Episode #151 - The Frankfurt School - Erich Fromm on Freedom
Erich Fromm on Freedom
Erich Fromm’s Escape from Freedom explores the paradox of modern individualism: while society has fought for unprecedented levels of negative freedom—freedom from external constraints—it has left many people feeling isolated, anxious, and uncertain about how to meaningfully use that freedom. Fromm likens this condition to a psychological and historical process of individuation, where humans have slowly separated from nature, tradition, and authority, only to find themselves overwhelmed by the weight of self-responsibility. He argues that true freedom requires more than liberation from old constraints; it demands positive freedom—spontaneous, self-directed connection through love, creativity, and purpose. Without this, people often retreat from freedom entirely, seeking security through authoritarianism, destructiveness, or blind conformity. These strategies, while offering a sense of belonging, ultimately sacrifice individuality. Fromm’s central concern is not just how people become free, but how they stay free in a world that subtly invites them to surrender that freedom for comfort.
Further Reading:
Conformity: The Power of Social Influences by Cass R. Sunstein (2019)
Freedom Beyond Sovereignty: Reconstructing Liberal Individualism by Sharon R. Krause (2015)
The Dynamic Individualism of William James by James O. Pawelski (2007)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #150 - The Frankfurt School - Erich Fromm on Love
Erich Fromm on Love
In this episode, the discussion centers on Erich Fromm’s view of love as explored in The Art of Loving. Fromm argues that the fundamental human problem is a sense of existential separateness, and that love—understood not as a fleeting emotion but as an active faculty—is the only meaningful answer to this condition. The episode critiques how modern capitalist society encourages transactional relationships, where people treat themselves and others as commodities to be consumed. Fromm challenges this model by redefining love as an art—one that requires humility, courage, faith, and discipline to master. Rather than something that happens passively, real love is portrayed as an intentional act of giving that fosters growth, freedom, and connection, rooted in one’s capacity to love both others and oneself.
Further Reading:
The Art of Loving – Erich Fromm (1956)
Love and Will – Rollo May (1969)
All About Love – bell hooks (2000)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #149 - On Media Pt. 2 - Marshall McLuhan
Marshall McLuhan
This episode introduces the media theory of Marshall McLuhan, who argued that technologies and mediums are not just tools we use, but extensions of ourselves that shape how we perceive the world and understand what it means to be human. Drawing from McLuhan’s favorite metaphor—Poe’s “Descent into the Maelström”—the discussion frames modern life as a kind of vortex in which people must study the patterns around them to navigate change. McLuhan viewed media not in terms of content, but in terms of their broader cultural effects—how they alter the scale, pace, and patterns of human experience. The shift from oral to literate societies, and now to an electric, interconnected world, dramatically changes how we communicate, think, and live. He famously argued that “the medium is the message,” emphasizing that the form of media impacts us more profoundly than the information it carries. As society moves toward what he called a “global village,” McLuhan’s work challenges us to remain conscious of the hidden forces shaping our lives.
Further Reading:
Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man – Marshall McLuhan (1964)
The Medium is the Massage: An Inventory of Effects – Marshall McLuhan and Quentin Fiore (1967)
The Global Village: Transformations in World Life and Media in the 21st Century – Marshall McLuhan and Bruce R. Powers (1989)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #148 - On Media Pt. 1 - Manufacturing Consent
Manufacturing Consent
This episode explores how modern media functions not simply as a source of information, but as a powerful intermediary that filters and shapes public perception. Drawing on the work of Noam Chomsky, Edward Herman, and Walter Lippmann, it presents the idea that media operates less like a truth-telling institution and more like a system designed to maintain existing power structures. The discussion centers on the concept of media as a “medium”—an environment that influences how impressions are formed—raising questions about who controls this environment and why. Through historical examples like wartime propaganda and anti-labor strategies, the episode outlines how media has been used to manufacture public consent by limiting the boundaries of acceptable discourse. Chomsky and Herman’s five filters—ownership, advertising, sourcing, flack, and fear—are introduced as the mechanisms that guide what stories are told and how they’re framed. Ultimately, the episode encourages a reevaluation of how beliefs are shaped in a media-saturated world.
Further Reading:
Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky (1988)
Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda by Noam Chomsky (2002)
Public Opinion by Walter Lippmann (1922)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #147 - Being and Becoming
Being and Becoming
In this episode, the show dives into the age-old philosophical debate between being and becoming, using thinkers like Heraclitus, Parmenides, Nietzsche, Bergson, and Whitehead to explore how we understand identity, truth, and the universe itself. While "being" suggests a fixed, stable essence to things, "becoming" views reality as a constant process of change—both in the world and in ourselves. Nietzsche's emphasis on comedy as a philosophical tool highlights how humor and tragedy can challenge the idea that things are eternally a certain way. The episode critiques the limits of materialist science and language, suggesting that the universe—and human experience—can’t be fully grasped through reductionist thinking alone. Instead, process philosophers argue for a shift in metaphysics, urging us to view identity and reality as dynamic, evolving, and deeply interconnected.
Further Reading:
Process Philosophy: A Survey of Basic Issues by Nicholas Rescher (2000)
Process-Relational Philosophy: An Introduction to Alfred North Whitehead by C. Robert Mesle (2008)
Process and Reality by Alfred North Whitehead (1929)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #146 - Bergson on Laughter Pt. 2 - Vitalism
Henri Bergson on laughter
This is part two of the show’s deep dive into Henri Bergson’s Laughter. The episode connects Bergson’s hybrid theory of comedy to his broader philosophical worldview shaped by process philosophy and vitalism. Drawing from Heraclitus, Bergson sees life as a constant, flowing process that resists static, mechanistic explanations. He argues that laughter arises when something rigid or mechanical disrupts the natural fluidity of life—a phenomenon he famously describes as “the mechanical encrusted upon the living.” For Bergson, laughter isn’t just about amusement; it serves a social function. It acts as a subtle corrective, encouraging people to remain adaptable and in tune with the vitality of society. Through this lens, we laugh not only at the absurd or the powerful but at anything that signals a lack of flexibility—whether it’s a distracted friend or a blind conformist. While Bergson's theory aligns with earlier ideas like superiority and incongruity, it ultimately frames laughter as both an intuitive reaction and a social message, balancing critique and absurdity with an underlying impulse toward collective health.
Further Reading:
Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic by Henri Bergson (1900)
Living in Time: The Philosophy of Henri Bergson by Barry Allen (2023)
Bergson's Philosophy of Biology: Virtuality, Tendency and Time by Tano S. Posteraro (2022)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #145 - Henri Bergson Pt. 1 - History
Henri Bergson
In this episode, the show explores Henri Bergson’s essay Laughter, focusing on the philosophical roots of why humans laugh and what laughter reveals about society. It begins by questioning whether laughter truly reflects happiness and moves into a discussion of historical theories—like superiority, relief, and incongruity—each offering different explanations for humor. Bergson challenges these traditional views by suggesting that laughter arises when something mechanical disrupts the natural fluidity of human behavior, arguing that the comic is deeply tied to social life and human experience. He blends elements from past theories into a broader, more dynamic perspective, suggesting that laughter isn’t just emotional release or superiority—it’s also a subtle tool we use to regulate cultural norms and challenge rigidity in ourselves and others. The episode sets up a deeper dive into Bergson’s ideas in part two, teasing future connections to time, process philosophy, and the nature of change.
Further Reading:
Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic – Henri Bergson (1900)
The Philosophy of Laughter and Humor – John Morreall (1987)
Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor – John Morreall (2009)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #144 - Max Weber - Iron Cage
Max Weber
On this episode, we begin our discussion on the work of Max Weber.
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #143 - Jürgen Habermas - The Public Sphere
Episode 143 - Jürgen Habermas - The Public Sphere
This episode dives into the philosophy of Jürgen Habermas and his mission to rethink the Enlightenment in a way that still makes sense today. A lot of past thinkers criticized the Enlightenment for putting too much faith in reason, which they believed led to big problems like war and oppression. But Habermas didn’t want to throw the whole thing out. Instead, he believed the real issue wasn’t reason itself—it was how we’ve been using it. He introduced the idea of “communicative rationality,” where reason isn’t about cold logic or manipulating people, but about real, honest conversations where people listen, share, and try to understand one another. To him, this kind of communication is the heart of democracy and the way we should make decisions as a society. He also talks about how we've lost a lot of these meaningful conversations over time—replaced by media and systems more focused on control than connection. Habermas believes that the power to change things still lives in us, if we’re willing to engage with each other sincerely and rebuild those public spaces where everyone’s voice can matter.
Further Reading:
The Theory of Communicative Action, Volume 1: Reason and the Rationalization of Society by Jürgen Habermas (1984)
The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry into a Category of Bourgeois Society by Jürgen Habermas (1989)
Philosophical Interventions in the Unfinished Project of Enlightenment edited by Axel Honneth, Thomas McCarthy, Claus Offe, and Albrecht Wellmer (1992)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #142 - Richard Rorty
Richard Rorty
In this episode, the show explores the political philosophy of Richard Rorty, focusing on his rejection of universal, ahistorical foundations for ideas like human rights and liberal democracy. Rather than grounding these values in divine will or rational truths, Rorty sees them as contingent products of specific historical and cultural contexts. He argues that reason is not a tool for uncovering objective reality, but a human practice shaped by language and culture—a means of fostering solidarity rather than accessing eternal truths. Embracing the legacy of the Enlightenment as a call to question authority rather than to establish it, Rorty champions a pragmatic, pluralistic approach to politics. He encourages living as an “ironist”—someone who is critically aware of the limits of their own worldview and remains open to new vocabularies and perspectives. Ultimately, the episode highlights Rorty’s belief that legitimacy in political life comes not from philosophical absolutes, but from the shared values and decisions of people living together in particular times and places.
Further Reading:
Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity by Richard Rorty (1989)
Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature by Richard Rorty (1979)
Richard Rorty: Politics and Vision by Christopher J. Voparil (2006)
See the full transcript here
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Episode #141 - Isaiah Berlin pt. 2 - Pluralism and Culture
Isaiah Berlin pt. 2 - Pluralism and Culture
On this episode, we continue our discussion on the work of Isaiah Berlin.
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Episode #138 - Robert Nozick - The Minimal State
Robert Nozick - The Minimal State
This episode explores Robert Nozick’s Anarchy, State, and Utopia, a foundational libertarian response to the political challenges of the 20th century. Positioned between anarchism and the expansive welfare liberalism of thinkers like John Rawls, Nozick argues for a “minimal state” limited to protecting individual rights and enforcing contracts—nothing more. The episode contrasts Nozick’s views with Rawls’s emphasis on fairness and redistributive justice, highlighting Nozick’s belief that justice is not about what people deserve, but about what they are entitled to through lawful acquisition. Through accessible examples and thought experiments, the episode explains Nozick’s critique of forced taxation, patterned distributions, and centralized government planning. Instead, Nozick champions a framework where individuals retain self-ownership, rights are treated as inviolable moral constraints, and society functions as a space for voluntary, diverse experiments in living.
Further Reading:
Anarchy, State, and Utopia by Robert Nozick (1974)
A Theory of Justice by John Rawls (1971)
Libertarianism: A Primer by David Boaz (1997)
See the full transcript here
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Episode #137 - John Rawls - A Theory of Justice
John Rawls - A Theory of Justice
In this episode on A Theory of Justice, the podcast explores how John Rawls challenges core assumptions about liberal democracy by asking whether societies built on Enlightenment ideals—like rational discourse and equal opportunity—can truly flourish long-term, given humanity’s historical tendency toward inequality and conflict. While ultimately optimistic about liberal democracy, Rawls contends that past failures stem from neglecting the question of distributive justice: how a society fairly allocates its “primary social goods” like income, rights, and opportunities. He argues that justice must be rooted in fairness, not total equality, and proposes the famous “original position” thought experiment—where rational individuals, behind a veil of ignorance about their future place in society, would choose rules benefiting the least advantaged. This leads to Rawls’s “difference principle,” which holds that inequalities are just only if they improve conditions for those at the bottom and are tied to positions open to all. By reframing justice around fairness and interdependence, Rawls provides a philosophical foundation for progressive reform—aiming to build societies that uplift even their most vulnerable members.
Further Reading:
A Theory of Justice by John Rawls (1971)
Justice as Fairness: A Restatement by John Rawls (2001)
Free and Equal: What Would a Fair Society Look Like? by Daniel Chandler (2023)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #136 - Hannah Arendt - The Banality of Evil
Hannah Arendt - The Banality of Evil
This episode explores the political philosophy of Hannah Arendt, focusing on her critique of modernity’s retreat from the public realm and its consequences for identity, meaning, and power. Drawing a line from Plato’s turn inward after Socrates’ death to the Enlightenment’s elevation of economics over politics, the episode traces how Arendt challenges the dominance of the “contemplative life” in Western philosophy. She contrasts this with the “active life” of Socrates and Aristotle, where true identity and meaning emerge through public action and political engagement. Dividing human life into Labor, Work, and Action, Arendt argues that modern societies have reduced people to laborers and workers, stripping them of the political voice needed to shape their world. This alienation, she suggests, creates the conditions for totalitarianism, as seen in her analysis of Adolf Eichmann and the “banality of evil.” The episode ultimately positions Arendt’s work as a call to reclaim the political realm as essential to our humanity and warns of the dangers of passive disengagement in the face of rising authoritarianism.
Further Reading:
The Human Condition – Hannah Arendt (1958)
Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil – Hannah Arendt (1963)
On Revolution – Hannah Arendt (1963)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #135 - Leo Strauss - Ancients vs. Moderns
Leo Strauss - Ancients vs. Moderns
In this episode on Leo Strauss, the discussion centers on how early 20th-century thinkers—amid growing skepticism toward Enlightenment rationality—sought not to reject reason, but to question its dominance and limitations. Strauss, embracing rational analysis, critiques modernity for its value-neutral stance, arguing that modern rationality, though effective in science and technology, fails to provide the moral and political guidance societies need. He contrasts the modern focus on the real with the ancient Greek pursuit of the ideal, where rationality aimed at virtue and purpose rather than just utility. Strauss warns that without shared values, modern political systems inevitably drift toward relativism, nihilism, and authoritarianism. His solution is to return to ancient philosophical traditions that embedded reason within a framework of meaning and ideals. For Strauss, philosophy is not an academic discipline but a way of life—a never-ending pursuit of wisdom that resists easy solutions and embraces the complexity of existence.
Further Reading:
Liberalism Ancient and Modern by Leo Strauss (1968)
The Rebirth of Classical Political Rationalism: An Introduction to the Thought of Leo Strauss by Leo Strauss, edited by Thomas L. Pangle (1989)
Leo Strauss: An Introduction to His Thought and Intellectual Legacy by Thomas L. Pangle (2006)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #134 - Consequences of Reason
The Consequences of Reason
In the early 20th century, a growing number of philosophers began to question the legacy of the Enlightenment—particularly its faith in reason, rationality, and science as tools for accessing objective truth. This episode traces how thinkers like Nietzsche and Kierkegaard laid the groundwork for this skepticism, arguing that Enlightenment ideals merely replaced religious dogma with a new form of certainty rooted in reason. Critics contended that rationality, while powerful, cannot fully explain the paradoxes of human existence or provide an objective foundation for values. As the scientific method became increasingly central to modern life, philosophers such as Richard Rorty challenged its cultural neutrality, likening the survival of scientific theories to natural selection shaped by historical and societal biases. This critique of reason raised concerns about its role in justifying cultural imperialism and shaping political systems centered on individualism. Rather than abandoning reason or science, these thinkers sought to demystify their authority, seeing them as cultural constructs rather than gateways to universal truth. Ultimately, the episode situates this philosophical tension—between rational certainty and cultural relativism—as a recurring debate that has echoed since ancient Greece and continues to shape our political and cultural discourse today.
Further Reading:
The Philosophy of the Enlightenment – Ernst Cassirer (1951)
Dialectic of Enlightenment – Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno (1947)
Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault – Stephen R. C. Hicks (2004)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #133 - Carl Schmitt on Liberalism Pt. 2
Carl Schmitt on Liberalism Pt. 2
In part two of the series on Carl Schmitt, the podcast explores his belief that liberalism’s promise of tolerance, peace, and rational governance is an illusion that masks the enduring nature of political conflict. Schmitt argues that all politics is grounded in a fundamental distinction between friends and enemies, a reality liberalism tries to deny by promoting multiculturalism and consensus over confrontation. According to Schmitt, this denial leads to apathetic societies disconnected from political identity, vulnerable to authoritarian takeover in times of crisis. He sees liberalism not as a peaceful alternative but as a system that suppresses the political by avoiding decisive action and masking sovereignty behind constitutional norms. The episode positions Schmitt’s critique as a foundation for understanding why fascism emerged as a serious political alternative in the 20th century, rooted in a rejection of liberalism’s utopian ambitions and its failure to account for the true nature of political life.
Further Reading:
The Concept of the Political by Carl Schmitt (Expanded Edition, 2007)
Carl Schmitt's Critique of Liberalism: Against Politics as Technology by John P. McCormick (1997)
Law as Politics: Carl Schmitt's Critique of Liberalism edited by David Dyzenhaus (1998)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #132 - Carl Schmitt on Liberalism Pt. 1
Carl Schmitt on Liberalism pt. 1
In this introduction to Carl Schmitt, the podcast situates his critique of liberalism within the turbulent political shifts of the early 20th century—a period when war, revolution, and the collapse of Enlightenment ideals pushed political philosophy into crisis. Schmitt challenges liberalism not as a modern partisan stance, but as the foundational Enlightenment-era framework that sought to replace authoritarian rule with reason, debate, and individual rights. While liberalism promised peace, tolerance, and rational governance, Schmitt argues it merely masks the persistent presence of sovereign power and fails to deal with irreconcilable political conflict. He criticizes the liberal faith in rational debate and constitutional norms, suggesting that when truly existential threats arise, liberal societies abandon these ideals and reveal the sovereign power they claim to have left behind. For Schmitt, liberalism is a utopian illusion that obscures the political realities of power, conflict, and decision-making, and he positions himself as a post-liberal thinker confronting those realities directly.
Further Reading:
Carl Schmitt's Critique of Liberalism: Against Politics as Technology by John P. McCormick (1997)
Carl Schmitt and Authoritarian Liberalism: Strong State, Free Economy by Renato Cristi (1998)
Law as Politics: Carl Schmitt's Critique of Liberalism edited by David Dyzenhaus (1998)
See the full transcript here.
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Episode #131 - Antonio Gramsci on Cultural Hegemony
Antonio Gramsci on Cultural Hegemony
In this episode, the podcast explores the political philosophy of Antonio Gramsci, focusing on his theory of cultural hegemony as a response to the failures of Marx’s predicted proletarian revolution. Gramsci argued that control in modern societies is not maintained through overt violence but through cultural norms that shape people's perceptions of reality. By normalizing the values and structures of the dominant class, cultural hegemony convinces citizens to see their social conditions as natural and unchangeable. This explains why many accept economic hardship without protest. Gramsci distinguishes between "ruling intellectuals," who reinforce the status quo, and "organic intellectuals," who emerge from the working class to challenge dominant ideologies. He stresses that true social change requires a "war of position"—a long-term cultural struggle to redefine common sense—before any "war of maneuver," or revolution, can succeed. Ultimately, Gramsci calls for a critical, historically aware public that questions the legitimacy of existing power structures rather than accepting them as inevitable.
Further Reading:
Hegemony and Revolution: Antonio Gramsci's Political and Cultural Theory by Walter L. Adamson (2014)
Gramsci, Culture and Anthropology by Kate Crehan (2002)
To Live Is to Resist: The Life of Antonio Gramsci by Jean-Yves Frétigné (2021)
See the full transcript here.
Episode #130 - Dewey and Lippmann on Democracy
Dewey and Lippmann on Democracy
At the turn of the 20th century, a crucial debate emerged between Walter Lippmann and John Dewey over the viability of democracy in an increasingly complex world. Lippmann critiqued democracy’s reliance on public opinion, arguing that citizens construct simplified “pseudo-environments” shaped by media and stereotypes, rendering them ill-equipped to make informed decisions on vast global issues. He warned that modern democracies are driven more by emotionally charged reactions than by accurate understanding, and that media, language, and time constraints further distort reality. Dewey responded not by dismissing Lippmann’s concerns, but by reframing democracy as more than a political system—it was, to him, an ethical ideal and a form of social cooperation. Viewing society as an interconnected organism, Dewey believed individuals flourish only through participation and education. He saw democracy as a continuous process of mutual growth, where every person contributes uniquely, and where the antidote to authoritarianism lies in cultivating thoughtful, empowered citizens—not in retreating from democratic ideals, but in deepening them.
Further Reading:
Public Opinion – Walter Lippmann (1922)
Democracy and Education – John Dewey (1916)
The Problematic Public: Lippmann, Dewey, and Democracy in the Twenty-First Century – Eds. G. Mitchell Reyes & Nathan Crick (2023)
See the full transcript here.
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