Stephen West

Philosophize This!

Society EN ↓ 249 episodes

Beginner friendly if listened to in order! For anyone interested in an educational podcast about philosophy where you don't need to be a graduate-level philosopher to understand it. In chronological order, the thinkers and ideas that forged the world we live in are broken down and explained.

Author

Stephen West

Category

Society

Podcast website

www.philosophizethis.org

Latest episode

Jun 27, 2026

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Episodes

Episode #199 ... A conservative communist's take on global capitalism and desire. (Zizek, Marx, Lacan) 15.04.2024

Today we talk about the distinction between left and right. Lacan's thoughts on desire. How Capitalism captures desire and identity. I would prefer not to. Moderately conservative communism. Hope you enjoy it! :) Get more:  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Find the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/philosophize-this/id...

Episode #198 ... The truth is in the process. - Zizek pt. 3 (ideology, dialectics) 24.03.2024

Today we go into a deeper explanation of ideology and dialectics. Liberal democratic capitalism is featured as a special guest. Hope you enjoy it! :) Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help.  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis  Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast X: https://twi...

Episode #197 ... New Atheists and cosmic purpose without God - (Zizek, Goff, Nagel) 10.03.2024

As we regularly do on this program-- we steelman different philosophical positions. Hopefully the process brings people some joy. Today we go from ideology, to New Atheism vs Creationism, to Aristotle, to Thomas Nagel, to Phillip Goff's new book called Why? The Purpose of the Universe. Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help.  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.or...

Episode #196 ... The improbable Slavoj Zizek - Part 1 24.02.2024

Today we give an introduction to the thinking of Slavoj Zizek-- at least as much as is possible in ~35 mins. The goal is for this to be a primer for the rest of the series. Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help.  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis  Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethi...

Episode #195 ... Could Anarcho-Capitalism be the solution to our problems? - Anarchism pt. 4 (Rothbard, Friedman, Malice) 10.02.2024

Today we talk more about anarchism. Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help.  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis  Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast X: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethisshow Learn more about your ad choices....

Episode #194 ... Do we really need the police? - Anarchism pt. 3 - (Gelderloos, Security) 27.01.2024

Today we answer some questions about the potential security risks of an anarchist society. Thank you so much for listening! Could never do this without your help.  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis  Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast X: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/...

Episode #193 ...The chief export of the western world is trash. - Anarchism pt. 2 (Bookchin, Social Ecology) 09.01.2024

Today we talk about some of the work of Murray Bookchin. We talk about anarchism as a historical trend in human thought that keeps recurring. Then we talk about the superficiality of typical approaches to being environmentally conscious. We talk about Futurism and the hope of colonizing other planets. We talk about Artificial Intelligence and why people sometimes don't feel like celebrating its ar...

Episode #192 ... Should we overthrow the government tomorrow? - Anarchism pt. 1 (Chomsky, Malatesta) 25.12.2023

Today we talk about some common misconceptions about Anarchism, the weaknesses of traditional government structures, a possible alternative way of cooperating and whether or not the government is the hierarchy we should be focusing on. Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophi...

Episode #191 ... The modern day concentration camp and the failure of human rights. (Giorgio Agamben) 05.12.2023

Today we talk about the philosophy of Giorgio Agamben. Human rights, a political tactic to dehumanize groups that has been growing in popularity, governments declaring states of emergency and how the concept of potential may in fact be a unifying force. https://www.philosophizethis.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode #190 ... Are emotions a waste of time? - Neo-Stoicism (Martha Nussbaum) 27.11.2023

Today we talk about the lessons found in the ancient Greek play titled Hecuba. We talk about the great Stoic ethicists Epictetus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. We talk about Martha Nussbaum and her work looking to infuse classical Stoic ideas with all that we've learned in the sciences over thousands of years. We talk about compassion. Shame and guilt. Her capabilities approach. It's a whole lot of...

Episode #189 ... Everything that connects us is slowly disappearing. - Byung Chul Han pt. 2 03.10.2023

Today we talk about the disappearance of rituals, truth, community, communication, public spaces and talk about the importance sometimes of being an idiot. Hope you love it! :)   Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips   Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iam...

Episode #188 ... Achievement Society and the rise of narcissism, depression and anxiety - Byung-Chul Han 07.09.2023

Today we talk about positive power, neoliberalism, narcissism as a reaction to modern life, how technology makes isolation easier, and some tactics to find peace in the digital panopticon.    Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis   Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophiz...

Episode #187 ... How much freedom would you trade for security? (Foucault, Hobbes, Mill, Agamben) 31.08.2023

On today's episode we talk about the upsides of a surveillance state. The ongoing social dilemma of freedom vs security. The value of privacy. States of exception. And Deleuze's Postscript on Societies of Control.  Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips   Be soci...

Episode #186 ... Are we heading for a digital prison? - Panopticon (Foucault, Bentham, Cave) 24.08.2023

Today we talk about Jeremy Bentham's concept of the Panopticon. Michel Foucault's comparison to society in 1975. The historical role of intelligence as a justification for dominance. The anatomy of free will, and how a digital world may systematically limit our free will without us knowing it.  Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis P...

Episode #185 ... Should we prepare for an AI revolution? 10.08.2023

Today we talk about the revolutionary potential of generative AI. For better or worse.    Support the podcast by checking out our sponsors: Better Help - https://www.betterhelp.com/PHILTHIS LMNT - https://www.drinkLMNT.com/PHILO    Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizeth...

Episode #184 ... Is Artificial Intelligence really an existential risk? 02.08.2023

Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips   Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philosophizethispodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethi...

Episode #183 ... Is ChatGPT really intelligent? 22.07.2023

Today we discuss ideas from John Searle and Noam Chomsky and consider several questions surrounding machine intelligence.  Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips   Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philoso...

Episode #182 ... What if free will is an illusion? 02.07.2023

Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips   Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philosophizethispodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethi...

Episode #181 ... What if consciousness is an illusion? 23.06.2023

Get more:   Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips   Be social:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philosophizethispodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophiz...

Episode #180 ... What if everything is consciousness? - Phillip Goff on Panpsychism 24.05.2023

Today we talk about one theory of consciousness known as Panpsychism.   www.philosophizethis.org www.patreon.com/philosophizethis     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode #179 ... Why is consciousness something worth talking about? 24.04.2023

Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips   Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philosophizethispodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethi...

Episode #178 ... Susan Sontag - How Much Is Your View Of Everything Affected By Metaphors? 05.04.2023

Get more:  Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips   Be social: Twitter:  https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philosophizethispodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizet...

Episode #177 ... Susan Sontag - Do you speak the language of pictures and videos? 22.03.2023

Get more: Website: https://www.philosophizethis.org/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philosophizethis Philosophize This! Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@philosophizethisclips Be social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstephenwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philosophizethispodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philosophizethiss...

Episode #176 ... Susan Sontag - Do you criticize yourself the way you criticize a movie? 01.03.2023

Today we talk about the essay titled Against Interpretation by Susan Sontag. :) www.philosophizethis.org www.patreon.com/philosophizethis www.instagram.com/philosophizethispodcast www.twitter.com/iamstephenwest     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode #175 ... Simone Weil - Vessels of God 02.02.2023

Today we continue talking about the work of Simone Weil.   www.philosophizethis.org www.patreon.com/philosophizethis www.instagram.com/philosophizethisshow www.twitter.com/iamstephenwest   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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