Drunken Philosophy

Philosophy isn't just something you do while reclined in your armchair, smoking a pipe, scribbling your notes. Philosophy can be something you put into action along with 50 of your weird friends on a farm in Indiana. This week, Connor and Dan examine the successes and failures of various American utopian communities. These are places where the road meets the rubber in terms of economic, cultural,...

At the behest of a longtime loyal listener, Connor and Dan venture up to Canada to discuss some modern philosophy coming from the indigenous people of the Nova Scotia area. Dan does his best to pronounce some words and probably fails while Connor sits pondering the fact that we're all doomed because of climate change. Enjoy!

Inspired by a recent bout of apartment hunting, Connor and Dan sit down for a tour of philosophical conceptions of property and ownership. How do we define something as specific and at the same time abstract as "property"? Well, turns out it's hard. Also, maybe it's theft. Find out for yourselves!  

You have to a be special kind of person to have your last name turned into an adjective centuries after your death. But, then, Machiavelli was a pretty special guy. This week, Connor and Dan determine whether there is any worth to this conniving little rat man's philosophy or whether he is just a product of some, particularly brutal times. 

After spending a few weeks in Italian art museums, Dan decides to subject Connor to a discussion about the complexities of art criticism. Luckily, they've got Arthur Danto to guide their way through the lengthy history of art philosophy, from the Ancient Greeks to Andy Warhol and beyond.

This week, Dans in Italy with his beautiful wife eating a slice of 'Za, and taking a picture of him holding up the leaning tower of Pisa. If you came for philosophy this week, Think again! Connor dresses down Drunken Philosophy's new editor Joe trying to figure out if he is part clown. We also find out that he would rather be cheated on then do the cheating. We will be back next week with that swe...

As a direct follow-up to their previous episode on Arthur Danto, Connor and Dan dig into the contemporary aesthetic philosophy of cultural critic Sianne Ngai. Specifically, they're talking about things that are cute, zany, and interesting. These three categories are launching off points to discuss the commodification of art in modern society. Also, it's a way to talk about Star Wars.

Identity is a complex issue, and, obviously, two drunk white straight guys are the most equipped to talk about it. Kidding, of course. This week Connor and Dan look to the contemporary philosophy of Kwame Anthony Appiah and his thoughts on identity, race, nationality, and our lives as global citizens. Spoiler alert: It's about taking that middle road, baby!

As a way of wrapping up their discussion of Kant, Connor and Dan complete their whirlwind tour of the famous Critique before turning their attention to Kant's famous moral philosophy. This means, of course, a rehashing of the categorical imperative and whether or not it's ok to help murderers. Also, they reflect on their new friend Mr. Kant and his influence.

In part-two of their Kant trilogy, Connor does his best to stay awake and engaged while Dan explains one of the more complex and influential books in modern philosophy: The Critique of Pure Reason. Hopefully, you all like terminology because the first half of this episode covers the damn table of contents!

At the start of their next ambitious three-parter, the boys turn their attention to a figure who looms large not just in their lives, but in the lives of all philosophers. That little, persnickety gentleman from Konigsberg, Immanuel Kant. This week, Connor and Dan learn a little about Kant's life and try to figure out if he was the ultimate townie.

It's easy to stay in your own  philosophical  bubble and only ever learn about things from people who look and talk like you. But, as Connor and Dan learn in this loosey-goosey episode, there is an inherent value in learning about  philosophy  from other cultures, countries, and times. "But how do we do it?" you might be asking. Listen and find out you dummy! (Note: Apologies for the slightly wors...

With all that science mumbo jumbo out of the way, Connor and Dan turn their attention to something they're much more interested in: Leisure time, baby! But we're not just talking about vacation here. Save that for the parrot heads. We're talking about the genuine pursuit of genuine interests. Take a break! It's important! (Note: Sorry about the slightly worse audio quality this week. We recorded i...

Science  and  philosophy  go hand in hand like Connor and Dan. This week, your hosts take a look back at how these two disciplines have evolved and diverged over the centuries, complementing one another and improving one another. What role does the  philosophy  of  science  play in the year 2019? Listen to find out what these two idiots think! Also, listen to hear Connor's loud cat! (Note: Sorry a...

She was dubbed the "most dangerous woman in America" in her time, but who exactly was Emma Goldman and what did she believe? This week, Connor and Dan dive back into the pool of American anarchism to learn about Goldman's early feminism, fiery speeches, and violent tactics. Was she right about a lot of stuff? Yup. Did she have her problems? You bet. Do I regret putting so many questions in this de...

Now that we know who Kropotkin was, let's spend part two discussing what he was all about. That involves some pretty detailed discussions of various anarchist frameworks during which Connor's arguments get totally freaking dunked on by a long-dead Russian intellectual. Hope you're ready to start a revolution! Because it's coming, baby!

We hope you're ready to tear down some capitalist infrastructure, because for the next two weeks we'll be discussing the philosophy of Peter Kroptokin aka the father of anarcho-communism. In this first episode, Connor and Dan go deep on where this bearded weirdo came from, his various run-ins with the law, and how he was influenced by contemporary thinkers.

Now that we know who Husserl was and what he did, it's time to look at who came after him. The man's influence on the world of philosophy is perhaps more impressive than anything he actual wrote in his lifetime, but many of the thinkers who came after him would not shy away from criticizing the old man. Connor and Dan peruse the philosophical burn book on this week's episode. 

With a bit of biographical context out of the way, Connor and Dan dig into the particulars of Husserl's phenomenological process. What does he mean by Intentionality? How does this whole "bracketing" thing work? What's with this dude and Greek words??? Hopefully you'll have a better understanding of some of this stuff by the end of the episode.

Strap in, folks! We're about to go deep on our boy Edmund Husserl (aka Eddy Hoos.) (aka Ed Casserole) (aka the Father of Phenomenology). This first episode takes a look at Husserl's biography, his educational background, and the philosophical runway that was laid before him at the start of the 20th century. Where my Cartesians at? Here, I hope.

Don't panic! This week, Connor and Dan dig into the humorous philosophy at play in Douglas Adams' celebrated science fiction farce, Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. If you haven't read the book, you will be spoiled, but, then again, this isn't really a book that can be spoiled in any way. It's always a fun read and it has a lot to say about the ridiculous venture of philosophy.

Despite our fancy clothes, ability to use forks, and love of dragon-filled fantasy shows, human beings are just animals. That's the essence of the argument put forth by Animalism and it has implications for how we understand our personal identity and how we choose to interact with other sentient beings in the world. How will Connor react to being called a dirty, filthy animal? Pretty well, actuall...

Long before your mom was ditching her Lit 101 class to burn her bra in the school parking lot, Mary Wollstonecraft was laying down the basis for all feminist philosophy to come. This week, Connor and Dan delve into the life of this controversial figure who took no guff and spared no one in her campaign to give equal rights and education to the young women of Europe. Also, you've probably heard of...

Sure, you've heard of Old Confucianism. But this is NEW Confucianism a.k.a. Confucianism in sunglasses a.k.a. Confucianism that's into Bitcoin now. This episode is 50% history and 50% philosophy as Dan tries is best to provide context to this early-20th century movement that tried to marry antiquity with the modernity and possibly failed. No spoilers! (But China is still communist, so minor spoile...

In the mid-20th century, the European philosophy scene became enamored with a little Romanian depressed guy by the name of Emil Cioran. This week, Dan tries his best to get Connor to feel the love for this sad weirdo. Their discussion drifts from  Catcher In The Rye  to continental philosophy to Cioran's unfortunate history with fascism. TW: There are a lot of jokes about suicide in this ep, but i...