722 episodes
The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast Partially Examined Life
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- Society & Culture
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4.6 • 2K Ratings
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The Partially Examined Life is a podcast by some guys who were at one point set on doing philosophy for a living but then thought better of it. Each episode, we pick a short text and chat about it with some balance between insight and flippancy. You don't have to know any philosophy, or even to have read the text we're talking about to (mostly) follow and (hopefully) enjoy the discussion. For links to the texts we discuss and other info, check out www.partiallyexaminedlife.com.
We also feature episodes from other podcasts by our hosts to round out your partially examined life, including Pretty Much Pop (prettymuchpop.com, covering all media), Nakedly Examined Music (nakedlyexaminedmusic.com, deconstructing songs), Philosophy vs. Improv (philosophyimprov.com, fun with performance skills and philosophical ideas), and (sub)Text (subtextpodcast.com, looking deeply at lit and film). Learn about more network podcasts at partiallyexaminedlife.com.
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Ep. 341: Guest Karyn Lai on Daoism in the Zhuangzi
Mark, Dylan, Seth, and Theo Brooks discuss the Zhuangzi (ca. 325 BCE) UNSW Sydney prof. Karyn, co-author of the History of Philosophy Podcast Chinese series.
We talk through Daoist advice about virtue, political action, perspectivism, and more.
Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.
Learn about our new book at partiallyexaminedlife.com/book. -
PEL Presents PvI#75: The Alien Literally Has Two Faces w/ Bran Peacock
The Hitchhikers and Appetizers co-host joins Mark and Bill to talk about cultural relativism. We talk about foreign-ness, what parts of ethics seem to apply to all cultures, the Museum of Soup, pushing back tactfully in a scene, and more. In my culture, listening to this episode while in a work meeting is polite.
Mark philosophizes at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Bill improvises (and teaches) at chicagoimprovstudio.com.
Hear more at philosophyimprov.com. Support the podcast to get all our post-game discussions, a video version of the podcast, and other bonus stuff. -
Ep. 340: Brian Ellis on the Implications of Essentialism (Part Two)
Concluding on The Philosophy of Nature: A Guide to the New Essentialism (2002) with guest Chris Heath.
Are we OK with the metaphysical necessity of natural laws? How do Ellis' mind-independent fundamental objects in the world relate to higher level things, whether biological species or human nature or even things like colors?
Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.
Sponsor: Get a $1/month e-commerce trial at shopify.com/pel.
Get the new PEL book at partiallyexaminedlife.com/book. -
PEL Presents NEM#215: Lynn Drury's New Orleans Emotionality
Singer-songwriter Lynn has released 10 albums since 2001. We discuss the title track (and listen at the end to "I Waited Too Long") from High Tide (2024), "11:11" from Rise of the Fall (2017), and "Drugstore" from Crossing Frequencies (2001). Intro: "City Life" from Sugar on the Floor (2011). Hear more at lynndrury.com.
Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Support us on Patreon. -
Ep. 340: Brian Ellis on the Implications of Essentialism (Part One)
Continuing on The Philosophy of Nature: A Guide to the New Essentialism.
Ellis' essentialism about physics and chemistry says that, for example, atoms of various elements are truly and unambiguously different and behave in ways that make them what they are. What does this entail?
Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion.
Learn about our new book at partiallyexaminedlife.com/book. -
PEL Presents PMP#172: Curb Larry David's Shtick
The incredible post-Seinfeld improvised sit-com Curb Your Enthusiasm has had its finale, and so Mark, Lawrence, Sarah and Al reflect on its format, its characters, its way of exploring puzzles of modern manners, its treatment of race and gender, and more. Was it too repetitive? Did it get too contrived?
For more, visit prettymuchpop.com. Hear bonus content at patreon.com/prettymuchpop or by subscribing via Apple Podcasts to the Mark Lintertainment Channel.
Sponsor: Get 50% off your first box of ready-to-eat meals at FactorMeals.com/pretty50 (use code pretty50).
Customer Reviews
Spinal Tap
The Irony of Spinal Tap was that they wrote and performed their own music. I even saw them on tour as a real band years after the original movie and soundtrack.
Interesting discussions
Christopher Heath is by far my favorite guest! I find myself the most engaged when he is on the show.
A great introduction to big ideas!
This podcast has been a fun introduction to philosophers and ideas that I wouldn’t have otherwise been exposed to. Along the way I have found works and voices that have become important parts of my life. I particularly appreciate the humor and candor that these guys bring to the party. When something is nonsense, they call it out and enjoy some laughs along the way. This is definitely worth adding to your roster of podcasts!