So, You're A Philosopher

What is real, and what do we invent that we think is real? How might we tell, and with all the complex ways to approach the subject, how might we be clear when we talk about reality? Hear a story of Immanuel Kant and how he resolved a sticky wicket in a way that helped save the reliability of science itself.  What comes up in this episode: ~  David Hume’s challenge to science  ~ ~  The difficulty...

What is the four-fold meaning of meaning? A primer, and an exploration of meaning IN life. Hear a story of Viktor Frankl, the contemporary of Freud and Adler who bucked the trend, and explore meaning through his lens. What comes up in this episode: ~  Logotherapy ~ ~  Objective vs Interpretive Meaning ~ ~  Bicycles ~ ~  Meaning OF life vs meaning IN life ~ ~  Challenge in the Korean BBQ ~ Referenc...

Before science was SCIENCE, it was Natural Philosophy. Hear a story of Alhazen, the world’s first scientist, and dig into the real value of the scientific method.  What comes up in this episode: ~  Alhazen ~ ~  Francis Bacon ~ ~  How the scientific method safeguards against bias ~ ~  Parallels in the development of the scientific method and academic philosophy ~ Referenced or mentioned: ~  Euclid...

You were born to be a philosopher. The unique evolutionary output of the human mind is that it is designed to wonder…and philosophy begins in wonder. What comes up in this episode: What is philosophy, anyway? There are PHILOSOPHERS and there are philosophers. The roles philosophers play. Pythagoras gave us more than a theorem… Philosophy is inescapable (even if you try really hard). Referenced or...

Overthinking. Oy! It plagues us all. But…should it? Could we, perhaps, tame this cognitive beast and use it for good? What comes up in this episode: When is thinking overthinking? Adaptive vs maladaptive cognition. Two juicy Delphic Maxims. Mason’s killswitch. Crickets. Referenced or mentioned: Socrates Seneca Kierkegaard (briefly) Mason Sean A thought to carry with you:   Your ability to control...