of Merit” Michael Young, The Rise of the Meritocracy Enjoy our work? Support Overthink via tax-deductible donation: https://www.givecampus.com/fj0w3v Join our Substack for ad-free versions of both audio and video episodes, extended episodes, exclusive live chats, and more: https://overthinkpod.substack.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Aztec Philosophy with Sebastian Purcell

Why are Aztecs often considered pessimists from a philosophical perspective? In episode 150 of Overthink, Ellie and David chat with philosopher Sebastian Purcell about his book The Outward Path: The Wisdom of the Aztecs. They discuss how the Aztecs urge us to take an “outside-in” approach to the self, how their understanding of happiness differs from much of Western philosophy, and how their view of the mind as inherently chaotic shapes their moral outlook. Why did the Aztecs think happiness was not an important goal? How can the Aztec notion of ‘right speech’ help us gain control over the internal chaos of the mind? And why did the Aztecs reject the possibility of redemption? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts dive deeper into the pessimism of the Aztecs and the claustrophobia of the Spanish conquest. Works Discussed: Sebastian Purcell, The Outward Path: The Wisdom of the Aztecs Jacques Soustelle, Daily Life of the Aztecs on the Eve of the Spanish Conquest Enjoy our work? Support Overthink via tax-deductible donation: https://www.givecampus.com/fj0w3v Join our Substack for ad-free versions of both audio and video episodes, extended episodes, exclusive live chats, and more: https://overthinkpod.substack.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Surfing

Hang loose! In episode 149 of Overthink, Ellie and David talk about all things surfing. They explore the long history of wave-riding across the globe, from Peru to West Africa, and consider how surfing helps us to reimagine social issues and what surfing reveals about the connection between flow and freedom. Is surfing the pinnacle of human life? How has the sportification of surfing directly contravened surfing’s anti-capitalist ethos? Why is the average surfer an image of white masculinity? And how is this image tied to indigenous erasure? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts discuss the similarities between surfing and skating, surfing as an art, and the existential risk of surfing. Works Discussed Daniel Brennan, Surfing and the Philosophy of Sport Kevin Dawson, Undercurrents of Power: Aquatic Culture in the African Diaspora William Finnegan, Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life Aaron James, Surfing with Sartre: An Aquatic Inquiry Into a Life of Meaning Peter Kreeft, I Surf, Therefore I Am: A Philosophy of Surfing Aileen Moreton Robinson, “Bodies That Matter: Performing White Possession on the Beach” Peter J. Westwick and Peter Neushul, The World in the Curl: An Unconventional History of Surfing Wade in the Water: A Journey Into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture (2023) Enjoy our work? Support Overthink via tax-deductible donation: https://www.givecampus.com/fj0w3v Join our Substack for ad-free versions of both audio and video episodes, extended episodes, exclusive live chats, and more: https://overthinkpod.substack.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Loneliness

How can we explain the rise of loneliness in our world? In episode 148 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss the difference between loneliness and solitude, how loneliness could help explain the rise of fascism in the US, and the public health implications of loneliness. What is the male loneliness epidemic, and does it truly exist? Does the state have a moral obligation to address the loneliness of its citizens? And do we have a fundamental human right to connection? In the Substack bonus segment, your hosts get into the etymology of loneliness and discuss the type of companionship that animals offer humans. Works Discussed: Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism Kimberley Brownlee, Being Sure of Each Other: An Essay on Social Rights and Freedoms Bouke de Vries and Sarah A. Rezaieh. “Political Philosophy and Loneliness” Bouke de Vries, “State Responsibilities to Protect us from Loneliness During Lockdown” Samantha Rose Hill, "Where loneliness can lead" Zohar Lederman, “Loneliness as Lack of Solidarity: The Case of Palestinians Standing Alone” Emmanuel Levinas, Otherwise than Being David M. Peña-Guzmán and Rebekah Spera, Professional Philosophy and Its Myths Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science  Jill Stauffer, Ethical Loneliness: The Injustice of Not Being Heard Lars Svendsen, A Philosophy of Loneliness Enjoy our work? Support Overthink via tax-deductible donation: https://www.givecampus.com/fj0w3v Join our Substack for ad-free versions of both audio and video episodes, extended episodes, exclusive live chats, and more: https://overthinkpod.substack.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Confidence

Don’t shy away from this one! In episode 147 of Overthink, Ellie and David discuss confidence. Modernity has created a crisis of confidence, leading to the demand that we all maximize our confidence. But what is confidence? Is it a personality trait or a relational concept? What causes under- and over-confidence? And is instilling confidence an equity issue? Your hosts think through Charles Pépin’s pillars of confidence, Don A. Moore's formula for calibrating your confidence, and the gendered nature of confidence through bodily expressions. In the Substack bonus segment, Ellie tells an embarrassing story which reveals the situational nature of confidence, and they discuss the relationship between confidence and nature. Works discussed: Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance” Don A. Moore, Perfectly Confident: How to Calibrate Your Decisions Wisely Charles Pépin, Self-Confidence: A Philosophy Iris Marion Young, “Throwing Like a Girl: A Phenomenology of Feminine Body” Enjoy our work? Support Overthink via tax-deductible donation: https://www.givecampus.com/fj0w3v Join our Substack for ad-free versions of both audio and video episodes, extended episodes, exclusive live chats, and more: https://overthinkpod.substack.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].