The Thinking Reed

Episode 14: Descartes, The Conqueror of Skepticism?

In this first episode on Rene Descartes, we explore the beginnings of his response to crisis of skepticism -- the great philosophical challenge of his time.  We look more closely at how skepticism had developed since Montaigne and begin to explore how Descartes' will respond to this challenge in his first major publication, The Discourse on the Method.  Enjoy!

Episode 13: Montaigne, Skepticism and Why It Doesn't Work

In this episode we look at Montaigne's most well known essay, "The Apology for Raymond Sebond."  In this rambling essay Montaigne seeks to defend his own version of skepticism.  But does it work?  I offer reasons why I think skepticism ultimately fails to either be coherent or to be a sustainable philosophy for life.  Enjoy!

Episode 12: Montaigne, Can We Know Anything? (An introduction to skepticism)

In this episode we cover an introduction to skepticism -- the view that denies we can ever truly know something -- and how it came to impact Montaigne's thought.  Skepticism is not a simple perspective: there were disagreements among the early skeptics as to what it means to be skeptical.  We explore the beginnings of skepticism in the ancient Greek and Roman world and the particular type of skepticism that would come to deeply influence Montaigne.  Enjoy!

Episode 11: Montaigne, The First Modern Philosopher?

In this episode we take up the ever so familiar idea of "the self" or "personality" and discover in Montaigne the beginnings of our own modern understanding of this topic.  What does it mean to "be yourself" or to "know yourself"?  A great deal f modern thought rests on how we think about the self.  Could it be, then, that Montaigne was the first modern philosopher?  Enjoy!

Episode 10: Montaigne, Life and Times

In this episode we take a look at wonderfully interesting life of Michel de Montaigne.  He lived in late 16th century France, one of the most tumultuous times in European history.  The Protestant Reformation and the Copernican Revolution were creating upheavals in nearly every area of life.  Montaigne sought peace by returning to his quiet family home and it was there that he would write his famous Essays that explored such things as pleasure, death, and even witches and cannibals!  I hope you enjoy this episode.