Drunken Philosophy

We regret to inform you that it is time to once again talk about postmodernism and the death of the meta-narrative. This week, Connor and Dan discuss the philosophy of Lyotard, a modern French thinker with a penchant for the postmodern. Also discussed: how your hosts absorb news stories in the modern age, coming to grips with your cultural roots, and Connor's vehement hatred of an HBO comedy fundr...

What was it like to be a human being before we attained real consciousness? Turns out a guy named Julian Jaynes had an idea about it back in 1976, and this week Connor and Dan take a crack at understanding it. It's called the bicameral mind and it will mess you up dude. Anyone who has seen Westworld  will know what's up but for everyone else, be prepared to question everything you think you know a...

It's time to open yourself to the gentle indifference of the world, dear listeners! This week on Drunken Philosophy, Dan read a book and is going to give a formal book report. It just so happens that book is The Stranger by Albert Camus, so it's a little applicable to the podcast. Also, Connor returns with a new Loser Cruiser, they discuss the appropriate response to tragedy, and, of course, The C...

It's Halloween time, which can mean only one thing: Connor and Dan forgot to plan a Halloween episode! So spooky! So instead, they decided to talk about Object-Oriented Ontology which is a contemporary metaphysical philosophy that's (you guessed it) all about objects and how they are just as important as humans in the grand scheme of existence. Also discussed: Toy Story video games, trees falling...

Are we responsible for the choices we make if we weren't able to choose otherwise? Does a deterministic universe still have culpability? Is Harry Frankfurt the guy who invented the hotdog? Some of these questions will be answered on this week's episode of Drunken Philosophy as your hosts explore the various implication of Frankfurt cases. Also discussed: Connor not being good enough to be hypnotiz...

Sure, you've thought a lot about what time it is. But have you ever thought about what time is ? Or, perhaps more importantly, what time means ? That's what your hosts are discussing this week on DP as they take a look at Brendan De Paor-Moore's new schema for time and analysis of how time has become intertwined with our culture and history. Also: the new Shadow Of War video game, being addicted t...

[Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault of the physically disabled] Your hosts are back with another extra sloppy late night podcast and they decided this would be the perfect time to dig into the complex issue of utilitarian ethics and sexual assault. They're talking about Peter Singer's NY Times article from earlier this year and Connor is immediately back on his hee...

Connor and Dan are back from their little movie excursion to discuss the semiotic philosophy of Roland Barthes. They're talking signs, they're talking signifiers, they're talking Che Guevara t-shirts and bottles of red wine, baby! Also, they get into the individual's relationship with art while Connor preheats his oven for way too long. Enjoy!

Get your tickets, ladies and gents! Because it's another rendition of Drunken Philosophy at the Movies. This week, Connor and Dan take one for the collective team and watch God's Not Dead 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the straight-to-video Christian-focused feature and insult to Nietszche's memory, God's Not Dead. This movie is bonkers and barely related to philosophy despite stealing it's t...

Are you afraid to go in the water? You might be after this episode! Connor and Dan discuss the 1975 film Jaws, specifically how it can be used to explore the theories of Slavoj Zizek and Jacques Lacan. Does the shark represent fascism or capitalism? Does art reflect ideology or is that just the viewer forcing the issue? Also, what kinds of a pants did Dan wear when he was a chubby little kid? Spoi...

After numerous technical difficulties, your brave hosts managed to put out another podcast this week about, what else, technology! Specifically virtual reality and how it can be used to answer complex questions about philosophy. Australian philosophy David Chalmers makes the argument that virtual reality is as valuable as "real" reality, and Dan surprisingly agrees. Connor is just excited he gets...

Does repeating a physical action help you be a better person? Ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius might say yes, but modern day American guy Connor Holmes would definitely say no. This week, your hosts discuss the use of ritual and ceremony in Chinese ethical philosophy. For more on this subject you can look up Harvard professor Michael Puett's work. And for more discussion on why zoos are lame...

Halloween came a little earlier this year on Drunken Philosophy! This week, Connor and Dan discuss the idea of a philosophical zombie, i.e. a physically identical human being that lacks consciousness, and decide whether or not they create problems for physicalists. Philosophers mentioned include David Chalmers, Daniel Dennett, and at least one other, maybe! Also discussed, the career of Daniel Day...

There is no identity, there is only difference. Time is simply repetition. Everything you think you know about thought, you're thinking about wrong. Feeling confused yet? Welcome to the philosophy of Giles Deleuze. This week, Connor and Dan do their best to wade into the deep murky waters of this French philosopher's influential metaphysics. Also discussed: What Connor would do during the purge, w...

This episode is for all you ordinary people out there. This week, Connor and Dan discuss the philosophical methodology known as Ordinary Language Philosophy. This was a loosely head together school of thought that prioritized focus on ordinary language in philosophy and claimed the best way to understand metaphysical concepts was to understand the way they were used in language. Talk about a snooz...

It only took 172 episodes for this podcast to devolve into a low-budget therapy session. This week, Connor and Dan take a look at the psychoanalysis of Jacques Lacan, specifically his theory about the Mirror Phase and symbolic order of consciousness. This is some heady stuff, ladies and germs, but your hosts are trying their best. Also, Connor takes old people down a peg, we get to hear what your...

Can you be a logical thinking philosopher and still believe in God? Specifically the Christian conception of an all-knowing, all-loving God? Why are you asking us? Go Google it. This week on Drunken Philosophy, Connor and Dan discuss famously God-believing philosopher Alvin Plantinga and break down some of his most well-known arguments. Also, there's some movie talk (obviously) and Connor, having...

Blush at your senpei and hold on to your anime pillow because this episode of Drunken Philosophy is all about nerdy Japanese stuff. Specifically, Dan started reading the book Otaku: Japan's Database Animals, which, in addition to being about people who like anime, is also about the postmodern approach to consumption of media. It's complex and smart sounding! Connor gets the opportunity to talk abo...

Is it possible to be a philosopher and believe in God? Our old pal Thommy Aquinas would have said that they're one in the same! This week on Drunken Philosophy, Connor and Dan reach back to the Middle Ages to learn about Saint Thomas Aquinas, AKA the only philosopher purported to have levitated! In addition to being the number one hunk at the University of Paris, Aquinas is credited with bringing...

It's just Dan this week! If you're still reading this and didn't immediately throw your computer/mobile devise out the window of a moving car, boy do we have a special episode in store for you. Connor is away this week having lots of fun, so Dan hunkers down for a in-depth episode all about the moral concept of duty. We're talking Kant, we're talking Nietzsche, and we're talking the Flintstones of...

This week, Connor and Dan are taking a trip through hyperspace just to deliver you an extra special sloppy Star Wars episode. Dan was on his way out the door to enjoy a vacation, so he decided to let Connor take the reins as they discuss Daoism, the Force of the Wills, and all the other philosophical influences on a series of movies they probably would have ended up taking about anyways. If you gu...

It's time to get pragmatic up in this podcast. This week, Connor and Dan discuss the philosophy of modern American philosophy Richard Rorty who was all about "Out with the old; In with the new." New Pragmatism that is! Also discussed: Some new losers Connor had a beef with, a free idea for an app that someone can steal, and Connor finally gets woke. Enjoy!

Time to put on your hard hats boys and girls, because this week we're talking about deconstruction! Specifically, Connor and Dan discuss French philosopher Jacques Derrida (AKA Dr. Jack Dorito) who is the father of deconstruction. They take on binaries and ideologies and all the terribly comfortable things we take for granted without ever examining. Also discussed, ska podcasts, adults on scooters...

How do you take something old and make it new again? Do it half-assed of course. This week, Connor and Dan discuss the modern interpretation of Stoicism. They debate whether it's healthy or possible to repress your emotions and they dive head-first into Connor's Oedipal complex. Also, there's a weird discussion about PC culture and the alt right at the end...sorry.

Umm...excuse me? Are we living in frickin' Robocop? Maybe! Last week Dan read about the first robotic policeman being introduced in the city of Dubai and now he's having a mental breakdown. He and Connor discuss whether or not robots can be programmed to make moral decisions and, if they can, what the implications might be if society allows those robots to dish out the law right in citizen's faces...